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Great Jobs KC

Third Times a Charm – Tina Downey

Tina Downey is a KC Scholar Adult Learner who has returned to school more ready than ever. While Tina was a senior in High School, she received a full-ride scholarship to Clark in Atlanta. During the school year, she became pregnant, and her main priority was raising her newborn. By doing so, she gave up her scholarship to Clark and put her dreams of attending college aside for a bit. When she started looking into returning to school, Tina was experiencing seizures triggered by stress, which, again, caused her thought of returning to college to be put on the back burner. With her health back on track and her children older, Tina decided to give college another go!

 Tina heard about KC Scholars from a representative providing information at her children’s school and noticed the adult learner scholarship. This intrigued Tina, and she inquired more about the scholarship specifics and decided to get started. As a first-generation student, going to college means the world to Tina, “Not only am I honoring the ones who were not able or capable of achieving their dreams and goals through education, but I am also paving the way for the generation after me by showing the example of perseverance, so they know it does not have to end here with me”. She attended Penn Valley with the support of KC Scholars, where she received her associate degree in arts. Now, she is attending the University of Missouri, Kansas City, to continue her undergraduate degree. She will double major from UMKC in Communications and Business, emphasizing Non-profit Management. Upon completing her degree, she hopes to get a job at a corporation as a community manager or community director to gain experience before someday starting her own nonprofit.

The best part of Tina’s experience with KC Scholars is her interaction with the staff. She was greeted with excitement and encouragement when she went to the office after she graduated with her associate degree. This made her feel like she wasn’t on this journey alone and that KC Scholars is here to help their Scholars succeed and win! During her schooling, Tina understood more about KC Scholars through the help of her Scholar Advocate, “Yes, the financial support is amazing. However, to have someone there to point you in all the right directions, link you with all the connections, and make sure you have all the support you need is priceless”. Tina recommends to anyone in KC Scholars that if you want an education, earn money, learn new skills, and better yourself, signing up for KC Scholars will be one of the best decisions you can make!

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Stephanie underwood - Chief financial Officer

Stephanie Underwood serves as Chief Financial Officer at Great Jobs KC, where she leads the organization’s financial strategy in support of its mission to create economic mobility through education and workforce opportunities. With more than 17 years of experience in nonprofit finance, Stephanie brings deep expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance. She is passionate about using her career as a platform to serve and support mission-driven organizations, helping them maximize impact through strong financial stewardship.

Prior to joining Great Jobs KC, Stephanie served as Chief Financial Officer for Griffith Centers, a behavioral and mental health organization, where she oversaw financial operations for a multi-million-dollar organization spanning residential, educational, and community-based programs. She also spent nearly a decade as Vice President of Accounting Services at NFP Partners, providing CFO-level leadership to nonprofit organizations across the country, with a focus on strategic growth, audit readiness, and governance.

Outside of her professional role, Stephanie volunteers her time at her church and serves on the board of a local nonprofit. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to aligning financial strategy with mission impact. She holds a Master of Science in Accounting and is proud to be a first-generation college graduate.

 

 

 

Adult Learner College Scholarship

The Adult Learner Scholarship application is closed. Please click GET STARTED to be added to communication reminders on when to apply during the next open cycle.

Program offers:

  • Up to $25,000 paid directly to the college over the course of up to six years.
  • Once awarded, the Scholar can enroll full or part-time the fall semester following awarding.
  • Scholarship can be used at any of our college partners. See our current list of partners HERE.
  • Scholarship can be used towards an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or a credit-bearing credential. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

  • Be a high school graduate or GED holder (24 years or older).
  • Live in one of the six eligible counties. (Kansas: Wyandotte, Johnson; Missouri: Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte)
  • Be income eligible. (FASFA Student Aid Index of 12,000 or less)
  • Have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree.
  • Have not previously been awarded a KC Scholars Scholarship (Traditional or Adult Learner).
  • Is not currently enrolled in a Great Jobs KC Skills Training Program.
  • US Citizenship/Residency is not required to apply.

If you need more information on program details, please find our FAQs HERE

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Jimmy Swift - Chief Operating Officer

As the Chief Operating Officer, Jimmy Swift is responsible for overseeing our core programs, our adult workforce development program, Great Jobs KC tuition-free job training, and our KC Scholars Scholarship Program, which includes 11th Grade Traditional Scholarships and Adult Learner Scholarships. 

Jimmy has a career in education that spans more than 25 years and is built around supporting and improving the performance of career training programs and leading the operations of degree-granting institutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management and has served as Campus President, Vice President of Career Services, and Executive Director of various career schools.  

Most recently, Jimmy served as the Vice President of PLA University at Phalen Leadership Academies, bringing access to job skill training to the parents and families of the Scholars served by Phalen Leadership schools across the country.  Beyond his higher education experience, Jimmy serves as the Executive Board Chairman for Project Safety Net NY, a nonprofit community-based agency delivering a broad range of health, education, and prevention services to the New York Community. As the Chief Operating Officer for Great Jobs KC, he and his team are poised to make a substantial impact on the economic stability and future of Kansas City.

Great Jobs KC
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