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SCHOLAR PORTAL

Traditional Scholars

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Welcome to KC Scholars!

Step One: Save the Date for Make Your Mark

The first step in supporting you as a KC Scholar recipient is attending our REQUIRED Make Your Mark orientation session with a parent or guardian. During Make Your Mark, you will:

·Learn more about the KC Scholars Scholarship Program 
· Meet our team that will support you through your high school and college journey, degree completion, and entry into your chosen career field 
· Meet other Traditional Scholarship recipients 
· Meet KC Scholars staff and fellow Traditional Scholarship recipients 
· Learn about the requirements to maintain your scholarship and successfully enroll in college by Fall 2025 

Saturday, June 22 9:00 AM – 12:30 – in person at the Kansas City Convention Center

You MUST attend Make Your Mark to continue with the KC Scholars program.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions regarding orientation:

Yes, you must attend Make Your Mark, our orientation event, to remain in the KC Scholars program. If you are unable to attend, please email Scholarships@greatjobskc.org as soon as possible.

We will share all the details during Make Your Mark. In the future, come back to this page for next steps and updates.

No, there is no make-up session planned at this time. Please reach out to scholarships@greatjobskc.org as soon as possible. Make Your Mark is our required orientation event to continue with the KC Scholars program.

Yes, a parent or guardian is required to attend Make Your Mark with you to learn more about KC Scholars and your Traditional Scholarship.

Make Your Mark is an in-person event. Please call 816-581-5700 if you need support registering for this event.

You can email scholarships@greatjobskc.org or call 816-581-5700.

KC Scholars Contact

Hello scholars! My name is Kaylee Sundeen, and I am your KC Scholars Program Coordinator. I will be your go-to for everything related to KC Scholars. I work closely with your college adviser to make sure you are on track to receive the scholarship at the end of your senior year. A little about me – I moved to Kansas City after graduating from K-State (go Cats!) and have loved living here ever since. I love my two dogs, Ollie and Cooper, trying new restaurants in KC and helping students get to and graduate from college! I’m so excited to work with you! 

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A group of graduates in caps and gowns celebrating outdoors. Text on the image reads "Over $12 million in scholarships being awarded." These scholarships are paving the way for promising careers.
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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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