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Great Jobs KC

Transforming Her Career – Mia Ray

Mia Ray worked a typical office job after graduation, but it didn’t feel like the career she hoped to build. While working in a digital transformation company, Mia could see herself having a more significant impact. Unsatisfied with her current position, Mia was ready to try something to bring her career to the next level. By connecting with her old high school, University Academy Charter School, Mia learned more about the programs available through Great Jobs KC. After signing up and connecting with the right people, she was on track to make her career dreams come true.

By completing this program, Mia hopes to find a social media or content marketing position. Mia’s dream career would allow her to create campaigns or visuals that speak to people. She hopes to create communities with her work so people have a space to share common interests or mindsets. Mia has completed the Digital Marketing Science Course training path with Great Jobs KC, where she learned different tactical and strategic skills to help her excel in this field. Because Mia has access to the right tools, she can achieve her dreams better. By being able to build her skill set for the specific career she intends to have, she is setting herself up for success. She shares, “Dreams are just the end result. They become possible with the right mindset and tools”. Working through Greenfig, a partner of Great Jobs KC, she was able to experience high-quality training that she may not have received elsewhere.

By completing this course and having access to higher-paying roles, Mia believes this opportunity will help her build a life-long career and have better money-saving skills. Since there would be a pay increase with her new positions, the idea of budgeting is more realistic and manageable than before. With a more secure schedule and higher pay, Mia will have more time, energy, and capability to invest in herself to create a higher quality of life.

The support Mia has received through KC Scholars has been tremendous. Mia shares how having someone like her Scholar Advocate by her side through the process means a lot. It has made the whole process easier to better herself and learn new life tools to reach the financial freedom she is aiming for. Mia shares how everyone she has met at KC Scholars has been extremely friendly and is always willing to help her find a solution to anything she might need. The best part of Great Jobs KC for Mia was the people. By having this opportunity, she has met so many new people who have inspired her to keep working towards her goals.

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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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