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KC Scholars

Welcome Earl Martin Phalen, new CEO

Nationally recognized leader in education eager to enrich youth and adult academic opportunities in Kansas City 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (January 27, 2022) — KC Scholars announced today that Earl Martin Phalen, will join KC Scholars as the new president and CEO. Phalen, a national leader in non-profit and education initiatives, succeeds Beth Tankersley-Bankhead, Ph.D. and starts with the organization on March 7, 2022. Tankersley-Bankhead announced her retirement in 2021.

Earl Martin Phalen is a nationally recognized pioneer in education and will bring a wealth of educational expertise to KC Scholars and the Kansas City community. He is also the founder and CEO of the George and Veronica Phalen Leadership Academies, a national network of primary schools with blended learning programming, and has served as a trustee of the Kauffman Foundation, the organization which founded KC Scholars, since 2016.

“Knowing Earl’s passion for bringing opportunities to underserved communities, we know he will be the perfect leader for KC Scholars,” said Jan Kreamer, KC Scholars Board Chairman. “Earl’s leadership will continue to shape the future of this organization, in partnership with KC Scholars’ investors, post-secondary partners and students working together toward a greater Kansas City.”

Beth Tankersley-Bankhead, Ph.D., the incumbent president, is equally excited for the future of KC Scholars under Phalen’s leadership.

“KC Scholars has a strong foundation, a talented team, incredible Scholars, and a supportive community of stakeholders,” said Tankersley-Bankhead. “With Earl’s expertise and passion for education, he will continue to enhance the vision and measurable impact of KC Scholars.”

In Phalen’s first 100 days, he will collaborate with the KC Scholars board to craft goals for the future of the organization – starting with long-term goals and then drilling down goals for the upcoming year. He is excited to step into the organization to create more opportunities to enrich the community.

“I have had the blessing to work in this sector for 30 years, and I have never seen a scholarship program have such an immense impact on the success of students and adults,” said Phalen. “I am eager to serve the learners of Kansas City, getting them to and through college, and ensuring their career success after graduation.”

About KC Scholars

Kansas City Scholars (Great Jobs KC) is a 501(c)(3) college scholarship, college planning and persistence support, and college success program designed to increase the college completion rate for low- and modest- income students and adult learners across the six-county, bi-state service region.

KC Scholars launched in September 2016 and, in less than five years, has experienced widespread community engagement and rapid scaling. We now have more than 5,000 Scholars, with near 2,000 in college. KC Scholars is on the path to near 10,000 Scholars by 2022 and is projected to grow to nearly 20,000 Scholars by 2027. KC Scholars has exceeded goals for number of scholarships awarded and college enrollment and persistence rates. Early impact rates are significantly higher than for the region, state, and nation.

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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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