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Emily Wheeler
Editorial Intern
Great Jobs KC — a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization — provides financial support for individuals from low to modest-income households to complete college degrees or job training programs — leading to family-sustaining careers. This organization began as KC Scholars in 2016 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation — an organization well-known for its dedication to education and entrepreneurship. Its first scholarships were awarded in May 2017.
In 2022, KC Scholars expanded its offerings to include a tuition-free job training program, life skills workshops and career placement services. This evolution led to the organization’s rebranding as Great Jobs KC in October 2023 — reflecting its broadened mission to not only provide access to higher education but also to ensure that all participants achieve meaningful, career-sustaining employment.
Since its inception, Great Jobs KC has awarded millions of dollars in scholarships and has helped thousands of students in the Kansas City area pursue and complete their higher education goals. This program continues to grow and adapt to meet the evolving needs of students and the community.
Great Jobs KC currently offers three different KC Scholars scholarships. The traditional scholarship awards 11th graders up to $10,000 per year up to five years and is awarded directly to the college or university of enrollment. Students must maintain a cumulative 2.5 high school GPA and enroll full-time in college the semester immediately following high school graduation.
The adult learner scholarship is given to adults with some college experience but no degree. Students can receive up to $5,000 per year for up to five years and can enroll full-time or part-time. According to the KC Scholar website, “There are 281,000 adults with some college and no degree, and 96,000 with an associate’s but not bachelor’s degree in the six counties Great Jobs KC serves.”
Great Jobs KC also provides a college savings match scholarship — a one-time award available to 9th graders. Each year, up to 500 students will have a 529 college savings account seeded with $50 from KC Scholars. Of these 500 9th graders, at least 50 will be selected for the 4:1 match and incentives program, where a student can earn a one-time award of up to $7,000 toward college.
A 529 college savings plan is a tax-advantaged savings account for education expenses. There are two types: savings plans and prepaid tuition plans. Unlike a regular savings account, a 529 plan offers investment options, has restrictions on usage, has contribution limits and affects financial aid.
At the time of application, and continuously through high school graduation, applicants must live in and/or be enrolled in a public, charter or private high school in Jackson, Clay, Cass or Platte County in Missouri or Wyandotte and Johnson in Kansas. Adulter learner scholarship applicants must reside in one of the six counties at the time of application.
Natalie Lewis currently serves as Great Jobs KC’s chief operating officer — where she leads its scholarship and program team. Her team is responsible for overseeing Community Engagement, Research and Evaluation and Scholarship Programs.
Through its partnerships, Great Jobs KC works with a network of local colleges, universities and community organizations to maximize the impact of its scholarships and support services. “Many times we see students making it onto a college campus but not graduating with a degree,” Lewis said.
Financial and housing needs, as well as difficult adjusting to university environments are some of the reasons many choose to drop out. “We also see a lot of imposter syndrome, students feeling like they don’t deserve to have the opportunities they have,” said Lewis.
Great Jobs KC works closely with each student’s higher education institution to ensure students feel support on campus. Each campus offers a variety of support services for students — including tutoring, counseling, academic support, disability services and more.
Tar Reh, a 2024 graduate of Northeast High School, will begin his studies at University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) in the fall — although he remains undecided about his major. Reh attributes much of his college opportunity to the KC Scholars scholarship program. “My college counselors made everyone apply, but once I heard it would take care of college financially, I was determined to get the scholarship,” Reh said.
Reh emphasized the KC Scholars application process ease: “It’s a free $50,000 in scholarship money; all you have to do is try and apply. The hardest thing was the essay, but everything else was very easy,” he said. Securing the UMKC-specific scholarship was a significant achievement for Reh, who had always planned to attend the university. “Everyone I know is going there, and it is close to home. It was the best fit for me,” he said.
Reh — who moved to Kansas City with his family at the age of five — is the first in his family to apply for a scholarship and attend college. “It prepared me financially. I didn’t want to worry about a student loan,” he explained.
Madeline North — who holds a B.A. in psychology from UMKC — took advantage of the KC Scholars scholarship after graduating from Lincoln College Preparatory Academy. North received the UMKC-specific KC Scholars scholarship. “I didn’t receive the full KC Scholars scholarship, but they had extra funding after they awarded students for two specific schools, UMKC and MU,” she said.
North wasdeciding between UMKC and MU, however, UMKC’s KC Scholars program made it theclear choice. “KC Scholars would have covered a certain amount at either school, but I was already living in Kansas City. Thanks to KC Scholars, my tuition was completely covered, and I lived at home, so I didn’t pay for room and board. I graduated with my undergrad almost completely debt-free.” she explained.
Reflecting on the impact of the scholarship, North shared, “Finances are a large part of your college experience, and it helped to eliminate one of the many challenges that students can face during college. I didn’t have to worry about the financial aspect, so I could focus solely on academics and extracurriculars.”
This scholarship was particularly beneficial for her family as well. “My parents had two children going into college at the same time. By getting KC Scholars, they were able to cover more of my sister’s tuition since I had my tuition fully covered,” she noted.
North encourages others to persevere in their scholarship pursuit — advising, “Give the scholarship 110% and don’t give up right away if you aren’t awarded the scholarship.”
Great Jobs KC is transforming lives through its KC Scholars program by making higher education and career training accessible and affordable for Kansas City students. By alleviating financial burdens and providing comprehensive support, this organization ensures that students like Madeline North and Tar Reh can focus on their academic and career goals — leading to brighter futures and stronger communities.
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