Missouri State University will join forces with Great Jobs KC (GJKC) and its KC Scholars Scholarship Program to provide full support for students seeking to turn their college dreams into financially sustaining careers.
“In working with the KC Scholars Scholarship Program, Missouri State reaffirms its commitment to fostering academic success and professional growth for students and the community,” said MSU President Clif Smart.
“We value the work of Great Jobs KC and look forward to the opportunities this partnership will create.”
About the KC Scholars Scholarship Program
The KC Scholars Scholarship Program extends far beyond access to college scholarships. The program provides the ongoing support of scholar advocates who support each scholar throughout their journey – from entering college through graduation and continuing through their first year of employment as they chart their path toward a financially sustaining career.
The program also provides access to scholar support resources for low- and modest-income individuals, making sure to remove economic barriers to educational success. Its work will be felt beyond college campuses well into the community.
Removing barriers to education
“Creating opportunities for post-secondary education for those who might not otherwise have it and removing the barriers to successfully completing their degrees is at the core of our mission,” said GJKC Chief Operating Officer Natalie Lewis.
“Supporting our scholars through their education, job search and into their first year of employment allows us to see a success rate much higher than other programs. This partnership with Missouri State will allow us to impact even more lives and by extension, our community this year and well into the future.”
Thanks to this partnership, KC Scholars scholarship award recipients will receive funding from both GJKC and Missouri State. The university will also support the program even further by offering a university scholarship to individuals who apply for but do not receive the traditional scholarship.
“MSU and KC Scholars share a dedication to advancing higher education access and affordability; we’re excited to empower hundreds of students by providing them with access to educational opportunities we know can be transformative for them, their families and their communities,” said Dr. Ryan Reed, director of access and success programs at MSU.
About KC Scholars
KC Scholars is dedicated to equalizing access to postsecondary education and helping young people gain economic independence and build careers that support themselves and their families.
The program aims to impact thousands of individuals, lift the economic tide of the entire region, and help everyone thrive. KC Scholars receives about 1,100 competitive applicants yearly and awards 300 traditional scholarships yearly. These scholarships are awarded to individuals from low- and modest-income families who live or attend high school in the six counties in Kansas City Metropolitan area. The program also provides college savings match awards to high school freshmen.
KC Scholars is part of the Great Jobs KC organization, which also offers tuition-free job training programs in high-paying and high-demand industries for adults 17 and over in the Kansas City Metropolitan area. The Great Jobs KC organization aims to enhance the pipeline of talent for a strong regional workforce.