Applications Considered for a Scholarship:

• 165 Adult Learners
• 391 College Savings Account/Match program 
• 1,121 Traditional

Internal Administrative Review – Step One in Review Process:

• After initial internal review the day after the deadline, 2% were added to applications to be reviewed and considered for a scholarship. After administrative review, 7% of submitted applications were declined because they were not eligible or did not provide required materials (7% in Traditional, 9% among College Savings Match, and 2% among Adult Learners). Per NCAN, the Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation experienced an average annual rate of 10% not being considered after administrative review.

Awards Made:

• 158 Adult Learner scholarships.
• 250 college savings account match and incentives awards (a modification was made and 250 awards – all match – were given in 2021 and 250 will be awarded annually).
• 310 Traditional (11th grade) (21% increase in awards as compared to original plan of 250 awards).
• 214 MU/UMKC match (this number was reduced in 2021 as the MU match. agreement was renegotiated in 2020 to now span 9 cohorts rather than the previous 4) The renewable value of scholarships awarded is about $35 M.

County Representation among Awarded:

• For Adult Learner recipients, 4% are from Cass, 5% from Clay, 70% from Jackson, 1% from Platte, 13% from Johnson, and 8% from Wyandotte.
• For College Savings Match and Incentive recipients, 3% are from Cass, 14% from Clay, 46% from Jackson, 5% from Platte, 11% from Johnson, and 22% from Wyandotte.
• For Traditional (11th grader) recipients, 5% are from Cass, 13 from Clay, 46% from Jackson, 5% from Platte, 12% from Johnson, and 19% from Wyandotte.

Schools Participation:

• Students in the College Savings Match and Incentive program are from 59 high schools, with one homeschooled.
• Students selected for  Traditional (11th grade) scholarships are from 67 high schools, with one homeschooled.
• Overall, awardees come from 80 unique high schools and two are homeschooled.

First- Generation College Status:

• 70% of Adult Learner recipients are first-generation college goers.

• 72% of College Savings Account Match and Incentive program participants are first- generation college goers.
• 85% of Traditional (11th grader) recipients are first-generation college goers.
• Overall, 77% of awardees will be the first in their family to complete college.

Race and Ethnicity:

• 81% of Adult Learner recipients are individuals of color.
• 76% of College Savings Account Match and Incentive program participants are individuals of color.
• 75% of Traditional (11th grader) recipients are individuals of color.
• Overall, 75% of awardees are individuals of color.

ACT Scores: (only 11th grade applicants submitted an ACT and it was required only if their GPA was below a 2.5. It is also important to keep in mind that these are 11th graders, so they had taken the ACT test only once and have at least five more test-taking opportunities before the end of their senior year). Of the 12.3% that did upload an ACT score:

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  • 76% scored at 21 or above (21 is considered college ready).
  • 24% scored 28 or higher, placing them in the 90th percentile nationwide.
  • 3% scored 32 or higher, placing them in the top 98th percentile nationwide.
• The average ACT score of awardees that submitted a score is 23.6 – higher than the MO, KS, and national averages.

GPAs:

• Among Adult Learner recipients, 58% earned below a 3.0 GPA and 42% earned a 3.0 or higher GPA.
• Among college savings accounts seeded, 16% have a GPA below 3.0; 84% have a GPA between 3.0 and 4.0; 57% have a 3.5 or higher; and 16% have a 4.0.
• Among the 250 in the College Savings Account Match and Incentive program, 95% have a GPA between 3.0 and 4.0; 82% have a GPA of 3.5 or higher; and 40% have a 4.0.
• Among Traditional (11th grader) recipients, 1% have a GPA below 3.0; 99% have a GPA between 3.0 and 4.0; 82% have a GPA of 3.5 or higher; and 25% have a 4.0.

Low-and Modest-Income Measured by EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) of ≤ 12,000:

• Among Adult Learner recipients, 53% have a zero EFC and 77% have a 4,000 or less EFC.
• Among the 250 in the College Savings Account Match and Incentive program, 48% have a zero EFC and 86% have a 4,000 or less EFC.
• Among Traditional (11th grader) recipients, 57% have a zero EFC and 95% have a 4,000 or less EFC.
• Overall, 88% of awardees have an EFC of 4,000 or less.

Previous College Credits Earned:

• Among Adult Learner recipients, the average numbers of credits previously earned was 68.69 and 92% had previously earned 21 or more college credits.
• 40% of Adult Learner awardees had previously earned an associate degree.

Interesting Facts:

• The youngest recipient is 14 years old and the oldest is 68 years old (the average age of Adult Learner awardees is 37.2).

• There are 216 total family relationships among 448 awarded Scholars, including 21 sets of twins and 32 sets of parent and child (four of which is a parent and two children).

Reviewers:

• 238 are community volunteer reviewers.
• 45% are first-generation college goers
• 1% were from Cass, 5% from Clay, 45% from Jackson, 35% from Johnson, 5% from Platte, and 6% from Wyandotte Counties. 3% from Other Counties.
• 15% were under 30 years of age, 25% between 30 and 39, 22% between 40 and 49, 21% between 50 and 59, 14% between 60 and 69, and 3% over 70.
• Highest level of educational attainment – 59% of reviewers have a graduate or professional degree, 39% have a bachelor’s degree, 1% have earned an associate degree, and 1% have some college but no degree.

Top five employers were represented among reviewers: University of Missouri-Kansas City, Lockton Companies, Ad Astra, Mariner Holdings, Honeywell FM&T (others in top 10: University of Kansas, Kiewit, Metropolitan Community College, Cerner Corporation, Children’s Mercy Hospital).