A STRONG, RECOGNIZABLE COMMUNITY ASSET
A STRONG, RECOGNIZABLE COMMUNITY ASSET
HOW KC SCHOLARS STARTED THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND IS A COMMUNITY ASSET
From its beginning, KC Scholars was planned and is now implemented as a community asset! It is creating a strong college-going culture across our region and is among Kansas City's most prized and transformative programs!
Its roots are in one man’s commitment to postsecondary education as a life-changer! Ewing Marion Kauffman was an entrepreneur and humanitarian, whose innovative and long-lasting contributions have benefited millions of people in Kansas City and beyond. One of Mr. Kauffman’s visions was to ensure a postsecondary education was possible for everyone, regardless of income, age or ethnicity. The Kauffman Foundation wanted to continue this legacy and to gift to our community with a large-scale scholarship and support program that would serve many across the broad region.
KC Scholars started as a community-engaged process. Over 70 members of the regional community helped to plan KC Scholars. They served on planning committees in 2016 and 2017 and their experiences and expertise shaped program design.
As a community asset, KC Scholars a 501(c)(3) entity, resides in the community, and has a community-based Board of Directors.
KC Scholars was publicly launched on September 28, 2016. It awarded its first scholarships in May 2017. Read more about the number of Scholars and impact here.
KC Scholars has grown into a strong, recognizable community asset! It is unlike other programs nationally and is changing the lives of thousands of low- and modest-income Kansas Citians and will be transformative to our region’s workforce and economy.
KC SCHOLARS WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT THE REGION
KC Scholars was designed to create individual impact and to positively impact the Kansas City region’s economy and workforce.
Learn more at Impact about how the program matters to this region.
KC SCHOLARS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO DONATE AND SERVE
Designed by the community as a community asset, KC Scholars embraces the philosophy that community involvement is necessary for its success and to achieve the desired impact. Check out the many ways to become involved in KC Scholars.
- Community members can donate so that more scholarships are awarded annually. 100% of donations support scholarships.
- Community members can be scholarship application reviewers. Learn more.
- Community members can share the scholarship opportunities with their family and friends and in the organizations in which they are involved. Refer to the Marketing Resources page for more information.
- Community members can set up a Named Scholarship and name it and direct it to support something they care deeply about.
WHY KC SCHOLARS MATTERS SO MUCH
Near every Scholar says that KC Scholars was a game-changer and that it matters a LOT.
Without the financial support from KC Scholars, most Scholars would have been challenged paying for a college education. Without KC Scholars, most students would have gone deep into debt and many others would not have attended or completed college.
Listen to these Scholars share why KC Scholars matters so much.
Listen to these Scholars share why KC Scholars matters so much.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
As a 501(c)(3) public charity, KC Scholars has a community-based board of directors.
The inaugural board of 5 began their terms in July 2017. KC Scholars will continue to expand the size of its board in future years.
Terry Bassham
President and CEO
Evergy
Evergy
Tammy Edwards
Senior Vice President, Community Engagement and Inclusion Division, and Director of the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Board Treasurer
KC Scholars
Michelle Kay
Vice President and General Manager
Enterprise Holdings
Enterprise Holdings
Jan Kreamer
Chair, Kauffman Foundation (prev.)
Board Chair
KC Scholars
Board Chair
KC Scholars
Beto Lopez
Chief Operating Officer
Guadalupe Centers
Guadalupe Centers
Michael Roane
Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer (ret.)
JE Dunn Construction Company
JE Dunn Construction Company
Beth Tankersley-Bankhead, PhD
President and CEO
KC Scholars
KC Scholars
David Warm
Executive Director
Mid-America Regional Council
Mid-America Regional Council
Board Secretary
KC Scholars
MEET THE KC SCHOLARS TEAM
Juanita Ariza
CSA/M and Traditional Scholars Coordinator
Carrie Barnes
Adult Learner Coach
Maria Chaurand
Part-time Administrative and Development Assistant
Karen Collins
Executive Assistant
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Juanita Ariza
CSA/M and Traditional Scholars Coordinator
Phone
816-406-1883
Email
jariza@kcscholars.org
- B.A. in Communications & Psychology, University of Missouri-Columbia
- M.S. in Higher Education and Student Affairs, Indiana University-Bloomington
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Carrie Barnes
Adult Learner Coach
Phone
816-398-7658
Email
cbarnes@kcscholars.org
- B.A. in Political Science, Central Methodist University
- M.A in Public Administration, University of Missouri-Kansas City
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Maria Chaurand
Part-time Administrative and Development Assistant
Phone
816-406-1636
Email
mchaurand@kcscholars.org
- B.A. in Psychology, Rockhurst University
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Karen Collins
Executive Assistant
Phone
816-406-1575
Email
kcollins@kcscholars.org
- B.A. in Management, Webster University
- M.A. in Management and Leadership, Webster University
Michael Fitkin
IT Solutions Analyst
Camry Ivory
Adult Learner Scholars Manager
Justin Martin
Adult Learner Coach
Emily Monchusie
Director of Finance and Business Operations
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Michael Fitkin
IT Solutions Analyst
Phone
816-406-1936
Email
mfitkin@kcscholars.org
- A.A. in Financial Services Management, Johnson & Wales University
- Certificate in Application Development, Centriq
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Camry Ivory
Adult Learner Scholars Manager
Phone
816-406-1676
Email
civory@kcscholars.org
- B.A. in Linguistics and Spanish, University of Missouri-Columbia
- M.A. in Higher Education/Higher Education Administration,
University of Missouri-Kansas City
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Justin Martin
Adult Learner Coach
Phone
816-265-1736
Email
816-265-1736
- A.A. in Liberal Arts, Southwestern Community College
- B.A. in History and Communication, University of Missouri-Kansas City
- M.A.Ed. in Higher Education with an Emphasis in Exercise Science, University of Missouri-Kansas City
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Emily Monchusie
Director of Finance and Business Operations
Phone
816-398-7671
Email
816-398-7671
- B.S. in Accounting, University of Kansas
- M.S. in Accounting, University of Missouri- Kansas City
Amy Polen
Part-time Development Coordinator
Valerie Salazar
Director of Programs
Amy Shapiro
Part-time Program Assistant
Beth Tankersley-Bankhead, PhD
President and CEO
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Amy Polen
Part-time Development Coordinator
Phone
816-384-1208
Email
apolen@kcscholars.org
- B.S. in Organizational Communications, University of Kansas
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Valerie Salazar
Director of Programs
Phone
816-406-1641
Email
vsalazar@kcscholars.org
- B.A. in Communication Studies and Spanish, Texas Christian University
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Amy Shapiro
Part-time Program Assistant
Phone
816-406-1599
Email
ashapiro@kcscholars.org
- B.S. in Business Administration, University of Kansas
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Beth Tankersley-Bankhead, PhD
President and CEO
Phone
816-406-1622
- B.S. in Elementary Education,
University of Central Missouri - M.S. in Guidance and Counseling,
with an emphasis in College Student Personnel, Eastern Illinois University - PhD in Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis, with an emphasis in Higher and Continuing Education,
University of Missouri-Columbia
Eric Thompson
Adult Learner Innovation Manager and Adult Learner Coach
Cherelle Washington
CSA/M and Traditional Scholars Manager
Dustin Wightman
IT Solutions Analyst
Sharmelle Winsett
Director of Workforce and Alumni Engagement
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Eric Thompson
Adult Learner Innovation Manager and Adult Learner Coach
Phone
816-601-2292
Email
ethompson@kcscholars.org
- EdD in Higher Education Policy and Leadership at University of Kansas (in process)
- M.S. in Family Therapy, Friends University
- B.S. in Psychology, Jackson State University
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Cherelle Washington
CSA/M and Traditional Scholars Manager
Phone
816-398-7662
- B.A. in Communication, University of Missouri-Columbia
- M.Ed in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, University of Missouri-Columbia
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Dustin Wightman
IT Solutions Analyst
Phone
816-406-1899
Email
dwightman@kcscholars.org
- B.S. in Business Administration, University of Kansas
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Sharmelle Winsett
Director of Workforce and Alumni Engagement
Phone
816-601-2293
Email
swinsett@kcscholars.org
- B.A. in Communications, Business Management from the University of Missouri-Columbia
- MBA (in progress), University of Missouri-Kansas City
2020 AWARDEES
To learn who received scholarships in May 2020, click below to download lists.
KC SCHOLARS SURPRISE AWARD CEREMONIES
Every May, KC Scholars has surprise scholarship award ceremonies at schools across the 6-county service region.
In 2019, we surprised 48 Scholars (traditional, adult learner, and college savings match) by awarding their scholarship to them at the school. Parents and families were told in advance and they – along with community donors, press, school leaders, and community members – attended the ceremonies.
At that moment, you can see lives change. Scholars are so proud and happy that they are receiving the award.
Watch Scholars being surprise awarded – this is what KC Scholars is all about.
Remember, to potentially be among those surprise awarded in May 2021 – you have to apply and be awarded a scholarship. Applications open January 1, 2021.