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!
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.
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.
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.

Terry Bassham
Evergy

Tammy Edwards
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Board Treasurer
KC Scholars

Michelle Kay
Enterprise Holdings

Jan Kreamer
Board Chair
KC Scholars

Beto Lopez
Guadalupe Centers

Michael Roane
JE Dunn Construction Company

Beth Tankersley-Bankhead, PhD
KC Scholars

David Warm
Mid-America Regional Council
Board Secretary
KC Scholars
MEET THE KC SCHOLARS TEAM

Juanita Ariza

Carrie Barnes

Maria Chaurand

Karen Collins

Juanita Ariza
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

Carrie Barnes
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

Maria Chaurand
Phone
816-406-1636
Email
mchaurand@kcscholars.org
- B.A. in Psychology, Rockhurst University

Karen Collins
Phone
816-406-1575
Email
kcollins@kcscholars.org
- B.A. in Management, Webster University
- M.A. in Management and Leadership, Webster University

Michael Fitkin

Camry Ivory

Justin Martin

Emily Monchusie

Michael Fitkin
Phone
816-406-1936
Email
mfitkin@kcscholars.org
- A.A. in Financial Services Management, Johnson & Wales University
- Certificate in Application Development, Centriq

Camry Ivory
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

Justin Martin
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

Emily Monchusie
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

Valerie Salazar

Amy Shapiro

Beth Tankersley-Bankhead, PhD

Amy Polen
Phone
816-384-1208
Email
apolen@kcscholars.org
- B.S. in Organizational Communications, University of Kansas

Valerie Salazar
Phone
816-406-1641
Email
vsalazar@kcscholars.org
- B.A. in Communication Studies and Spanish, Texas Christian University

Amy Shapiro
Phone
816-406-1599
Email
ashapiro@kcscholars.org
- B.S. in Business Administration, University of Kansas

Beth Tankersley-Bankhead, PhD
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

Cherelle Washington

Dustin Wightman

Sharmelle Winsett

Eric Thompson
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

Cherelle Washington
Phone
816-398-7662
- B.A. in Communication, University of Missouri-Columbia
- M.Ed in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, University of Missouri-Columbia

Dustin Wightman
Phone
816-406-1899
Email
dwightman@kcscholars.org
- B.S. in Business Administration, University of Kansas

Sharmelle Winsett
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.
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.