A STRONG, RECOGNIZABLE COMMUNITY ASSET
HOW KC SCHOLARS STARTED THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND IS NOW 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 and more than 220 did so in 2019. 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), KC Scholars has a community-based board of directors.
The inaugural board of 5 began their terms in July 2017. KC Scholars will expand the size of its board in future years.
Terry Bassham
President and CEO
KCPL/Great Plains Energy
KCPL/Great Plains Energy
Tammy Edwards
Vice President of Community Development
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
Board Chair
KC Scholars
KC Scholars
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
Beth Tankersley-Bankhead, PhD
President and CEO
Phone
Email
- 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
Juanita Ariza
Program Coordinator
Phone
Email
- B.A. in Communications & Psychology, University of Missouri-Columbia
- M.S. in Higher Education and Student Affairs, Indiana University-Bloomington
Maria Chaurand
Part-time Administrative and Philanthropy Assistant
Phone
Email
- B.A. in Psychology, Rockhurst University
Karen Collins
Executive Assistant
Phone
Email
- B.A. in Management, Webster University
- M.A. in Management and Leadership, Webster University
Michael Fitkin
IT Systems and User Support Coordinator
Phone
Email
- A.A. in Financial Services Management, Johnson & Wales University
- Certificate in Application Development, Centriq
Camry Ivory
Program Coordinator
Phone
Email
- B.A. in Linguistics and Spanish, University of Missouri-Columbia
- M.A. in Higher Education/Higher Education Administration,
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Amy Polen
Part-time Philanthropy Assistant
Phone
Email
- B.S. in Organizational Communications, University of Kansas
Valerie Salazar
Program Manager
Phone
Email
- B.A. in Communication Studies and Spanish, Texas Christian University
Amy Shapiro
Part-time Administrative Assistant
Phone
Email
- B.S. in Business Administration, University of Kansas
Cherelle Washington
Program Coordinator
Phone
Email
- B.A. in Communication, University of Missouri-Columbia
- M.Ed in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, University of Missouri-Columbia
Dustin Wightman
IT Systems and User Support Coordinator
Phone
Email
- B.S. in Business Administration, University of Kansas
2018 AWARDEES
To learn who received scholarships in May 2018, 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 in 2017 and 2018 – this is what KC Scholars is all about.
Remember, to potentially be among those surprise awarded in May 2020 – you have to apply and be awarded a scholarship. Mark your calendars now. Applications open January 1, 2020. Get ready to apply.The application deadline is midnight March 1, 2019. It’s time to apply!