Selection Process
AWARDEE SELECTION PROCESS
Receiving a KC Scholars scholarship is a tremendous accomplishment and honor. Scholars indicate that receiving the scholarship and support services changed their lives and they are proud to be Scholars.
KC Scholars is a very competitive award program. Thousands of students and Adult Learners in the six-county Kansas City metropolitan area meet the minimum eligibility requirements during each annual award cycle. Before you apply, ensure you meet the requirements and are verified through an online eligibility check.
Application evaluation standards were determined by the KC Scholars Selection Criteria Workgroup and approved by the Steering Committee when KC Scholars was first developed. Comprised of community members, volunteer community reviewers’ training includes discussions about implicit bias and explanations of a strict conflict of interest policy. Community reviewers evaluate applications without names and schools being viewable to further ensure a fair and consistent evaluation process of all applicants.
If you have questions or suggestions, please contact KC Scholars at info@kcscholars.org or 816-581-5700
Scholars Eligible to Apply
For individuals who are eligible to apply, complete, and submit their application and required supporting materials by the deadline, evaluation criteria are consistently applied to determine which applicants receive a scholarship or a college savings account (and those selected to participate in the match and incentives program). More than 450 volunteer community reviewers are selected and trained to utilize a scoring rubric from which they evaluate applicants’ essays and recommendations. The 100-point rubric considers the most important factors for each of the three program components (traditional scholarship, adult scholarship, and college savings match program), including:
- Applicants’ motivation to go to college;
- Applicants’ preparedness for college;
- Applicants’ likelihood to complete college;
- Completeness of personal statements in addressing prompts;
- Financial need;
- GPA;
- County distribution for those selected for the college savings match and incentive program; and
- Assurance of a diverse recipient pool that meets KC Scholars’ established goals