Ottawa University and Great Jobs KC Announce New Partnership

Partnership Offers Scholarship Opportunities to Kansas City Area Residents 

Ottawa University and Great Jobs KC’s KC Scholars Program, a leading college access and scholarship program, announce their partnership as Ottawa University joins the KC Scholars College Network. The KC Scholars Program is designed to eliminate financial barriers to higher education for low-to-modest-income students that are looking to continue their educational journey. Joining the KC Scholars College Network puts Ottawa University in the company of 25 other regional institutions in the Kansas and Missouri region. 

 Annually, KC Scholars awards over 800 scholarships to qualified applicants in the Kansas City area. 250 Traditional Scholarships are awarded to 11th grade applicants, with a scholarship value of up to $50,000 per scholarship. 150 Adult Learner Scholarships are awarded to qualified applicants aged 24 or older, with a scholarship value of up to $25,000. More than 400 College-Specific Scholarships are awarded to qualified scholars, to be used solely at the awarded institution, with a value of at least $50,000 per scholarship. Scholarship awardees across the six-county Kansas City metro region can now use their KC Scholars Scholarship to enroll and attend Ottawa University. 

Additionally, for high school juniors who qualify but are not awarded a Traditional Scholarship, these students will have the opportunity to select Ottawa University as a preferred institution during their scholarship application process and if qualified, may receive a separate scholarship graciously funded by Ottawa University, named KC Scholars Ottawa-Specific Scholarship. This scholarship is valued at up to $115,000 and can only be utilized at Ottawa University’s Ottawa Campus or Kansas City Campus (located in Overland Park, Kansas). 

“Our partnership with KC Scholars is a powerful extension of Ottawa University’s mission to prepare liberal arts graduates for lives of significance and service in a Christ-inspired caring community of grace and open inquiry. KC Scholars helps us reach students with the talent and drive to make a difference, and together we’re creating pathways for them to pursue their purpose and professional goals through education, faith, and service.,” said Bambi Burgard, Campus President, OUKS 

The collaboration will leverage Ottawa University’s robust institutional aid to supplement the substantial financial support from the KC Scholars awards. The KC Scholars Program provides 1:1 Scholar Advocate support for each student awarded, aiding in removing barriers to success and providing the necessary support for the Scholars in this program to succeed. This holistic approach ensures that Scholars awarded these generous scholarships can focus primarily on their studies, as the scholarship funding significantly reduces the burden of college costs, thereby driving degree completion and long-term career success in the region. 

 Natalie Lewis, Great Jobs KC COO, commented, "We have every faith that Ottawa University will be an outstanding partner, and this commitment of nearly unlimited opportunities is truly transformative. Ottawa University is setting a powerful example for educational access. This guarantees that more of our Scholars, whether they are high schoolers looking for a traditional university experience or adults seeking career advancement, can secure a degree and contribute to the economic growth of Greater Kansas City.” 

Interested students and adult learners must first apply to and be awarded a KC Scholars Scholarship during their respective application windows in order to utilize their scholarships at Ottawa University. 

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Great Jobs KC (www.greatjobskc.org) is a 501(c)(3) college scholarship and tuition-free job training program. Its goal is to support persistence and increase the college completion rate for low- and modest-income students across the six-county, bi-state service region and secure family-sustaining careers. The organization was designed to change thousands of individual lives and transform the region by preparing the local future workforce and contributing to the regional economy. 

The Great Jobs KC Program provides tuition assistance to approved career training programs in high-demand industries such as construction, healthcare, information technology, logistics/warehousing, manufacturing, and service careers. With the support of Great Jobs KC, adults 17+ and older can learn the skills needed in one year or less to secure a career making at least $45,000 per year. 

Great Jobs KC supports all its Scholars throughout their college or job training, with employment assistance, and into their first year of employment.