Make an Impact in KC as a Volunteer Scholarship Reviewer

Are you looking for a way to contribute to Great Jobs KC beyond financial donations? Our Community Reviewers play a crucial role in shaping the future of our organization. As third-party reviewers, community reviewers are instrumental in selecting our next cohort of Scholars for our three Kansas City area scholarships: our Adult Learner Scholarship, Traditional 11th Grade Scholarship, and our College Savings Match program. Their careful review of potential Scholar applications and essays in March and April ensures a fair and unbiased selection process, guaranteeing that the most qualified applicants continue their education with Great Jobs KC and our partners, including Kansas State University, the University of Kansas, The University of Missouri, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Wichita State University, and many more. This is a rewarding experience, and our reviewers can take pride in the fact that they are making a significant impact on the future workforce of Kansas City.?

“I’ve been a reviewer for [Great Jobs KC] for three years now. Reading the essays of hopeful applicants who share their dreams of one day going to college – and the challenges they are currently overcoming to get there – is an emotional and humbling experience. For these kids, going to college is not a rite of passage; it is the opportunity of a lifetime... Thanks for the opportunity to be part of [Great Jobs KC]. I am grateful, and I am better for this experience.” – Laurie, Community Reviewer.

While nonprofits thrive on donations, there are many ways to support their mission. For the?Great Jobs KC - KC Scholars Scholarship Program, our Community Reviewers are a vital asset. These individuals not only contribute to our mission and our Scholars but also find the experience incredibly rewarding. Many of our reviewers have described it as a fulfilling opportunity to give back to their communities and support those interested in receiving this Kansas City area scholarship.?

“When I read scholarship applications, I’m often brought to tears. Students share the devastating personal and financial struggles that they’ve?already faced. ?Teacher recommendations detail how these young people work hard at school and in their community. It’s not easy reading applications; but, it’s been such a meaningful experience—one I’ve done for several years.” – Vicky, Community Reviewer.

We constantly seek individuals with knowledge, understanding, and experience with the challenges of enrolling in and completing a college degree. While this volunteer opportunity has a higher hourly commitment, it is entirely online and can be done from anywhere, allowing for more freedom for our reviewers.?

So, who makes a great reviewer? Selecting our reviewers is just as rigorous as selecting our newest Scholar cohort. We aim to have the highest level of integrity with this process. To ensure a fair review process, we make all applications confidential so reviewers cannot see names and allow our reviewers to share any potential conflicts of interest. While these are the first steps to ensure a fair judging, we also require specific reviewer eligibility. This includes that reviewers also live, work, or volunteer in one of our six working counties, reviewers are not allowed to have close connections to applicants or staff at Great Jobs KC, they must be 21 years old or older, and our reviewers reflect the diversity we aim to support with our programs. Following these specifications, selected reviewers must be available to attend a 2-hour virtual training session and commit to 15 to 18 volunteer hours.

“Being a reviewer helps me connect to a part of my community... These are my peeps not some abstract image on a newsfeed. Being a reviewer gives me [a] very personal connection to understanding the challenges, struggles, dreams, and goals of a population wanting to be more, do more, [and] give more to themselves and their communities. It makes me more compassionate and caring in doing my part to assist in their success. Their success is my success.” – Rose, Community Reviewer.

Make an impact by becoming a community reviewer for our 2025 cycle! Follow this link (Reviewer Interest) to express your interest in becoming a community reviewer so we can send you the application link once it opens on?January 9th, 2025. This year's application will stay open until January 31, 2025, and reviewers will begin volunteering in March and April to select who will join our programs and potentially earn a $50,000 scholarship.