$17,000 in Annual KICF Scholarships
Since its creation in 1952, Kansas Independent College Foundation (KICF) has sought to recognize students each academic year who demonstrate the commitment to excellence, virtue, and integrity, and who honor the myriad of ways that students who attend KICF institutions receive an education that prepares them for a lifetime of success in their personal and, professional lives. To that end, KICF has created the Green and Gold Merit Scholarships and, each academic year, KICF will make awards in the following categories.
KICF hopes these awards are an opportunity to show gratitude to donors who have supported these types of high-achieving students for many years. These students demonstrate why those donors - and hopefully others in the future - care about the education that students receive from Kansas' independent colleges. Though the criteria vary for each individual award, ALL nominees had to submit an essay detailing (1) Why they chose to attend their Kansas, Private institution instead of a state university or community college, and (2) Their post-college plans and how their education prepared them for success. Excerpts from winning essays include:
- I am a nontraditional college student that serves full-time in the Kansas Army National Guard and sense of community and be part of larger than myself is important. I have found a friendship, mentors and success at USM.
- I decided to attend an independent college for several reasons, but the most influential being: smaller class sizes, more opportunities to build close connections, and the sense of community.
- The studying habits that I have learned while in college will prove to be very helpful in the first semester of medical school and beyond. Throughout this education process, the professors have helped show me how to work in groups This skill will prove to be helpful in medical school. The kindness that has been shown to me while in college by all of my professors and all of the staff here will help me when I become a doctor because I will be able to carry that on, and show all of my patients that kindness I have been shown here.
Congratulations to Our 2020-2021 Green & Gold Scholarship Winners
Minority Student Scholarship (5 @ $1,000 each): In addition to meeting all other criteria, and submitting a quality personal essay, these students must be identified as non-white by the institution according to IPEDS reporting.
William Bart, University of Saint Mary, 3.9 GPA, from Leavenworth
Saigen Conrad, Baker University, 4.0 GPA, from Baldwin City
Susana Cornejo, Benedictine College, 4.0 GPA, of Cave Springs, AR
Irene Delarosa, Tabor College, 3.1 GPA, from Wichita
Eric Vazques, University of Saint Mary, 3.7 GPA, from Great Bend
First Generation Scholarship (5 @ $1,000 each): In addition to meeting all other criteria, and submitting a quality personal essay, these students must have indicated that their parents have “Less than a college degree” on the FAFSA.
Alaina Burris, Ottawa University, 3.9 GPA, from Shawnee
Alexis Dominguez, Benedictine College, 3.1 GPA, from Kansas City
Aubree Galle, Benedictine College, 3.8 GPA, of Spokane, WA
Raven Meadows, Baker University, 3.2 GPA, from Baldwin City
Stephanie Reichenberger, University of Saint Mary, 4.0 GPA, from Leavenworth
American Service Member Scholarship (1 @ $1,000): In addition to meeting all other criteria, and submitting a quality personal essay, this student must be either an active duty member of the United States armed services, a veteran of the United States armed services, or have successfully completed a full term of service in a federally managed civilian community service program, such as the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps*VISTA, AmeriCorps* NCCC, or Senior Corps.
Stephen Schafer, University of Saint Mary, 3.7 GPA, from Leavenworth
Better Life Degree Completion Award (1 @ $1,000): In addition to meeting all other criteria, and submitting
a quality personal essay, this student must have transferred into the KICF institution or re-started at the KICF institution after a minimum
of two-years of non- enrollment in higher education, and must have previously earned at least 37.5% of the credit hours required to earn their
degree prior to his/her current enrollment period at the KICF institution.
Janell Fellers, Kansas Wesleyan Univeristy, 3.4 GPA, from Assaria
Future Leaders in their Fields (2 per Area @ $500 each): In addition to meeting all other criteria, and submitting a quality personal essay, these students must have declared a major in a discipline identified by the institution according to the qualifying CIP code.
In the Arts, Tiffany Adams, Sterling College, 3.9 GPA, of Lincoln, NE
In the Arts, Ellen Budell, Benedictine College, 3.3 GPA, of Greeley, CO
In Education, Grace Chavez, Sterling College, 3.6 GPA, of Denton, TX
In Faith, Rebeca Dominguez, Southwestern College, 3.9 GPA, from Winfield
In Business, Samir Elbasset, Ottawa University, 3.4 GPA, of Valencia, Columbia
In Health Professions, Abbey Fischer, Friends University, 4.0 GPA, from Leoti
In Faith, Grace Marozas, Manhattan Christian College, 4.0 GPA, from Beloit
In Education, Rebekah Morris, Kansas Wesleyan University, 3.9 GPA, from Coffeyville
In Business, Gerardo Ortiz, Southwestern College, 3.0 GPA, of Garland, TX
In Health Professions, Sarah Schwinn, Benedictine College, 3.7 GPA, from Leavenworth.
2020-2021 Scholarship Reviewers
These volunteers shared their professional insight and dozens of hours of their time to help select our winners from this year's nominated applicants. Please join us in thanking:
Debbie Brevik – Vice President, Team Leader & Account Executive, IMA, Inc.; Doug Brown – Vice President of Business Development, Pioneer College Caterers; Kyle Christian – Legislative Assistant, Office of U.S. Senator Jerry Moran; Carrie Emberson – Marketing & Business Development Manager, BKD CPAs & Advisors; Jeff Flathman – President, Energy Solutions Professionals; Mischel Miller – Director of Teacher Licensure & Accreditation, Kansas Department of Education; Doug Penner – Former President, Kansas Independent College Association & Foundation; Ryan Rink – President, Two West Advisors; Mark Tallman – Associate Executive Director of Advocacy/Communications, Kansas Association of School Boards
DETAILS
Any KICF member institution in good standing may nominate students for any of the KICF scholarships listed above. Institutions may nominate as many students as they wish for as many of the various scholarships as they wish. However, member institutions may only receive one (1) of the scholarships per year unless there are no other qualified applicants for the additional scholarships for which they have nominated students. Students are eligible to be nominated for the scholarships provided they meet the following criteria:
1. The student is enrolled as a full-time degree-seeking undergraduate student (associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree) at a KICF member institution for the upcoming academic fall term, per the IPEDS definition of “full-time,” “degree-seeking,” and “undergraduate.”
a. Exception #1: Part-time students may be nominated for the “Better Life” Degree Completion Award but must meet the other eligibility criteria.
b. Exception #2: Graduate students may be nominated for the American Service Member Award or any “Future Leaders” Scholarship but must meet the other eligibility criteria.
2. The student has earned at least fifty percent (50%) of the credit hours required to earn their degree as of June 30 prior to the award year.
3. The student maintains a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
