The UMKC Trustees’ Scholars Program provides a fully funded educational and experiential program for a select group of first-time students at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. The scholarship is a collaboration between the university and the UMKC Trustees. The program gives students access to UMKC Trustees’ knowledge, experience and mentorship, as well as specialized guidance from key UMKC staff.
UMKC partners with local sponsors to support a Trustees’ Scholar, which provides more than $60,000 over four years. Sponsors can pay $10,000 annually toward a $40,000 pledge or fully endow their scholarship for $300,000. We welcome the opportunity to discuss these opportunities or other possible arrangements with you. Get in touch here about Sponsoring the Program.
This program doesn’t just provide tremendous opportunities for students. It also prepares them to be leaders in their communities and their careers.
Scott Boswell, Board member
Scholars’ Stories
Over the summer, Karah Chappel worked as a research assistant for Dr. Dawn Iwamasa. “I assisted Dr. Iwamasa with database investigation and primary source gathering for several studies she’s working on. I also worked with her to revamp our music therapy instrument closet and studio and helped her prepare for classes in the upcoming school year.” Her work in this position was mostly remote, as Karah said she wore many hats this summer. Her other positions included interning with the UMKC Women’s Council and working for ACE Publishing LLC and the UMKC Writing Studio.
Second-year scholar Grace Yu did a summer internship with Emerson & Company. “My typical payroll duties included processing, onboarding clients, fulfilling HR needs and handling service calls. For bookkeeping, I managed various responsibilities in QuickBooks, such as reconciliation, billing and invoicing. Additionally, I completed small projects on the side. For example, I performed an audit of our payroll platforms to see where the company stood in terms of profit margins and where we could look to improve. Overall, this internship was an amazing opportunity that really opened my eyes to how a successful small business is run.”
Niki Joshi, third-year scholar, had the amazing opportunity to spend four weeks with 19 other students from universities across the country in Ireland as a recipient of the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship. “We were based in Dublin but made excursions to Cork, Waterford and Belfast. We had the opportunity to participate in an extensive study on the intersections of leadership and social activism while learning about Ireland’s rich history of rebellion and revolution. We were also recognized and greeted by several government officials, including Ireland’s prime minister, as well as the Lord Mayors of Dublin, Cork and Waterford. Best of all, I was able to connect with so many other incredible student leaders from across the country and made many amazing memories and lifelong friendships. A few of us are already planning our next trip!”
Current Trustees’ Scholars
Students are categorized by their expected date of graduation.
Class of 2024
Mouada Allen
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Major: Biology
Trustee Mentor: Michelle Wimes
Maddy Bremer
Hometown: Clinton, MO
Major: Communications
Trustee Mentor: David Kenner
Aubrey Brown
Hometown: Cameron, MO
Major: Business Administration
Trustee Mentor: Jennifer Schnack
Lily Dang
Hometown: Joplin, MO
Major: Biology (Pre-Med)
Trustee Mentor: Dick Flanigan
Isabella del Cid
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Major: Health Sciences
Mentor: Luke Harris
Whitney Schweiger
Hometown: Olathe, KS
Major: Music Education
Mentor: Jodie Lin
Grace Yu
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Major: Accounting
Mentor: Debbie Brooks
Class of 2025
Sydnee Flowers
Hometown: Smithville, MO
Major: Business Administration
Trustee Mentor: Madeleine McDonough
Mary Gipson
Hometown: Bel Aire, KS
Major: Chemistry (Pre-Dental) and Spanish
Trustee Mentor: Reachel Beichley
Jaeden Johnson
Hometown: Omaha, NE
Major: Dance
Trustee Mentor: Debby Ballard
Ethan Kauffman
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Major: Music Education
Mentor: Marylou Turner
Z Kemp
Hometown: Blue Springs, MO
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Trustee Mentor: Scott Smith
Madison Kunz
Hometown: Platte City, MO
Major: Biology
Mentor: Dr. Joseph Spalitto
Emma Taylor
Hometown: Raytown, MO
Major: Business Administration
Trustee Mentor: Steve Bernstein
Class of 2026
Judy Batts
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Major: Biology
Trustee Mentor: TBD
Mauricio Bernal
Hometown: Kansas City, KS
Major: Civil Engineering
Trustee Mentor: Gabriel Hernandez
Chinecherem Ihenacho
Hometown: Raytown. MO
Major: Pre-Nursing
Vari Patel
Hometown: Lee’s Summit, MO
Major: Business Administration
Trustee Mentor: Suzanne Shank
Elliott Smith
Hometown: Parkville, MO
Major: Urban Planning and Design
Mentor: Dr. Robert Strom
Larry Smith
St. Louis, MO
Biology or Chemistry (pre-dentistry)
Trustee Mentor: Emmet Pierson
Taylor Trudell
Hometown: Knob Noster, MO
Major: Earth and Environmental Science
Trustee Mentor: Patti Phillips
Class of 2027
Laila Atkins
Hometown: Grandview, MO
Major: Political Science
Trustee Mentor: Donald Maxwell
Maisy Blanton
Hometown: Benton, KS
Major: Communications
Trustee Mentor: Steve Doyal
Andrew Custis
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Major: Earth & Environmental Science
Trustee Mentor: Kyle Vena
Atlas Mallams
Hometown: Liberty, MO
Major: Computer Science
Trustee Mentor: Leigh Anne Taylor Knight
Yasmina Mokhtar
Hometown: Joplin, MO
Major: Sociology
Trustee Mentor: Heather Humphrey
Alexis Reed
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Major: Biology
Mentor: Dr. Joseph Reuben
Micaela Richards
Hometown: Lee’s Summit, MO
Major: Business Administration
Trustee Mentor: Donna Ward
