A Second Chance as an Adult Learner with Great Jobs KC

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Beginning Again

Tim is a University of Missouri, Kansas City graduate supported by the KC Scholars Adult Learner Program. Tim worked as a Graphic Design Technician in 2020, but his role soon dissolved when COVID-19 hit the community. Instead of looking for a position that would be a short-term fix, Tim decided it was time to pursue his passion for programming and web development and land a job in the tech field. As Tim began this process, he soon realized the struggles of finding a quality job in this field without a degree and started to think seriously about returning to school. However, a new roadblock became apparent: how was he supposed to finance a four-year degree?

Community Support

Confiding in a friend about his dream of returning to school, Tim learned about Great Jobs KC’s KC Scholars Scholarship, a program specifically for adults who want to return to school and create their dream careers. Curious, he looked more into it that day to see if it all was too good to be true. Not only did he realize this program could help him get back on track and support him financially, but it was also much more.

After more research and seeing all the success stories of other individuals like him, it became apparent that this program was the perfect opportunity for someone in his position. The more Tim thought about going back to school and the more he was able to see it as a possibility with the KC Scholars Scholarship Program, the more determined he became to make it happen. Tim has completed his program and graduated from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, in 2024 with his Computer Science Degree. Tim was connected to WeCode KC during his education by Sharmelle, the Director of Workforce at Great Jobs KC. He earned his internship as a Web Development Intern that later blossomed into a family-sustaining career within a rapidly growing field. Tim still works at WeCode KC but has moved into his new full-time role as a Full-Stack Developer, where his wage has nearly doubled.

Encouragement That Lasts a Lifetime

Tim reflects on how much the support of Tammy Buckner, Founder and CEO of WeCode KC, meant everything to him. Her belief in Tim’s potential encouraged him to prove himself capable. Now, within his full-time position, Tim is leading real-world projects, and his invaluable experience has helped him gain a comprehensive understanding of software development. He can now say he’s built a strong technical foundation. This experience has taught Tim technical career skills and grown him in other ways. Working in a collaborative team environment has been transformative for Tim, as it has taught him how to communicate effectively, solve problems creatively, and deliver impactful solutions.

“I feel incredibly blessed and fortunate to be working in the field I set out to enter over four years ago. It’s an amazing feeling to see the hard work, determination, and belief—not only in myself but also from others—come to fruition in such a meaningful and impactful way… Thanks to Great Jobs KC and the opportunities I’ve had at WeCode KC, I’ve grown immensely as a developer and am well-prepared for the next steps in my career.”
Tim DeGraffenreid

This program and his current role have given Tim stability, financial independence, and the chance to grow professionally and personally. Tim shares how rewarding it is to work in a field with endless possibilities and the opportunity to contribute to exciting projects, learn new skills, and work alongside talented individuals who challenge and inspire him daily. Beyond the financial support of his program, Tim shares how this opportunity changed his life’s trajectory by being surrounded by experienced and caring people who guided him every step of the way from Great Jobs KC to WeCode KC. This support allowed him to stay focused on his goals as he didn’t have to rely on figuring out his education journey alone. Tim is such a firm believer in the programs at Great Jobs KC that he has shared them with his best friend and wife, who are both now involved in the program.

About Great Jobs KC:

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 KC Scholars Scholarship Program awards traditional college scholarships to high school juniors, adult learner scholarships to adults 18 years and older, and college savings match awards to high school freshmen.

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.

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A Second Chance as an Adult Learner with Great Jobs KC