Calling all country music fans-country singer, Lee Brice, is coming to Kansas City. The Cohen Community Series, a benefit concert to help raise money for student scholarships, is an event put on by the JCCC Foundation every year. 

Brice will be performing on Mar. 1 at Yardley Hall, located in the Midwest Trust Center on JCCC’s campus. The concert is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. 

Ordinarily, students would be able to get $5 tickets to events taking place at the Midwest Trust Center, but because this concert is a fundraiser, the MTC is unable to offer $5 ticket prices to students. Joy Ginsburg, the Executive Director of the JCCC Foundation, explained what will be done with the money raised from the tickets.

“All the proceeds from the ticket sales will be divided up to support either scholarships or student programs across campus,” Ginsburg stated. “For example, this benefit concert has supported scholarships for the Heirsteiner Child Care Development center for many years. The funds pay for tuition so parents can have their young children on campus at a wonderful child care center while they are in class. Funds previously have been used to support things like Welding Simulators, future educators program, and several different scholarships related to Career Tech Ed.”

The JCCC Foundation

The JCCC Foundation is a bit of a hidden gem amongst students at JCCC. Many may not know of all the wonderful things that they do to support people trying to further their education. Ginsburg shared what the foundation’s purpose is.

“[The] JCCC Foundation is a non-profit organization focusing on supporting JCCC students and programs through philanthropy,” Ginsburg said. “Our primary goal is to raise funds for student scholarships so we can help lift the financial barrier of obtaining an education at JCCC. We also raise funds to support the Nerman Contemporary Art Museum and the Midwest Trust Performing Arts center. The Foundation also supports many programs across campus to ensure faculty and students have access to tools that enhance the academic experience at JCCC. We strive to engage the community through numerous opportunities to partner with us.”

Olivia Mukanjiri, a current JCCC student, has received four scholarships overall from the JCCC Foundation throughout her time on campus. During her freshman year at JCCC she earned the Midwest Trust scholarship, which covered most of her tuition that year. Most recently, Mukanjiri has received the Billington Family Scholarship, the JCCC Supplemental Grant, and is also a Harvey Bodker scholar. She believes that the Foundation is truly making a difference.

“The JCCC Foundation really does an amazing job of reaching out to members of the community and organizations because they believe in the students and because they believe in the mission of JuCo so that we can have that funding to give back to students,” Mukanjiri said.

Mukanjiri attributes where she is at in her education today to the work that the JCCC Foundation does on a daily basis.

“I think that the work that the Foundation does on the back end isn’t often seen by students,” Mukanjiri stated. “The work that they do is essentially vital to my success.” 

Student Scholarships

The JCCC Foundation raises money throughout the year to support students that want to further their education at JCCC but may not have all of the funds to do so.

“Our primary purpose is to raise funds for student scholarships,” Ginsburg said. “This past year, [the] JCCC Foundation funded $1.7 million in student scholarships.”

While it may be daunting to some, Mukanjiri wants to encourage students to go ahead and apply for these scholarships even if they think they do not have a shot.

“I applied for the scholarships through the Foundation not really knowing what I was getting into,” Mukanjiri said. “The application is not that long and it just opens a lot of doors even once you get into the portal. There will be more specific scholarships based on your major that you can get access to that way too. My advice would just be to work hard academically. Sometimes your GPA is considered. Even if you have a history of not [having] a high GPA people do want to invest in you regardless of your GPA- like your backstory, your history, and who you are, people really do want to invest in you and support you through this journey. ” 

The JCCC Foundation has an abundance of scholarships available. Students should seriously consider filling out at least one scholarship application, if not more. 

“The Foundation has hundreds of scholarships available for JCCC students,” Ginsburg said. “To apply for any of the Foundation scholarships, visit the financial aid landing page and fill-out the scholarship application form to be considered.”

Mukanjiri is involved in the Student Senate and Honors Society on campus. Receiving her scholarships helped her to have the financial independence to be more involved in campus activities. 

“I think they all collaboratively helped me to become a more committed and devout student in the sense that they have allowed me the liberty to not have to be as worried about the financial burdens of college and allow me to be more involved,” Mukanjiri stated.

She feels as though because of the scholarships, she has more time to participate in events at JCCC since she does not have to have a job to pay for school.

“Without those scholarships I would have been spending that time working instead of investing in campus clubs and organizations that have allowed me to create community here,” Mukanjiri said. “I really feel that I belong on this campus so I am really grateful for these scholarships.”

The Cohen Community Series

As the Executive Director of the JCCC Foundation, Ginsburg has an extensive knowledge of what the Cohen Community Series is and how it came to be.

“The Cohen Community Series was inaugurated in 2008 through a gift from Jon Stewart, former vice chairman of the JCCC Board of Trustees, JCCC alumnus and former president of Metcalf Bank,” Ginsburg said. “The idea behind the Cohen Community Series is that we can bring an A List performer to JCCC using the fund established, and then all ticket sales support student programs and scholarships. Each year, the concert earnings are divided up to support the highest priorities around campus.”

Ginsburg also provided insight regarding the history of the Cohen Community Series.

“It was established in honor of the late Barton P. Cohen, president of Metcalf Bancshares, vice chairman and general counsel of Metcalf Bank, and an attorney with Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin LLP,” Ginsburg stated. “Barton and his wife, Mary Davidson Cohen were both long-time supporters and donors of JCCC.” 

Many big names in music have graced the stage at the Midwest Trust Center through the years.

“Previous Cohen Community Series presenters have included George Thorogood, Clint Black, Scotty McCreery, Phil Vassar, Josh Turner, Lonestar, Sawyer Brown, Tracy Lawrence, Diamond Rio, George Will, Marcus Buckingham, and Vince Gill,” Ginsburg said. “This year, the Cohen Community Series is featuring Lee Brice.”

Everyone is encouraged to come hear the musical stylings of Lee Brice to help fund more scholarships and campus programs, and to give students their best opportunity to complete their education at JCCC.