Turner High School Graduate Named Trustees’ Scholar

UMKC group awards seven for 2017

Kansas City native Ciera Ayala, a spring 2017 Turner High School graduate, has been named a University of Missouri-Kansas City Trustees’ Scholar.

When Ayala begins the Bachelor of Health Sciences degree program at UMKC in the fall, she will receive a scholarship valued at $60,000 over four years. Her award is supported by the UMKC Board of Trustees, the founder of the scholarship program.

Ayala, who graduated in the top four percent of her class, was a member of the volleyball, basketball, track and cross country teams, as well as a member of Link Crew, where she assisted incoming freshmen adapt to the high school environment.

As a dedicated community member, Ayala has volunteered in various capacities with the Mattie Rhodes Art Center and Our Lady of Guadalupe elementary school. She also works as a clerk for First Response Construction, and received a Student Athlete of the Month award for her leadership on and off of the court.

In the essay submitted to the Trustees’ Scholars selection committee, Ayala said that “a UMKC degree is key to my future because of the connections the school holds.”

“UMKC is in the heart of the city I will give back to, and this university possess opportunities for me to achieve my goals and more. A nursing degree from UMKC is extremely significant to my future. My ultimate goal is to give back to my community through every opportunity that comes my way.”
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The Trustees Scholarship provides educational fees and on-campus room and board for the first two years. In the third and fourth years, the package provides educational fees and $2,000 for room and board. Each Trustees’ Scholar also receives $500 toward books each year.

To qualify as Trustees’ Scholars, students must meet at least two of the following three criteria: score a minimum ACT Composite of 30, rank in the top five percent of the graduating class, or have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or more in a 17-class core curriculum. Trustees’ Scholars must enroll full time, be seeking an undergraduate degree and commit to living on campus for the first two years.

The UMKC Trustees’ Scholars Program is unique in that it aligns students closely with corporate sponsors, who give students access to their professional knowledge and experience, insight into the inner workings of the company or institution they represent, and a strong mentor relationship throughout the college experience. Students have opportunities to network and find internships or jobs through the Trustees and their connections in the community.


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