UMKC group awards seven for 2016
Helene Slinker, a Raytown, Mo., resident and a spring 2016 graduate of Raytown South High School, has been named a University of Missouri-Kansas City Trustees’ Scholar.
When Slinker enters the pre-law 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.
Slinker, who graduated in the top four percent of her class, was a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, varsity swimming and debate.
As a dedicated community member, Slinker has volunteered for the Raytown Emergency Assistance Program and Southeast Enterprises. She has completed 50 hours of A+ tutoring at Southwood Elementary School, is a member of the Truman Heartland Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council and works at John Knox Village Assisted Living Center.
In the essay submitted to the Trustees’ Scholars selection committee, Slinker said an education, with the assistance of the Trustees Scholarship, will make it possible for her to fulfill her dream of bettering the Kansas City area.
“A degree from UMKC will help me create the change I wish to see in my city. At UMKC, I would receive a high-quality education in the heart of my home.”
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.