PRESS RELEASE: $50,000 Awarded to Kansas Military Families

PRESS RELEASE: $50,000 Awarded to Kansas Military Families

Topeka, KS, April 22^nd, 2025: One of the purposes of the Kansas Independent College Association is to serve as a conduit for designated or restricted gifts to specific member institutions. Today, we announce the recipients of scholarships funded by KICA’s partnership with The Valor Partners Foundation. KICA-Valor Partners Foundation Scholarships provide support for students who are VA Dependents Education Assistance Chapter 35 eligible students: spouses and children of deceased or 100% disabled U.S. Armed Forces Veterans.

KICA is awarding $25,000 in scholarships to celebrate our diverse and talented student community who demonstrate a commitment to excellence, integrity, and service. Please join us in congratulating our 2025 winners!

ARMY DEPENDENTS

• From MidAmerica Nazarene University, Jaxson Nation, a Physical Therapy major
• From Friends University,Vianca San Miguel, a Health Science & Spanish major
• From McPherson College, Ky'rell Taylor, a Health Science major

NAVY DEPENDENTS

• From Friends University,Braeden Harris, a Business Administration & Marketing major
• From MidAmerica Nazarene University, Jordan Miller, a Ministry & Theatre major
• From MidAmerica Nazarene University, Regan Miller, a Biology major

What makes KICA-Valor Partners Foundation Scholarships interesting and impactful is that awarded scholarships must have an institutional 1-to-1 match, meaning the value of these awards total $50,000!

In announcing our KICA-Valor Partners Foundation Scholarships recipients, KICA President Matt Lindsey says, “We’re honored to work alongside the Valor Partners Foundation to offer this support of military families, whose resilience, service, and sacrifice often come with unique challenges when it comes to accessing higher education. These students bring extraordinary strength and perspective to our campuses, and we’re proud to stand beside them on their academic journeys. This marks the third scholarship fund we’ve announced this year, and each one is a testament to what’s possible when Kansas communities come together to invest in our future. We’re proud of this momentum and are excited to see what more the future holds we’re more than ready to keep going. If there are others looking to make a difference through scholarship support, we’d be glad to help make that vision a reality.”

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Located in Topeka, the Kansas Independent College Foundation is a 501(c)3 that develops and enhances the competitive standing of its 21-member independent, non-profit, regionally accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities and strives to assure opportunity and choice in higher education for all students. For more information, please contact Jesyca Hope, VP for Member Programs and Outreach at 785-554-0247 or jesyca@kscolleges.org.

Learn more about Valor Partners and their motto, HONORING AMERICA’S PROMISE, by visiting valorpartners.org.