Epps Scholarship Fund

The Epps Scholarship Fund was established at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation by attorneys Willie and Mischa Epps to support the aspirations of college-bound high school seniors with an expressed interest in pursuing a legal education. This fund honors Dr. Willie James Epps, Sr. and Dr. Barbara Bacon Epps, both born and raised in rural, poor and segregated Mississippi, but excelled in school and became a part of the first generation in their respective families to attend college. Both went on to earn Ph.D.’s in the field of education and to teach at various schools, colleges and universities across the country. They instilled in their two children that faith and education are the keys to success. Their children became licensed attorneys who regularly attend church. Willie and his wife Mischa chose a non-traditional path to promote the scholarship opportunity by working in partnership with churches that disseminate the application and deadline information throughout their congregations.

The Epps Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to college-bound high school seniors based on demonstrated academic achievement, financial need, and an express interest in pursuing a legal education.

The students eligible for assistance shall be:

1. Graduating high school seniors who reside in Missouri
2. Intending to continue their education at a four-year college or university and then at an accredited law school. Consideration will be given to academic achievement, financial need and the student’s community service record. Students should submit a scholarship application on the form provided by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation.

Scholarships will be awarded on an annual basis and disbursed in equal payments in August and January. Students must continue to attend classes and maintain no lower than a 3.0 grade-point average (or equivalent).

Each scholarship awarded will be a minimum of $2,000 annually to be paid in two equal installments.

This scholarship is not renewable. Only high school seniors intending to enroll in a four-year college or university and then attend an accredited law school are eligible to apply. Previous scholarship recipients cannot re-apply.

Supplemental Questions

1. Describe examples of your leadership experience and share how you have significantly influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time. Consider the responsibilities you have taken for initiatives in or out of school.
2. Describe how attorneys have impacted our community, state, or nation in positive ways. You may choose to write about a group of attorneys or an individual attorney.
3. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to address this challenge. Include whether you turned to anyone in facing the challenge, the role that person played, and what you learned about yourself.