Epps Scholarship Fund

Scholarship Sponsored by Greater Kansas City Community Foundation

Introduction
The Epps Scholarship Fund, held at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, was created by attorneys Willie and Mischa Epps to encourage college-bound high school seniors who intend to pursue a career in law. The fund commemorates Dr. Willie James Epps, Sr. and Dr. Barbara Bacon Epps — both raised in rural, impoverished, and segregated Mississippi, who were first-generation college students in their families. Each earned a Ph.D. in education and taught at schools, colleges, and universities across the country. They taught their children that faith and education are essential to success; both children became licensed attorneys and remain active churchgoers. To promote the scholarship broadly, Willie and Mischa partner with churches to share application and deadline information with congregations.

Purpose and Selection Criteria
Awards from the Epps Scholarship Fund are granted to graduating high school seniors who demonstrate academic achievement, financial need, and a clear intent to pursue legal study. Selection will also take into account the applicant’s record of community service. Applicants must use the scholarship application form provided by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation.

Eligibility
- Current high school seniors who are residents of Missouri.
- Plan to enroll in a four-year college or university immediately after graduation and later attend an accredited law school.
- Previous recipients of the Epps Scholarship are not eligible to reapply.

Award Details
- Scholarship amounts vary; each award will be at least $2,000 per year.
- Payments are made in two equal installments: one in August and one in January.
- Recipients must remain enrolled in classes and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent) to continue receiving installment payments.
- The scholarship is not renewable; it is awarded on an annual basis and previous recipients cannot reapply.

Application Process
Submit the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation scholarship application form according to the Foundation’s instructions. Selection considerations include academic performance, demonstrated financial need, and community service involvement.

Deadline
04/30/2026

Supplemental Questions (respond to all)
1) Provide examples of your leadership experiences. Explain how you have influenced others, helped resolve conflicts, or contributed to group projects over time, including any initiatives you have led inside or outside of school.
2) Discuss ways attorneys have positively affected our community, state, or nation. You may focus on an individual lawyer or a group of attorneys.
3) Describe the most significant challenge you have faced, the actions you took to confront it, whether you sought assistance, the role that person played, and what you learned about yourself.