Provided by LCU<\/p>\n
LUBBOCK, Texas (NEWS RELEASE) – A new partnership between Lubbock Christian University and Lubbock Area United Way is creating a pathway for employees of United Way and its partner agencies to return to college and complete degrees they previously started. As the recipient of the partnership\u2019s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship, Kennedy Johnson, Practice Manager at Lubbock Children\u2019s Health Clinic, will return to school through LCU\u2019s degree completion program.<\/p>\n
The opportunity is designed for working adults who have completed some college coursework but have not yet earned a degree. Employees of Lubbock Area United Way and its partner agencies who wanted to be considered for the Presidential Scholarship were required to apply for admission to LCU, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and be accepted into the university\u2019s degree completion program.<\/p>\n
Johnson began her career at Lubbock Children\u2019s Health Clinic as a Certified Medical Assistant and has advanced into her current leadership role as Practice Manager. Through the scholarship, she will pursue a Bachelor of Science in Managerial Leadership, preparing her for her long-term goal of advancing into executive healthcare leadership.<\/p>\n
\u201cThroughout my career, I have learned that great leadership is about more than managing daily operations, it\u2019s about serving others, creating positive change, and helping teams succeed together,\u201d Johnson said in her scholarship application. \u201cWorking in nonprofit healthcare has reinforced my commitment to serving families and ensuring they have access to quality care regardless of their circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lubbock Area United Way President and CEO Amanda McAfee said, \u201cWe\u2019re incredibly grateful to LCU for setting up this Presidential Scholarship for our partner agencies. This is a life-changing opportunity that will support not just the individuals who receive the scholarship, but the nonprofit community and Lubbock as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPartnerships like this allow us to extend the reach of higher education into our community and create opportunities for individuals to finish a degree and build a better future. Through LCU\u2019s degree completion program, we can meet people where they are and help them take the next step toward achieving their goals,\u201d said LCU President Scott McDowell. \u201cWe are grateful to partner with organizations like United Way that share our commitment to strengthening our community through opportunity and education.\u201d<\/p>\n
LCU\u2019s degree completion program was designed specifically with adult learners in mind. The program is offered completely online, allowing students to continue working and balancing family responsibilities while pursuing their education.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot only are these programs offered in a convenient format at an affordable price, but each student is assigned an educational mentor who is a licensed professional counselor. This mentor is their partner on their educational journey, providing academic advising and so much more,\u201d said LCU Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Kent Gallaher.<\/p>\n
LCU offers a Bachelor of Science in Managerial Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in University Studies through its degree completion program. Classes are offered in eight- to 16-week formats during the fall, spring, and summer.<\/p>\n
LCU established its degree completion program to provide opportunities for returning students and, through partnerships with the City of Lubbock and the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, established tuition incentives for employees of those organizations. The United Way partnership extends that same benefit to eligible employees of Lubbock Area United Way and its partner agencies who are accepted into LCU\u2019s degree completion program. For every eight classes completed, the ninth class is tuition-free. The partnership also included the one-time Presidential Scholarship awarded to Johnson.<\/p>\n
\u201cPartnering with United Way reflects a shared commitment at the heart of both our organizations: serving and strengthening our communities,\u201d said LCU Vice President of Enrollment Management Dr. Jody Reding. \u201cThe United Way Presidential Scholarship is a natural extension of that partnership, and we are honored to provide United Way employees and their partnering agencies with a pathway to complete their degrees and achieve their educational goals.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal is to continue advancing into executive healthcare leadership, where I can help improve access to quality care, build strong and supportive workplace cultures, and create lasting, positive changes for both patients and healthcare professionals,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n
About Lubbock Area United Way<\/p>\n
For 80 years, Lubbock Area United Way has united people, resources, and organizations to improve lives across Lubbock and the South Plains. Through strategic investments in local programs, community partnerships, volunteer engagement, and initiatives such as ALICE\u00ae (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), Lubbock Area United Way works to advance Youth Opportunity, Healthy Community, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency. Together with 22 partner agencies and countless supporters, Lubbock Area United Way is committed to creating lasting change and building a stronger community for all. To learn more, volunteer, or support the mission, visit www.lubbockunitedway.org<\/a> .<\/p>\n About Lubbock Christian University<\/p>\n Lubbock Christian University is a private, non-profit institution dedicated to Christ-centered higher education. With a broad spectrum of undergraduate, master\u2019s, and doctoral programs, LCU equips students to think critically, grow spiritually, and serve faithfully. For 70 years, LCU has been shaping graduates for lives of purpose and impact across the globe. For more information about LCU, visit www.LCU.edu<\/a> .<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 KCBD. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Provided by LCU LUBBOCK, Texas (NEWS RELEASE) – A new partnership between Lubbock Christian University and Lubbock Area…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":437180,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[168,170,169],"class_list":["post-437179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-lubbock","tag-lubbock","tag-lubbock-headlines","tag-lubbock-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/437179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=437179"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/437179\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/437180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=437179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=437179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=437179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}