KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Students in middle and high schools around the Kansas City, Mo., district returned to classrooms on Monday. Many of those students have a special promise to fulfill as Kauffman Scholars.

"Today I pledge to reach new goals, new challenges, new horizons," pledged the more than 300 Kansas City students who began their journey toward college as the latest Kauffman Scholars.

Kwame Johnson became a Kauffman Scholar last year. He's now an eighth grader at Westport Middle School.

"It means a lot to me. It means that I have an advantage in everything," Johnson said.

Two decades ago, Ewing Kauffman, upset with Kansas City's dropout rate, came up with a plan.

If you stay in school, stay off drugs and stay focused on a path toward success, he would pick up the tab for college. That plan has grown into the Kauffman Scholars organization.

Brittany Madden is one of more than 1,300 Kauffman Scholars.

"It makes me feel proud. It makes me feel alive. It makes me feel happy that I get an opportunity," Madden said.

For more information about the program, visit the Kauffman Scholars Web site.