What Makes a Strong Kemper Scholar
The James S. Kemper Foundation believes – as did its founder – that a broad education
is the best preparation for life and for a career, including careers in organizational
leadership and business. Often, liberal arts majors believe that having a management
position in business is not feasible for them or that it may not be worthwhile.
Sometimes, students prematurely select a vocational major thinking it represents the
quickest road to professional success. The Kemper Scholars Program encourages
students to major in the liberal arts and sciences, while providing them experiential
education, mentoring, contacts and training that can position them for future leadership
in business.
The goal of the program is to introduce broadly educated students to how
professional organizations operate and to show them how the skills they have acquired
through the study of the liberal arts prepare them to succeed in the management and
leadership of such organizations.
Kemper Scholar Profile
Academic Standing, Achievement and Potential:
The James S. Kemper Foundation believes it is important for students to be in the
Kemper Scholars Program for a full three years. Therefore, candidates must be
considered to have freshman standing at the time they apply to the program. Students
who have transferred into Kemper Scholars Program Partner Institutions with credits
from other schools or Advanced Placement courses sufficient to gain them sophomore
standing are not eligible to apply, even though they are in their first year at that
institution. Kemper Scholars must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average.
However, most Kemper Scholars will graduate with a 3.50 or better. Students who
achieve less than 3.0 during a semester or show a cumulative grade point average of
less than 3.0 for two semesters will be dropped from the program.
Academic Major:
Scholars need not be business majors to apply to the Kemper Scholars Program nor
are business majors necessarily preferred as candidates. In fact, the Kemper
Foundation does not prefer students from some majors over others. Our goal is to build
a “class” of Kemper Scholars representing a diversity of major areas of study. Students
studying majors in any liberal arts field or in a business-related field, such as business
or accounting are viable candidates. However, students from professionally-oriented
majors, such as nursing, social work, some science fields, or education that require field
work, summer research projects, or internships will not be selected as Kemper
Scholars, as these students will not be available for the two summer experiences
required by the Kemper Scholars Program.
Career Paths/Potential:
Prospective Kemper Scholars can be pursuing any career area. The Kemper
Foundation especially encourages students who do not know what they want to do as a
career to apply; the Kemper Scholars Program seeks to help participants explore and
refine their career plans. Whatever their major, successful candidates will have broad
interests and will be intellectually curious about many fields of study. Students who are
not open to considering a potential career in the corporate world will not get the full
benefit of the program and should not apply. Note also that Kemper Scholars Program
internships focus on organizational management as broadly construed. Further, the
Kemper Scholars Program does not support internships related to developing specific
career skills (e.g., psychological counseling, acting, instrumental performance).
Availability for Sophomore and Junior Summer Experiences:
Kemper Scholars must have available at least ten weeks plus time for travel to their
internship site between the end of the spring term and the fall term after both their
sophomore and junior years. Students hoping to study abroad for a full year or in the
spring term in an international study program (like those at Oxford and Cambridge
universities, for example) that does not end until I mid- or late-June should not apply to
the Kemper Scholars Program, unless they are willing to alter their international study
plans.
Leadership in School and Community:
Kemper Scholars will demonstrate a capacity for leadership as demonstrated by their
activities and involvement both in high school and in college.
Commitment to Citizenship and Service:
Service is an underlying principle of leadership. Prospective candidates must display a
commitment to helping others and serving society. A record of community service
activity in high school or college is important.
Interest in Organizational Leadership and Business:
The Kemper Scholars Program aims to prepare well-rounded future business leaders
with a special focus on the insurance industry. Because all Kemper Scholars will have
internship placements in administrative areas of both non-profit and for-profit
organizations, they must have a genuine interest in exploring administrative careers.
The Kemper Scholars Program may not be a good choice for students who are
convinced that they want careers in fields like laboratory research, medicine, acting,
or music performance.
Intellectual Curiosity and Independence:
The Kemper Scholars Program will be most satisfying to students who are eager to
learn new things and can relate their experiences to academic preparation or career
aspirations.
Openness to Being Mentored:
While applicants to the Kemper Scholars Program often focus on the scholarship
stipend or the paid internship experiences as most important, Scholars soon recognize
that the program‘s impact comes largely from two other aspects: 1) the interaction with
and peer learning from the other Kemper Scholars; and 2) the structured activities
and mentoring by Kemper Foundation staff and work supervisors. Because the program
gives neither college credit nor grades, Scholars’ full participation in the program rests
with their trust in the Kemper Foundation staff and their openness to being mentored.
Kemper Scholars must be willing to engage fully in program activities, to reflect upon
and talk with staff about their personal goals and development and to openly consider
mentors’ advice.
Unusual Maturity, Openness and Flexibility:
During Summer Experiences, Kemper Scholars live and work as independent adults.
They must be able to relate well to adults in the workplace, to adjust to unexpected
events and to make wise decisions about life away from work. Kemper Scholars
become part of a very diverse group and must be open to and accepting of
fellow Kemper Scholars with differences in economic background, politics, religion,
ethnicity, culture, interests and sexual orientation.
Need and Opportunity:
For many participants, the Kemper Scholars Program provides their first chance to work
alongside adult professionals, to live independently away from home and to test out a
professional career. For these students, the program often has the greatest value
and makes the greatest impact. While they are not the primary criteria, personal
background and financial need may be considered in the selection process.
Diversity:
The Kemper Foundation seeks to recruit Scholars from diverse academic majors
and from diverse economic, ethnic and geographical backgrounds. We seek also to
achieve a group balanced, preferably equally, between male and female participants.
Parental Support:
Kemper Scholars must have parental permission for their participation and parental
willingness to have students travel to Chicago for meetings and for the
summer experiences. Before they apply to the program, prospective Kemper Scholars
are responsible to ensure that their parent(s) or guardians) will be comfortable with their
living and working in Chicago for the summer. The Chicago Summer Experience is an
indispensable part of the Kemper Scholars Program. Parents and guardians also should
understand that because the Kemper Scholars Program seeks to help students grow
into independent, confident, competent and assertive professionals, Kemper Foundation
staff will deal directly with students and will consult parents or guardians only in unusual
circumstances.
Social Security Number:
Applicants must possess a valid United States Government Social Security number at
the time of final interviews. Assuming the full Social Security number is on file at the
candidate’s school, only the last four digits will be shared with Kemper Foundation staff.
These digits and all other personal information will be kept secure and confidential. If
the Social Security number is not on file with the institution, the candidate’s application
must include a notarized statement (including the final four digits) from a notary who has
seen the Social Security card.