Kemper Scholars Program for First-Year Parents and Families

The following information was provided to the Office of Parent Programs to be shared with first-year parents and families.

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Wake Forest University is honored to be part of the Kemper Scholars Program, which began in 1948.  The program combines scholarship aid, mentorship by James S. Kemper Foundation staff, and paid summer professional internship opportunities. The program’s goal is to help students with broad liberal arts backgrounds develop leadership and professional skills through experience. Students from any major and those who have not yet decided on a major are encouraged to apply.  First-year fulltime students registered at Wake Forest (or one of the 15 other participating educational institutions) are eligible to apply for this program. Benefits to the student include:

• $3000-$10,000 annual scholarship assistance for sophomore, junior, and senior years
• a fully-paid summer internship in a Chicago non-profit organization after the sophomore year AND a fully paid internship in one of a wide variety of fields with the Kemper Corporation in cities around the U.S. after the junior year
• participation in the annual Kemper Scholars Conference in Chicago
• an ongoing association with an exceptional Foundation offering a commitment to undergraduate education and individual mentoring

Students with a record of academic achievement, unusual maturity, broad interests and open-mindedness, extracurricular activity, community service, and demonstrated leadership ability are strongly encouraged to apply. Successful candidates will have a background in liberal arts and an interest in exploring careers in organizational administration and leadership.  Scholars will have a commitment to a broad education and must maintain at least a GPA of 3.0. The deadline for application to this year’s program is Friday, January 15, 2016.

To apply, students can reach the online portal by clicking on the words “Kemper Scholars Program Application” at the bottom of our homepage at www.jskemper.org. The online application form is open.  Your student can now begin to draft a proposal. It can be saved multiple times in draft form until the applicant chooses to submit it up to the January 15 deadline.

The application portal also includes a process to request recommendations.  We suggest that you make these requests no later than January 7, as they are due January 31.  You will be able to submit your application even if the recommendations have not been received, but you will not be selected as a finalist without them.

Contact Dr. Holly Brower at browerhh@wfu.edu or (336)758-6174 or Ms. Heather Shoemaker at (336)758-6193 if you have questions.