The program has been sponsored by the James S. Kemper Foundation of Chicago, Illinois, since 1948. Madeline is a first-year student considering a double major in Business and Communications with a minor in Chinese. Residing in Frisco, Texas, she is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Kevin Karlson and Mr. and Mrs. Nikhil Sarad. At Lake Forest, she is an Honors Fellow, a Richter Scholar, and a member of various campus boards and committees. Madeline is also heavily involved with her church, City Church, in downtown Chicago.

The Kemper Scholar Program’s mission is preparing students for leadership and service, especially in the fields of organizational administration and business. The Foundation believes that undergraduate study of the liberal arts represents the best preparation for life and career. The program aims to promote education in the liberal arts while providing students opportunities for career exploration and practical experience. The Foundation’s experience shows that students learn the value of their liberal arts education for leadership by seeing how they use what they have learned when they work in a professional environment.

“Kemper Scholars represent academically superior, community spirited, committed, and well-rounded undergraduates from a group of fifteen excellent liberal arts colleges around the country,” explains Dr. Ryan LaHurd, President and Executive Director of the James S. Kemper Foundation.  “Throughout the over six decades of the program, scholars have gone on to make outstanding contributions as leaders in organizations around the country.” 

Kemper Scholars receive annual scholarships up to $10,000 based on need during their sophomore, junior, and senior years of college.   Kemper Scholars also receive stipends to cover the costs of their work as interns in major nonprofit organizations in Chicago during the summer following their sophomore year. Scholars are placed in full-time administrative positions where they can learn about such things as financial management, organizational strategy, fund-raising, and non-profit administration. During the Chicago summer, scholars live in the same apartment residence hall and participate in a weekly seminar while having opportunities to explore the cultural, historical, and entertainment aspects of the city.

During the summer following their junior year, scholars are eligible for summer stipends to cover the costs of a learning opportunity in an internship in a for-profit corporation.

Each year all Kemper Scholars attend a national conference to discuss summer projects, meet with former Kemper Scholars, and consider topics in administration, leadership and business. They periodically read and discuss major works on leadership, service, ethics, or business; and they have frequent contact with Kemper Foundation staff to discuss the scholars’ academic and professional goals, as well as their hopes for future careers and learning opportunities.

“In this era of rapid change, complex problem-solving, and globalization, we at the James S. Kemper Foundation are proud of our role in helping shape the next generation of leaders whose broad background and experiential learning opportunities as part of the Kemper Scholars Program will make them eminently qualified for the myriad opportunities the future will offer,” said Dr. LaHurd.

The Kemper Scholar coordinator at Lake Forest is Rand Smith, Associate Dean of the Faculty and Director of the Center for Chicago Programs. Lake Forest College is a national liberal arts institution located 30 miles north of downtown Chicago. The College has 1,400 students representing 47 states and 71 countries.