March 28, 2005

SHIMER COLLEGE RECEIVES KEMPER FOUNDATION GRANT TO SUPPORT BUSINESS INTERNSHIPS FOR STUDENTS

ShimerCollege has been awarded a $37,500 grant by the James S. Kemper Foundation to underwrite the development of a new Kemper Internship Program at the College. With the Foundation’s support, ShimerCollege will launch an on-going program for students to gain experience in the business world.

 ‘With the support of the Kemper Foundation, Shimer’s new program will benefit students in the here and now and in their future careers,’ says William Craig Rice, the College’s president. ‘Students come to Shimer to study the Great Books and learn how great thinkers have faced philosophical, political, and pragmatic challenges of human existence.  We gratefully salute the Kemper Foundation for recognizing that this preparation is the best possible for careers in commerce, trade, industry, and management.'

Faculty member John Meech will be responsible for launching the program in August 2005. As Kemper Internship Director, Dr. Meech will be responsible for placing students in full-time summer internships and part-time semester-long internships.  He will concentrate on connecting current Shimer students with members of the Shimer alumni community who can guide current students in preparing for a career in business.  Meech also plans to expand the College’s career advising and placement services.  No stranger to the business world, he enjoyed a successful 15-year career in software development before earning his doctorate and joining the faculty.  'Business internships will blur the boundaries between college learning and workplace learning,' says Meech.

As Kemper Foundation Executive Director Thomas Hellie notes, 'These grants nearly always yield improvements outside their immediate scope.  We anticipate broad success with Shimer.'