Precious Kent, a Monmouth College senior from Chicago, was the recipient of an Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) Minority Students and Academic Careers Summer Scholarship.

Kent spent the summer conducting research in her major area of study, business and accounting. Her project was titled “Capital Budgeting: How Useful Is It?” She presented her findings at the ACM’s Minority Students and Academic Careers workshop Oct. 5-6 at Macalester College.

“The whole purpose is to encourage minority students to take up careers as professors,” said Stacy Cordery, an associate professor of history at Monmouth College who previously served as a mentor for one of the scholarship recipients.

While many minority communities are still under-represented on college faculties, the ACM reports that the goals of its 13-year-old program are beginning to be realized. Of 500 participants in the past decade, more than one-third are either currently enrolled in or have completed graduate degree programs.

Cordery added that the work done for the projects “mirrors the graduate school experience,” which includes working closely with a single professor. Kent’s mentor was associate professor of accounting Frank Gersich.

Scholarship winners receive $2,000 in advance and another another $1,000 upon completion of their projects. Kent was required to submit two letters of recommendation and a convincing written proposal about the seriousness of her subjects.