by Ashley Wolfgang '14

Josh Tvrdy, a first-year Knox College student, has been chosen for the highly selective Kemper Scholars Program, which provides students with scholarships, practical experience, and opportunities to explore internships.

The program is operated by The James S. Kemper Foundation, whose mission is to promote liberal arts education as the ideal preparation for life and work, especially in administration and business.

As a Kemper Scholar, Tvrdy will receive scholarships of up to $10,000 for each of the next three years, attend the annual Kemper Scholars Conference, and will complete two summer internships -- one for a non-profit organization in Chicago and another with a for-profit business of his choice.

"I think the biggest thing that I'm excited about is being connected with this (Kemper) community," says Tvrdy, who is from Tucson, Arizona. "It's a community of people who are just trying to help, and it's just such a humbling experience to get this, to have people that are so willing to try to mold you as a person."

Tvrdy first became aware of the Kemper Scholars program through two other Knox Kemper Scholars, Max Potthoff '14 and Molly Loudon '15.

Tvdry says he chose to become a part of the Knox community because of its diverse student population.

 "I wanted to go somewhere where I was going to meet different people with different beliefs so I would really start to examine my own beliefs to make sure they're really what I want to believe and not just what I was brought up in," he explains. "I have not been disappointed in that vein at all. "

During his first year at Knox, Tvrdy has been involved in several extracurricular activities including the award-winning Catch literary magazine, cross country, and track.

After taking Beginning Poetry Writing with Professor Gina Franco, Tvrdy confirmed his decision to major in creative writing. Being a Kemper scholar has ignited his interest to explore a business and management minor.

"Next term, I'm taking Creative Nonfiction Workshop and Principles of Accounting, so it's this interesting juxtaposition," says Tvrdy. "But I'm excited."