Two Monmouth College students are the recipients of Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) Minority Students and Academic Careers Summer Scholarships. Vanessa Armstrong, a senior from Peoria, Ill., and Rebekah McBeth, a junior from Pleasant Prairie, Wis., will each spend the summer conducting research in their major areas of study.

"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 served as a mentor for one of last year’s recipients. While many minority communities are still under-represented on college faculties, the ACM reports that the goals of its 10-year-old program are beginning to be realized. Of 350 participants in the past decade, 41 percent 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. This year’s mentors are Jon Grahe, chair of the psychology department, and Tom Sienkewicz, chair of the Classics department.

The award upon winning the scholarship is $2,000, with another $1,000 being presented upon completion of the project. Armstrong and McBeth were required to submit two letters of recommendation and a convincing written proposal about the seriousness of their subjects.

Armstrong, who is African-American, will focus her research on trends in film violence, analyzing the content of movies from the past 30 years.

McBeth’s project will delve into her Native American heritage and will also be influenced by her academic interests, which include religion, communication and languages. She will study the effects of Christianity on the heritage, values and tradition of Iroquois society.

The students will present their findings at the ACM’s Minority Students in Academic Careers conference Oct. 13-14 at St. Olaf College. They will also be given a chance to present their work on campus and to participate with their mentors in a teaching experience this fall.

Released by the Office of College Communications
Barry McNamara, Associate Director of College Communications
Phone: 309-457-2117
Fax: 309-457-2330