On Monday, an Ameren UE representative presented a check for $10,000 to Ted Tarkow, Classical Studies professor and associate dean for the College of Arts and Science, for the Missouri Scholars Academy.

Large funding cuts throughout the past years have forced the program to operate largely on donations and participant tuition. But the tuition cost of $700 can prevent talented students from participating. Large donations make it possible for the Missouri Scholars Academy to reach out to a bigger group of students.

“What we’re going to do with the money is make it so underprivileged students are encouraged to come,” Tarkow said. “This money will cover students’ activities fees. Some students are unable to come because their family support and school support is not enough to pay for it.”

Tarkow said despite funding cuts, the program wants to continue supporting sophomores now and in the future. Donations help facilitate the goal, but budget problems at the state level make it harder to determine the future.

“The funding was cut simply because of state budget realties,” Tarkow said. “We’re already working with legislation for 2012 for the reconstitution of funds.”

Missouri Scholars Academy offers sophomores in the top .5 percent of their class from public and private high schools educational opportunities outside of the normal curriculum.

“First, I would like to say that we support education,” Ameren UE spokeswoman Holly Wipfler said. “We always try to support the program in the communities we service. It’s a great program, and we’re proud to support it.”

Tarkow said the goal of the program is to challenge students and provide them with special opportunities for learning and personality so they may realize their potential. Many students go on to work with companies like Ameren UE and provide innovative ideas for the future.

“I think it gets students really excited about it, especially when they’re on campus,” Wipfler said.

This summer, some of the majors available to students include chemistry, reproductive physiology, physics, creative writing, religious studies, philosophy and current events.

“It covers a whole gamut of subjects,” Tarkow said. “It doesn’t limit students to what the map curriculum outlines.”

There are also several lectures that cover topics including the Holocaust, Islam and the Little Rock desegregation.

“There are also lectures on math and music for the students who see connections in between subjects that mere mortals cannot,” Tarkow said.

To underline the intensity of the program, he added one chemistry teacher is planning to teach students in three weeks what they would learn in one semester of mapped curriculum.

“It’s intense, but with really supportive students and teachers, it’s possible,” Tarkow said. “There’s no credit and no grades. Students are just learning out of the willingness to learn.”

He said the Missouri Scholars Academy is lucky to be on the list of Ameren UE’s beneficiaries.

“We try to make contributions regularly,” Wipfler said.