Through a program designed to be a key recruitment strategy in attracting new talent to the insurance industry, 65 students pursuing insurance-related degrees received scholarships from InVEST. The insurance industry classroom to career education program awarded $70,500 in scholarships to students representing 18 different schools.
InVEST contributes to the development of future insurance professionals by educating high school and college students about insurance, risk management and financial services. This year 94 scholarship hopefuls from across the country submitted essays describing the influence and benefits InVEST had on their educational plans. The quality of the essay, combined with the applicant’s grade-point average and extracurricular activities, were factors in selecting the recipients.
“Continuing success of the InVEST program is critical not only to the future of the independent agency system, but to the insurance industry as a whole and the increase in financial literacy of our young people,” said Robert Rusbuldt, Big “I” president and CEO. “Many are concerned that the average age of an insurance professional is around 54 and as baby boomers retire, the InVEST program has the potential to replenish our workforce at this crucial time.”
In high schools, the InVEST program offers students a business curriculum that teaches them about the dynamics of insurance agencies and companies. At the college level, the program develops students’ risk management and financial analysis skills. Along with direct contributions, scholarships are funded through proceeds generated by the InVEST auctions and Young Agents YAC Gives Back event held in conjunction with the Independent Insurance Agents & Broker’s Legislative Conference.
“InVEST continues to have phenomenal growth in the number of new programs started each year,” said Heather Minkler, chair of the National InVEST board of directors and CEO of Clark-Mortenson Agency, an independent insurance agency in Keene, N.H. “With support from the industry, we provide education to more than 14,000 students each school year and work to provide opportunities for students interested in working in the insurance industry. Graduates from more than 400 InVEST programs across the country are armed with knowledge to help them pursue careers in an agency, company or other insurance industry organization.”
This year marks the most scholarships awarded in InVEST’s history. Last year it awarded 55 students. (http://www.insurancenetworking.com/news/invest-scholarships-betters-30659-1.html)
The 2013 recipients:
Bob Betters Scholarship ($3,000):
- Sandra Chavez, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Fla.
- Emily Collins, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Fla.
- Danielle Columbus, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, Saint Petersburg, Fla.
- Logan Garfield, Majory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Fla.
$2,000 Scholarship Winners:
- Courtney Carter, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, Saint Petersburg, Fla.
- Megan Cornelius, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y.
- Parker Del Medico, Cardinal Mooney High School, Sarasota, Fla.
- Christine Dessemond, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Fla.
- Michelle Frost, Majory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Fla.
- Haley Hassinger, Wadsworth High School, Wadsworth, Ohio
- Joseph Horan, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, Saint Petersburg, Fla.
- Nicole Kelley, Majory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Fla.
- Karynn Kilts, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y.
- Christy Lyons, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, Saint Petersburg, Fla.
- Soukitar Soundara, East Hartford High School, East Hartford, Conn.
- Matthew Steinberg, Majory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Fla.
- Austin Tedesco, Majory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Fla.
- Danielle Vinciguerra, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, Saint Petersburg, Fla.
$1,000 Scholarship Award Winners:
- Leighann Bennett, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y.
- Elizabeth Demers, Pinkerton Academy, Derry, N.H.
- Dillon Espey, Majory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Fla.
- Shanice Gregory, Bloomfield High School, Bloomfield, Conn.
- Samuel Guthrie, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Fla.
- Kylee Hart, Groton High School, Groton, N.Y.
- Raquel Johnson, East Hartford High School, East Hartford, Conn.
- Taylor Mindlin, Majory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Fla.
- Devin Putnam, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, Saint Petersburg, Fla.
- Alexandra Schelle, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Fla.
- Jessica Stroebel, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, Saint Petersburg, Fla.
- Katherine Swol, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, Saint Petersburg, Fla.
- Anthony Weisler, Majory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Fla.
- Hannah Wildenstein, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y.
$500 Scholarship Award Winners:
- Rhapsody Arias, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Fla.
- John Auden, Naperville North High School, Naperville, Ill.
- Melissa Biro, Granby High School, Norfolk, Va.
- Nathan Bobbitt, Cardinal Mooney High School, Sarasota, Fla.
- Corin Burton, Grossmont Community College, El Cajon, Calif.
- Kelsey Carvalis, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, Saint Petersburg, Fla.
- Kaytlyn Day, East Hartford High School, East Hartford, Conn.
- Merarys Diaz, Miami Springs Senior High, Miami Springs, Fla.
- Zachary Dyce, William R. Boone High School, Belle Isle, Fla.
- Mary Cate Hicks, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y.
- Lynn Horne, Manatee High School, Bradenton, Fla.
- Benjamin, Huizinga. Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Fla.
- Tiffany James, Groton High School, Groton, N.Y.
- Broderick Johnson, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Fla.
- Melissa Lore, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Fla.
- Theresa Luu, Grossmont Community College, El Cajon, Calif.
- Christine Maloney, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Fla.
- Arianna Martinez, Miami Springs Senior High, Miami Springs, Fla.
- Nicholas McLean, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, Saint Petersburg, Fla.
- Rachel Neely, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Fla.
- Angel Pulido, Grossmont Community College, El Cajon, Calif.
- Anthony Tran, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Fla.
Erick Sanchez, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Fla.
- Allyson Shatz, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, Saint Petersburg, Fla.
- Ryan Silverman, Majory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Fla.
- Giusseppe Theodoredis, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Fla.
- Anita Velgara, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Fla.
- Caitlin Wyant, McGrawCentral High School, McGraw, N.Y.
$500 Classroom to Career Scholars:
- Rosetta L. Brown, Roosevelt High School, Washington, D.C.
- Rydell Davis, Roosevelt High School, Washington, D.C.
- Phyllis Dyson, Roosevelt High School, Washington, D.C.
- Joanna Gutierrez, Grossmont Community College, El Cajon, Calif.
- Elimary Joaquin, Groton High School, Groton, N.Y.
