InVESTAwards 70 Academic Student Scholarships

InVEST has awarded $87,000 in scholarships to 70 students pursuing insurance- related degrees, breaking previous scholarship records. The program is a key incentive in attracting new talent to the insurance industry. Many of the winners are from New York schools.

“InVEST congratulates the 70 students representing 17 schools and from eight states who earned scholarships this year,” says Robert G. Slocum, CPCU, CIC, InVEST board chair and president of The Slocum Agency, Inc., an independent agency in Warwick, R.I. “InVEST develops future industry professionals by educating high school and college students about insurance, risk management and financial services. Students from more than 500 InVEST programs across the country are equipped with knowledge to help them pursue careers in an agency, company or other insurance industry organization.”

InVEST contributes to the education and development of future insurance professionals through academic programs and scholarships. In high schools, the program offers students a business curriculum which 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 Silent and Live auctions held in conjunction with the Independent Insurance Agents & Broker’s (IIABA or the Big “I”) Legislative Convention.

“A successful InVEST program is critical not only to the future of the independent agency system, but to the insurance industry as a whole and to the financial literacy of our young people,” says Robert Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & 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 and produce the next generation of industry professionals and leaders.”

InVEST awarded two Bob Betters Memorial Scholarships and one Classroom to Career Scholarship.

The Bob Betters Scholarship is the newest component of the InVEST program and was established in 2011. The scholarship awards the highest dollar amounts; this year they are $5,000. Bob Betters with Watson Insurance Agency in Gastonia, N.C., passed away in February 2011, after battling brain cancer. Betters, who was appointed to the InVEST board of directors in 2009, served as the InVEST state champion for North Carolina. The InVEST board has agreed to award the top scholarships for five years to honor his commitment to the InVEST program.

The Classroom to Career was developed for students who would like to enter the insurance industry immediately after graduating from InVEST. These students are eligible for $500 reimbursement for licensing or designation expenses.

This year’s scholarship winners represent 18 schools and hail from California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Texas and Virginia. Here are the New Yorkers:

$3,000 Scholarship Winners:

• Ashley Palmer, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y.

$2,000 Scholarship Winners: • Peyton Holl, Groton Central School, Groton, N.Y.

• Josh Hutchinson, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y.

• Katherine Johnson, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y.

• Taylor Schneider, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y.

$1,000 Scholarship Award Winners: • Jonathan Becker, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y.

• Kimberly Horner, McGraw Central High School, McGraw, N.Y.

• Jordan Lynch, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y.

• Troy Sutfin, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y.

$500 Scholarship Award Winners:

• Dylan Clapp, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y.

• Tiffany Clark, McGraw Central High School, McGraw, N.Y.

• Rachel Poirier, West Seneca West Senior High School, West Seneca, N.Y.

 

• Courtney Poirier, West Seneca West Senior High School, West Seneca, N.Y