07.08.08
InVEST Awards 52 Student Scholarships; Honors Teacher, Volunteer

InVEST, the insurance industry’s premier classroom to career education program, has awarded $60,000 in scholarships to 52 college-bound students pursuing insurance-related degrees. The national educational program also honored a teacher and an industry volunteer for their outstanding contributions.
 
Each year, InVEST develops a diverse pool of industry professionals by educating high school and community college students about insurance, risk management and financial services.

“InVEST is leading the way in the independent agency system’s war for talent by educating young people on insurance and the extensive career possibilities in our industry,” says Patrick Moore, chair of the National InVEST Board of Directors and principal of Antalek & Moore, an independent agency in Beacon, N.Y. “InVEST graduates are given the knowledge to help them rise to the top of an agency, company or other insurance industry organization.”

Earlier this year, 156 scholarship hopefuls 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. Scholarship checks are mailed directly to the institute of higher learning that each student is attending and will be used exclusively for educational expenses.

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 (Big “I”) Legislative Conference & Convention. The auctions and direct contributions raised $60,000. Auction items were donated by insurance carriers, agents and brokers, Big “I” and its state affiliates and other industry organizations. The winning bidder of the live auction received two tickets and hospitality for the Allstate® 400 at the Brickyard®, a two night stay at an Indianapolis hotel and roundtrip airfare for two.

Scholarship Winners
This year’s scholarship winners hail from Florida, Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire and California.

$2,000 Scholarship Award Winners:
• Brett Babir, William Boone High School, Orlando, Fla.
• Laima Bobelis, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Camerin Collins, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Lauren Daley, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Jerrica Farias, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Angelot Jean-Pierre, East Hartford High School, East Hartford, Conn.
• Jacqueline Lemay, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, Parkland, Fla.
• Molly Mckenna, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Radmila Nizker, Grossmont College, El Cajon, Calif.
• Molly Parker, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y.
• Timothy Peabody, Spaulding High School, Rochester, N.H.
• Sara Perkins, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, Parkland, Fla.
• Kevin Tapp, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Savannah Vickers, William Boone High School, Orlando, Fla.

$1,500 Scholarship Award Winners:
• Katelyn Brennan, William Boone High School, Orlando, Fla.
• Gary Cervera, Miami Sunset Senior High, Miami, Fla.
• Terri Chrysler, Grossmont College, El Cajon, Calif.
• Adam Kurniawan, East Hartford High School, East Hartford, Conn.
• Robinson LeViere, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y.
• Brett Maurer, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Fla.

$1,000 Scholarship Award Winners:
• Deryk Carr, Groton High School, Groton, N.Y.
• Ivan Espana, East Hartford High School, East Hartford, Conn.
• Mary Fleming, William Boone High School, Orlando, Fla.
• Renato Hediger, William Boone High School, Orlando, Fla.
• Parker Knox, William Boone High School, Orlando, Fla.
• Amy LaLonde, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y.
• Ciara Lozano, William Boone High School, Orlando, Fla.
• Nicholas Pokorny, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Allison Rieders, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, Parkland, Fla.
• Trisha Sabins, Grossmont College, El Cajon, Calif.
• Marisol Santiago-Williams, Grossmont College, El Cajon, Calif.
• Justin Schwartz, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Fla.
• Britney  White, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y.
• Viveka Ycaza, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, St. Petersburg, Fla.

$500 Scholarship Award Winners:
• Angela Ayala, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Fla.
• Callie Barber, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Samantha Bodle, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, Parkland, Fla.
• Jeremiah Critton, Edgewater High School, Orlando, Fla.
• Lynne Foley, West Genesee High School, Camillus, N.Y.
• Daniel Gray, Groton High School, Groton, N.Y.
• Keri Harwell, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Fla.
• Kalee Kline, William Boone High School, Orlando, Fla.
• Larrysa Lott, Samuel Wolfson High School, Jacksonville, Fla.
• Ann Messenger, Charles O. Dickerson High School, Trumansburg, N.Y.
• Duane Milner, Bloomfield High School, Bloomfield, Conn.
• Michelle Monestina, Barbara Goleman Senior High, Hialeah, Fla.
• Christina Mora, Grossmont College, El Cajon, Calif.
• Ethan Phelps, McGraw High School, McGraw, N.Y.
• Beatrice Roberts, Timber Creek High School, Orlando, Fla.
• Stephen Williams, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Fla.
• Ashley Willis, Palmetto High School, Palmetto, Fla.
• Nicholas Wolfe, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Fla.

Teacher, Volunteer Honored
InVEST also named its 2008 Teacher of the Year and Dach Award winners. The Teacher of the Year award is presented annually to an educator who has made substantial contributions to his or her InVEST students. This year’s honoree is Ralph Gray from East Hartford High School in East Hartford, Conn. He received $500 to use in his InVEST classroom as well as $500 for personal use.

The Dach Award honors an insurance industry volunteer for fostering the growth and development of InVEST. The award is named in memory of the program’s founder, Stephen Dach, and the honoree receives a $1,000 cash prize to be used in his or her InVEST classroom. The runner-up receives $500. John Bailey of George B. Bailey Agency, Inc. in Dryden, N.Y. is the 2008 Dach Award honoree and Darren Scott of Wallace Welch & Wellingham Insurance in St. Pete, Fla. is the runner-up.

Founded in 1970 and based in Alexandria, Va., InVEST promotes insurance education in order to attract individuals to pursue a career in the insurance industry. The program annually prepares thousands of students for insurance-related careers with a hands-on curriculum taught in high schools, adult education centers and community colleges. To learn about starting a local program, visit InVESTprogram.org or contact Jennifer Robinson, InVEST program manager, at (703) 706-5437 or jennifer.robinson@iiaba.net, or Amber Williamson, InVEST program coordinator, at (703) 706-5425 or amber.williamson@iiaba.net.