ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 5, 2013 - InVEST, the insurance industry’s premier classroom to career education program, has awarded scholarships to the following nine high school students from New York pursuing insurance-related degrees.

 

• Leighann Bennett, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y. ($1,000)
• Megan Cornelius, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y. ($2,000)
• Kylee Hart, Groton High School, Groton, N.Y. ($1,000)
• Mary Cate Hicks, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y. ($500)

• Tiffany James, Groton High School, Groton, N.Y. ($500)
• Elimary Joaquin, Groton High School, Groton, N.Y. ($500)
• Karynn Kilts, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y. ($2,000)
• Hannah Wildenstein, Dryden High School, Dryden, N.Y. ($1,000)
• Caitlin Wyant, McGraw Central High School, McGraw, N.Y. ($500)

 

“InVEST congratulates the students who earned scholarships this year,” says Heather Minkler, chair of the National InVEST board of directors and CEO of Clark-Mortenson Agency, an independent insurance agency in Keene, N.H. “InVEST continues to have phenomenal growth in the number of new programs started each year. 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.”

 

InVEST contributes to the development of future insurance professionals by educating high school and college students about insurance, risk management and financial services. 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 auctions and Young Agents YAC Gives Back event held in conjunction with the Independent Insurance Agents & Broker’s (IIABA or the Big “I”) Legislative Conference.

 

“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,” 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 at this crucial time.”