ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 18, 2014 – InVEST, the insurance industry’s premier classroom to career education program, is excited to announce that all Chicago Public School Career and Technical Education (CTE) finance programs will now offer its curriculum to seniors. The program is a key incentive in attracting new talent to the insurance industry.

 

"The InVEST program offers a unique chance for our CTE Business and Finance students to apply their business skills to solve real-world problems,” says Kye-Anne Wilborn, Chicago Public Schools Career & Technical Education (CTE) senior program coordinator. “They learn about career opportunities in the insurance industry and experience the responsibilities and contributions of different jobs in the field. The program provides everything needed to reproduce the workplace in our classrooms and the students love it! This program is a great opportunity for all students and especially students in business curriculum programs across the country."

 

The following Chicago schools now offer the InVEST program: Ace Technical Charter High School, Austin Business & Entrepreneurship Academy, Harlan Business Academy, Kelly High School, Richards Career Academy, Schurz Business & Finance Academy, Simeon Business & Finance Academy and South Shore International College Prep.

 

“InVEST is proud to announce that eight Chicago public high schools will start the school year next week offering so many opportunities to young scholars,” says Robert G. Slocum, CPCU, CIC, InVEST board chair and president of The Slocum Agency, Inc., an independent agency in Warwick, R.I. “We also want to thank the National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA), the Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois, the Big ‘I’ Young Agents Committee of Illinois and the InVEST company supporters, who also worked with the Chicago Public School leaders to make this partnership possible. InVEST is a team effort of great teachers, mentors and volunteers–like dozens of Illinois Big ‘I’ agents and NAAIA members—who are the backbone of this program which is so critical for the success of the industry and financial literacy for our high school and college students.”

 

InVEST develops future industry professionals by educating high school and college students about insurance, risk management and financial services. More than 19,600 students in 545 InVEST programs across the country participate each year and graduate 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.

 

“This is exciting for the students of Chicago and to the insurance industry, which is a major employer in the Chicago area and Illinois,” says Robert Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO. “During a time when so many students cannot find work or are unsure of a career, InVEST offers students the chance to have a rewarding career helping people during their greatest times of need. 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. As baby boomers retire, the InVEST program has the potential to replenish our workforce and produce the next generation of industry professionals and leaders. We are looking forward to Chicago students, and all InVEST students around the nation, becoming part of the next generation of successful business professionals in our industry.”