“InVEST congratulates the 79 students representing 23 high schools, colleges and universities in nine states, who earned scholarships this year,” says Cindy Hower, InVEST board chair and president of Kellerman Insurance, an independent agency in Holton, Kansas. “InVEST develops future industry professionals by teaching high school and college students about insurance, risk management and financial services. As a result, students from more than 800 InVEST programs across the country are better equipped to 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 corporate and 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 Conference. 

“A successful InVEST program is critical to the financial literacy of our young people, to the future of the independent agency system and to the insurance industry as a whole,” says Robert Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO. “Many are concerned that the average age of an insurance agent is almost 60 and as baby boomers continue retiring in record numbers, the InVEST program has the potential to replenish our workforce and to produce the next generation of industry professionals and leaders.”

 

This year’s scholarship winners represent 23 schools and hail from California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York and Ohio.

• Kyle Sahadeo, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Florida

• Stephen Butler, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Florida

• Noah Sinclair, Lake Brantley High School, Altamonte Springs, Florida

• Jason Waldinger, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Florida

$1,500 Scholarship Winner

• Mitchell Beiter, Hamburg High School, Hamburg, New York

• Arvinda Bissessar, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Florida

• Liam Callahan, Hamburg High School, Hamburg, New York

• Justine Carlbert, Palmetto High School, Palmetto, Florida

• Ciara Gibbs, Zachary High School, Zachary, Louisiana

• Kasey Kuhrts, Palmetto High School, Palmetto, Florida

• Deepa Naraine, East Hartford High School, East Hartford, Connecticut

• Kristin Recker, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Florida

• Diamond Reed, Lake Brantley High School, Altamonte Springs, Florida

• Emily Richards, Groton High School, Groton, New York

• Tyler Sheradsky, Cooper City High School, Cooper City, Florida

• Marcus Wilson, Manatee High School, Bradenton, Florida

• Evangeline Watson, Grossmont Community College, El Cajon, California

• Riley Bell, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Florida

• Samantha Bennett, Hamburg High School, Hamburg, New York

• Denielle Breeds, Groton High School, Groton, New York

• Diana Bronson, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Florida

• Clara Cambra, Coral Gables High School, Coral Gables, Florida

• Enzo Cespedes-Correa, Coral Gables High School, Coral Gables, Florida

• Colton Cook, Manatee High School, Bradenton, Florida

• Charles de Jager, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Florida

• Kelsey Eggleston, Lake Shore High School, Angola, New York

• Kelsey Ferguson, Lake Brantley High School, Altamonte Springs, Florida

• Natalie Harackiewicz, Newington High School, Newington, Connecticut

• Elyssa Hauptman, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Florida

• Jacob Hunter, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Florida

• Zachary Justice, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Florida

• Junior Lloyd, B.E.S.T. Academy High School, Atlanta, Georgia

• Erin Mandiak, Hamburg High School, Hamburg, New York

• Brandon O'Dell, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Florida

• James Payne, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Florida

• Etta Rakoczy, Grossmont Community College, El Cajon, California

• Hector Ravelo, Coral Gables High School, Coral Gables, Florida

• Bailey Rose, Dryden High School, Dryden, New York

• Alexis Ross, Hamburg High School, Hamburg, New York

• Jessie Smith, B.E.S.T. Academy High School, Atlanta, Georgia

• Corey Szewczyk, Lake Brantley High School, Altamonte Springs, Florida

• Karli Turnwald, Van Wert High School, Van Wert, Ohio

• Rylee Witherington, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Florida

• Daniel Wood, Hamburg High School, Hamburg, New York

• Savanah Woodhall, Lake Brantley High School, Altamonte Springs, Florida

• Anna Araujo, Manatee High School, Bradenton, Florida

• Maleik Blackmon, B.E.S.T. Academy High School, Atlanta, Georgia

• Justin Brodsky, Lake Brantley High School, Altamonte Springs, Florida

• Shayna Cohen, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Florida

• Matthew Davila, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Florida

• Kathryn Dignman, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Florida

• Nicholas D'Souza, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Florida

• Hueston Duff, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Florida

• Katelyn Ercolani, Pinkerton Academy, Derry, New Hampshire

• Kevin Finney, Dryden High School, Dryden, New York

• Matthew Fluke, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Florida

• Tyler Greene, Palmetto High School, Palmetto, Florida

• Phillip Hawes, Genesee Career Institute, Flint, Michigan

• Alexsandra Herrera, Coral Gables High School, Coral Gables, Florida

• Claire Herrmann, Hamburg High School, Hamburg, New York

• Gage Hilton, Hamburg High School, Hamburg, New York

• Kimberly Horner, McGraw High School, McGraw, New York

• Courtney Hurley, Hamburg High School, Hamburg, New York

• Jenna Johnson, Hamburg High School, Hamburg, New York

• Justin Maidlow, Eaton RESA, Lansing, Michigan

• Robyn Myers, Grossmont Community College, El Cajon, California

• Peter Rindfuss, Hamburg High School, Hamburg, New York

• Emily Salch, Groton High School, Groton, New York

• Hannah Schafer, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Florida

• Lemoñia Schroeter, East Hartford High School, East Hartford, Connecticut

• Alison Simbana, Charles W. Flanagan High School, Pembroke Pines, Florida

• Kathryn Sullivan, Hamburg High School, Hamburg, New York

• Thomas Verzi, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Florida

• Victoria Verzi, William R. Boone High School, Orlando, Florida

• Austin Vyskocil, Groton High School, Groton, New York

• Tabias Wimby, B.E.S.T. Academy High School, Atlanta, Georgia

• Sam Yager, Groton High School, Groton, New York

 

• Marlene Leduc, Grossmont Community College, El Cajon, California

• Iranjala Liyanaarachchi, Grossmont Community College, El Cajon, California

• Robyn Myers, Grossmont Community College, El Cajon, California

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

Scholarship hopefuls from across the country submitted essays describing the influence and benefits of InVEST 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.