The Hartford Awards Scholarships to Straight ‘A’ Students

The Hartford announced the recipients of its “Alliance for Academic Achievement” program which provides scholarships to top students from the city, who’ve been accepted at Trinity College, the University of Connecticut or Howard University.

Hartford’s Straight ‘A’ Program, which is now in its fourth year, “provides four years of financial aid, summer employment, mentoring and life skills courses,” said the announcement. So far 56 deserving students have benefited from the program, which cost the insurer around $500,000 a year.

The Hartford’s chairman and CEO Ramani Ayer, speaking at a ceremony at the company’s world headquarters honoring the 2002 Straight A Scholars, stated that “The achievements of the young men and women here today are direct results of their personal determination and quality of character. We at The Hartford are proud to promote these students’ love of learning by providing the financial, academic and emotional support to help them flourish at a world-class college. Our partners – Trinity, Howard and UConn – will soon be home to these world-class students.”

“The Alliance for Academic Achievement was born out of The Hartford’s long- standing commitment to improve educational opportunities for the city’s young people,” said the announcement.

It explained that “Seniors at all three of the city’s public high schools, plus the Sport Sciences Academy, are eligible to apply, and are selected by the partnership colleges based on their academic achievement, financial need, and ability to meet the admission requirements of their chosen college.”

The program includes more than financial aid. Recipients are offered four years of summer employment at The Hartford, and each student is matched “with mentors from The Hartford’s staff and his or her college,” providing life skills courses on such topics as time management and goal-setting.”