Texas Insurance Council Scholarship Funding Tops $500K

With its latest round of scholarships, the Insurance Council of Texas’ (ICT) annual funding for students enrolled in insurance and risk management classes in Texas universities has topped the half million dollar mark. The program, which began in 2002 with two schools, has now provided scholarships and funding to 241 students at 10 universities.

Scholarships recently were awarded to students at the University of Texas Pan American, Huston-Tillotson University, the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Houston – Downtown.

Many of these students will be graduating this year and surveys have shown that more than half of the graduates will land jobs in the insurance marketplace.

ICT Education Foundation Chairman Tony Gonzalez said the scholarship recipients are the cream of the crop.

“Companies who are looking for new employees don’t have to look much further than ICT scholarship recipients,” Gonzalez said. “These students have a huge interest in insurance, make the top grades and have been recommended by their professors. These young men and women will become tomorrow’s leaders in the workplace.”

ICT scholarship recipients at the University of Texas Pan American in Edinburg were Brenda Bader, Jose Luis Briones, Manuel Martinez, Gerardo Cuellar and Magaly Duenas. UT Pan Am professor Juan Padron said this year’s scholarship recipients are a testament to the quality of students that are taking a closer look at insurance as a career option.

ICT scholarships recipients at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin were Jessica Niño, Heather Tunduwe, Ashley Simbanegavi and Clara Okafor. Insurance professor Jesus Piedre said most of his scholarship recipients are from African nations and studying insurance has given them a whole new perspective on life.

“We have a diverse group of students that have been energized to see their world through the concepts of risk management and insurance,” Piedre said.

ICT scholarship recipients at the University of Texas at San Antonio were Christina Bebber, Mengyue Chen, Biljana Jovanova, Salvador Melendez and Zach Mueller. UTSA professor Ron Sweet said his scholarship recipients are exceptional students.

“Our recipients this year are an impressive and diverse group, reflecting the intellectually challenging and diverse environment of our university, and each of these students have overcome great obstacles to get to this point of excellence,” Sweet said.

ICT scholarship recipients at the University of Houston Downtown (UHD) were Carla Bickham, Kristen Cruz-Garza, Carlo Flores, Aerum Mahmood and Thomas Pepper. UHD Business Dean Don Bates said the scholarship program has served his students well.

“ICT provides a unique and practical opportunity to connect students with industry careers, which supports UHD’s mission, as well as our student’s personal career goals,” Bates said.

Each scholarship recipient has been invited to the 2012 Mid-Year Property and Casualty Symposium in Austin on July 12. Approximately 300 insurance executives are expected to attend the symposium that will offer the latest news and updates on the Texas insurance marketplace.

Source: The Insurance Council of Texas

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Texas Education Universities