10 New York Students Among 58 InVEST Scholarship Winners

InVEST, the insurance industry’s career education program, has awarded $56,500 in scholarships to 58 college-bound students pursuing insurance-related degrees, including 10 students from New York.

Patrick Moore, chair of the National InVEST Board of Directors, past president of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York, and principal of Antalek & Moore, an independent agency in Beacon, New York. congratulated the recipients.

“Each year, InVEST develops future industry professionals by educating high school and community college students about insurance, risk management and financial services. InVEST graduates are armed with knowledge to help them pursue careers in an agency, company or other insurance industry organization,” he said.

Ten students from four New York schools received a total of $10,000 in InVEST scholarship money with five individuals receiving $1,500 and five receiving $500. They are:

• Erin Baum, Dryden High School, Dryden ($1,500)
• Zachary LeViere, Dryden High School, Dryden ($1,500)
• Audrey Ross, Dryden High School, Dryden ($1,500)
• Stefanie Porter, Charles O. Dickerson High School, Trumansburg ($1,500)
• Amy Twerwilliger, Dryden High School, Dryden ($1,500)
• Craig Baleer, West Seneca West Senior High School, West Seneca ($500)
• Christian Jenne, Dryden High School, Dryden ($500)
• Cassandra Sherwood, Charles O. Dickerson High School, Trumansburg ($500)
• Jhonnathan Chang Wu, Murry Bergtraum High School, New York City ($500)
• Christian Yaeger, Dryden High School, Dryden ($500)

Along with direct contributions, scholarships are funded through proceeds generated by the InVEST Silent and Live auctions held in conjunction with the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America’s Legislative Conference & Convention. This year, the Young Agents Committee (YAC), the association’s young professionals organization, sponsored a successful casino night fundraiser titled “YAC Gives Back: A Benefit for InVEST Scholarships” in conjunction with the annual event. Collectively, “YAC Gives Back,” the auction and direct contributions raised more than $50,000. Auction items were donated by insurance carriers, agents and brokers, the IIABA and its state affiliates including IIABNY, and other industry organizations.

“Continuing growth and 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,” said Robert Rusbuldt, IIABA president and CEO. “With the average age of an insurance professional around 54, the InVEST program has the potential to replenish our workforce before it’s too late and may be the program that saves our industry.”

Topics New York Agencies Education Market