NU Online News Service, July 27, 2:53 p.m.EDT

Spencer Educational Foundation Inc. said today it has launched anew Web site, www.spencered.org,which provides professional networking opportunities for studentsstudying risk management and insurance and a convenient way forstudents to interact with risk practitioners.

On the site, users can create and manage profiles, form specialinterest groups, participate in online discussions, explorescholarship and grant programs, learn about upcoming events, andalso make a donation, Spencer said.

"Younger risk professionals are using sites such as Facebook,LinkedIn and Twitter to network, so updating Spencer EducationalFoundation's Web site to offer professional networking technologieswas a natural fit," said Donna L. Galer, chairwoman of SpencerEducational Foundation Inc. "The new Web site will also help thefoundation engage with scholarship recipients and riskpractitioners throughout their careers."

Other features of the re-launch include:

o Easy access to information about the foundation's programs

o The foundation's events calendar

o An improved online payment system for contributors

o A link to the foundation community (eGroups, Member Directoryand Resource Library)

Since 1980, the foundation said it has awarded more than $4million in scholarships to students pursuing degrees in the riskmanagement discipline and $2.2 million in grants to universitiesoffering programs in risk management and insurance. In 2009,Spencer Educational Foundation awarded $180,000 in scholarships andmore than $210,000 in grants.

Established in 1979 to honor the late Robert S. Spencer, thefoundation is administered by its board of directors and isaffiliated with the Risk and Insurance Management Society Inc.(RIMS) in New York. For more information, visit www.spencered.org.