InVEST awarded a total of $87,000 in scholarships to 70 studentspursuing insurance-related degrees, breaking previous scholarshiprecords. The program serves to attract new talent to the insuranceindustry.

“InVEST congratulates the 70 students, representing 17 schoolsand from eight states, who have earned scholarships this year,”says InVEST board chair and president of The Slocum Agency Inc.Robert G. Slocum.

“InVEST develops future industry professionals by educating highschool and college students about insurance risk management andfinancial services. Students from more than 500 InVEST programsacross the country are equipped with knowledge to help them pursuecareers in an agency, company or other insurance industryorganization,” Slocum says.

InVEST aids the education and development of future insuranceprofessionals through academic programs and scholarships at boththe high school and college level.

“A successful InVEST program is critical not only to the futureof the independent agency system, but to the insurance industry asa whole and to the financial literacy of our young people,” saysRobert Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO. “Many are concernedthat the average age of an insurance professional is around 54 andas baby boomers retire, the InVEST program has the potential toreplenish our workforce and produce the next generation of industryprofessionals and leaders.”

Across the country, scholarship hopefuls submitted essaysdescribing the influence and benefits of the InVEST program fortheir educational plans. Quality of the essay, along with gradepoint average and extracurricular activities were factors inselecting recipients for scholarships.

Students representing 18 schools from California, Florida,Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Texas and Virginia wereawarded scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000.

Two students received the Bob Betters Memorial Scholarship,which is the newest component of the InVEST program, established in2011. The scholarship awards $5,000 in honor of Bob Betters of theWatson Insurance Agency in Gastonia, N.C., who passed away inFebruary 2011 after battling brain cancer. Betters served as theInVEST state champion for North Carolina, and was appointed to theInVEST board of directors in 2009. The board agreed to award thetop scholarships for five years to honor his commitment to theprogram. This years' recipients are Danielle Dacanay of Glen Allen,Va. and Erin Dudley of Orlando, Fla.

Winners of the $3,000 scholarship include Andres Alvarez, ManuelCarmona, Gabrielle Cotilla, Sean Coughlin, Madeline Haller,Tyler Moffit and Ashley Palmer.

Thomas Christino, Diana Estrada, Peyton Holl, Josh Hutchinson,Katherine Johnson, Jenna Renaud and Taylor Schneider each received$2,000.

An additional 30 students received $1,000 and InVEST issued 24scholarships in the amount of $500.