Indiana State University Newsroom

A group of Indiana State University insurance and risk management students will be receiving some major support next year.

Nine students received scholarships from the Spencer Educational Foundation, an organization dedicated to funding educational opportunities for risk management and insurance students. Eight students received the $5,000 Spencer Educational Foundation General Fund award for undergraduate students, while Jaclin Huxford, senior insurance and risk management major from Clinton, received the foundation's $10,000 graduate student award. That award will help when Huxford begins pursuit of an MBA in the fall.

"It's very competitive," Rebecca Wray, interim director of the Gongaware Center, said of the scholarship process. "It really speaks to the quality of our insurance and risk management program, and the Spencer Educational Foundation sees this and supports our program in multiple ways."

Applicants for the general fund scholarships need to be full-time students, have at least a 3.0 grade point average, possess a career interest in risk management and leadership skills.

"I think that by having so many students receive scholarships, it helps the insurance and risk management program be known across campus and really attracts students to our program," Huxford said. "Nationally, ISU's insurance and risk management program can be seen as a competitor and also as a potential pool of future employees."

The Indiana State students who received the undergraduate award are: Renee Collins, a sophomore insurance and risk management major from Tracy, Cal.; Patrick Harpenau, junior insurance and risk management major from Clinton; Sarah Helman, junior insurance and risk management major from Terre Haute; Brad Ketzner, junior insurance and risk management major from Ferdinand, Ind.; Brittany Kirk, junior marketing and insurance and risk management double major from Casey, Ill.; Ellen Lamb, junior financial services and insurance and risk management double major from Pendleton, Ind.; Will Lehman, junior insurance and risk management major from Nineveh, Ind.; and Swapna Namburi, sophomore insurance and risk management major from Terre Haute.

"The fact that we have so many Spencer Educational Foundation scholarship recipients is a testament to the high quality students we have in the Scott College of Business," said Brien Smith, dean of the college. "The insurance and risk management program is preparing students to become the industry's future top professionals, and recognitions such as these affirm our efforts."

Wray encouraged Huxford to apply for the graduate award, as Huxford wants to pursue an MBA. She had been searching for financial aid for next fall, and applied for the award.

"I was shocked. I teared up a little after reading the first sentence!" Huxford said of receiving her congratulatory letter. "I feel extremely blessed to be a part of such an elite group of scholars."

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/marketing/Federal-Hall-Scott-College-of/i-hWhvwHv/0/L/09_12_12_Don_Scott_-2520-L.jpg A classroom in Federal Hall, which houses the Scott College of Business at Indiana State University.

Contact: Rebecca Wray, interim director of the Gongaware Center, Scott College of Business, 812-237-8924 or rebecca.wray@indstate.edu

Writer: Austin Arceo, assistant director of media relations, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3790 or austin.arceo-negrich@indstate.edu