Travelers Hosts Inaugural Program to Increase College Access and
Career Readiness Pipeline
HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) today hosted Insurance and
Financial Services (IFS) Day, designed to increase access to higher
education and raise awareness of careers in the insurance and financial
services industries among underrepresented high school students. Through
the company’s signature education program, Travelers EDGE (Empowering
Dreams for Graduation and Employment), IFS Day offers high school
students exposure to opportunities offered through Travelers EDGE, while
providing a framework within which they can see and embark on a path to
success.
“As the first in my family to go to college, I struggled with figuring
out where to get advice on my education and career,” said Bryant
Dominguez, a junior at the University of Connecticut who is studying
actuarial science. “Travelers took me under its wing as an EDGE scholar
and provided me with the resources, training and support I needed to
keep my academics and life path on track. This summer, I interned with
the Community Relations department, and that allowed me to see
first-hand the type of company I can work for when I graduate if I keep
working hard.”
In addition to supporting the students, Travelers
also works closely with education and business partners, including the
Metro Hartford Alliance’s Insurance
and Financial Services (IFS) Cluster.
“Not only is Travelers doing incredibly important work in the community,
but they’re also engaging key business organizations like ours to create
an even broader impact,” said Susan Winkler, Executive Director of the
IFS Cluster. “Like Travelers, we recognize that today’s students are
tomorrow’s workforce, and we couldn’t be more proud to partner with them
to continue giving our youth more opportunities to succeed, which will
ultimately create a better region for all of us in which to live and
work.”
At the event, students were given an introduction to the Travelers EDGE
program, which includes academic advisement, professional mentoring,
tuition assistance, computer skills development and exposure to a
leading corporation and industry. In the past, Travelers EDGE has
focused on recruitment at the college level, and IFS Day marked a
broader reach for the company by including recruitment of high school
students, who are now eligible to apply for scholarships.
Marlene Ibsen, Vice President of Community Relations for Travelers,
said, “Travelers EDGE is envisioned as a pipeline that helps students
better understand career and academic opportunities at an early age.
After all, the earlier we can reach students and guide them on the path
to college, the more likely we are to influence outcomes. Our IFS Day is
an important milestone in extending that pipeline.”
Along with the IFS Cluster, Travelers also partners with Career
Beginnings, Connecticut Pre-Engineering Program (CPEP), High School,
Inc., the University of Connecticut, Central Connecticut State
University and Capital Community College. During the 2010 – 2011 school
year, Travelers mentored and provided financial assistance to foster the
development of 52 Connecticut students. Since the program’s 2007 launch,
scores of employees have supported the scholars as mentors. IFS Day took
place at Travelers Claim University in Windsor, Conn.
About Travelers
Travelers is a leading provider of property
casualty insurance for auto, home and business. Travelers has more than
30,000 employees and 2010 revenues of approximately $25 billion.
Travelers stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TRV)
and is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company
provides support for charitable organizations in the community through
the Travelers Foundation and with corporate funding and in-kind
services. The company’s community giving is focused on education,
community development and the arts. Travelers employees are consistently
active in community initiatives and perform thousands of hours in
volunteer time each year. For more information, visit www.travelers.com.
About Travelers EDGE
Established in 2007, Travelers EDGE
(Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment) provides a holistic
approach to education through partnerships with colleges, universities
and community-based programs to increase the pipeline of
underrepresented students to college. Travelers EDGE partnerships are
currently in Connecticut, Maryland and Minnesota.
About the Insurance and Financial Services Cluster
Connecticut's
Insurance and Financial Services (IFS) Cluster was established in 2003
to foster cooperation and collaboration between business, academia and
state government. The successful partnership continues to be a model for
workforce development and economic development in the U.S.
Travelers Companies, Inc.
Media Contact:
Ashley
Maagero, 860-277-2954
Source: The Travelers Companies, Inc.