General Casualty Insurance Companies is helping ease the financial burden of a college education by awarding 20 outstanding students with renewable $1,000 scholarships.
“The General Casualty scholarship program was created four years ago to reward talented students,” said Hollie Bowker, General Casualty community relations manager. “Our aim is to encourage excellence and offer a financial incentive that helps ease the burden of paying for college.”
Rising education costs make scholarships and financial aid more valuable than ever. Experts at the College Board predict the cost of attending private and public colleges will increase about 5 percent each year. According to that estimate, in 10 years tuition for one year would cost $49,204 and $18,489 at private and public colleges, respectively.
General Casualty is awarding eight scholarships to dependents of the company’s employees, eight to dependents of staff employed at the company’s Premier Partner agencies, and four to students in states where the company has offices. Awards are renewable up to three years or until a degree is earned, whichever occurs first, and are based on satisfactory academic performances (2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale).
The scholarship program began in 2003. The company has awarded more than $190,000 in college scholarships to 82 students.
Recipients were judged and selected by Scholarship Management Services, an independent scholarship program administrator. Winners were selected based on the following criteria:
– Consideration of past academic performance and future potential
– Leadership and participation in school and community activities
– Work experience
– Career and educational aspirations and goals
– Unusual personal or family circumstances
– An appraisal from a non-family member
2006 General Casualty scholarship recipients
Kyle Black, son of Kevin and Kathy Black of Sun Prairie, Wis., will be a sophomore at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and is majoring in commercial aviation. (E)
Joshua Bruner is the son of Kendal and Diane Bruner of Cuba City, Wis. He’ll be a freshman at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse and will major in fitness. (P)
Lauren Chadwick is the daughter of George and Beth Chadwick of Wilmington, N.C. She’ll be a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and will major in occupational therapy. (P)
Amy Curtis-Godt is the daughter of Laurie Gissal and Richard Godt of Lannon, Wis. She’ll be a sophomore at Waukesha County Technical College in Pewaukee, Wis., and is majoring in criminal justice (E).
Danielle Eisenschink is the daughter of Daivid Eisenschink and Carol Eisenschink of Valders, Wis. She’ll be a junior at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wis., and is majoring in biochemistry. (P)
Bret Hagen, son of Rick Hagen and Julie Hagen of New Glarus, Wis., will be a sophomore at Edgewood College in Madison, Wis., and is majoring in mathematics. (P)
Ryan Hahne is the son of Nance Hahne and Ron Hahne of Warren, Ill. He’ll be a sophomore at the University of Dubuque in Iowa and is majoring in math education. (E)
Brian Pellot, son of Greg and Sandi Pellot of Wausau, Wis., will be a freshman at the University of Missouri – Columbia. He’ll major in broadcast journalism. (C)
Megan Prestebak, daughter of Alan and Pam Prestebak of Dorchester, Wis., will be a freshman at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. She’ll major in human biology. (P)
John Reilly is the son of Lillian and John Reilly of Avon, Conn. He’ll be a junior at Fairfield University in Connecticut and is majoring in biology/management. (E)
Amy Rodocker, daughter of Jeff and Kerry Rodocker of Greenfield, Ind., will be a freshman at Huntington University in Indiana. She’ll major in elementary education. (E)
Bryan Sandvig is the son of Greg and Rae Lynn Sandvig of Bloomington, Minn. He’ll be a freshman at Wheaton College in Illinois, and will major in business marketing. (P)
Lynn Singletary, daughter of Scott and Judy Singletary of Sun Prairie, Wis., will be a freshman at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She’ll major in engineering. (E)
Daryl Staveness is the son of Robert Staveness and Nancy Duerst of Rio, Wis. He’ll be a freshman at the Univesity of Wisconsin and will major in chemical engineering. (E)
Mackenzie Timm is the daughter of Charles and Rhonda Timm of Galesville, Wis. She’ll be a freshman at the University of Wisconsin and will major in marketing. (C)
Stephanie Tofte, daughter of Tim and Julie Tofte of Verona, Wis., is a sophomore at Hamline University in St. Paul. She is majoring in sociology and global studies. (P)
Kasey Wagner, daughter of Richard and Deborah Wagner of Pewaukee, Wis., will be a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin. She is majoring in elementary education. (P)
Brea Wipperfurth, daughter of Marc and Carol Wipperfurth of De Forest, Wis., will be a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. She is majoring in education. (E)
Amy Xu, daughter of Lu Fang and Zhichang Xu of Fort Dodge, Iowa, will be a freshman at Washington University in St. Louis. She’ll major in government and law. (C)
Deborah Yagow, daughter of John and Beverly Yagow of Watertown, Wis. She’ll be a freshman at the University of Wisconsin and will major in engineering. (C)
P – Premier Partner division recipients
C – Community division recipients
E – Employee division recipients
For more information, please contact Anne M. Smith.