The University of Connecticut proudly celebrates the graduation of the 2011 Travelers EDGE Scholars. Travelers EDGE (Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment), is a partnership with Travelers, the University of Connecticut, Central Connecticut State University and Capital Community College. The goal of the EDGE initiative is to improve access to and success in post-secondary education for undeserved communities and to build awareness of insurance and finance careers in this population. UConn’s EDGE initiative has three components: financial assistance, academic support services and activities for undergraduate students as well as outreach programming for middle and high school students. Since its inception, 58 deserving students (including some who transferred from the EDGE program at Capital Community College) have been awarded Travelers EDGE scholarships.
Through Travelers EDGE, the graduates participated in a wide variety of activities including resume critiques, mock interviews and improving their personal finance, project management and computer skills. Additionally, Travelers employees took part in the development of the students; in fact, since the program’s 2007 launch, approximately 200 employees have supported scholars as mentors and managers.
“Travelers is committed to removing barriers to education and career success faced by underrepresented students,” said Marlene Ibsen, Vice President of Community Relations. “Through our relationships with local colleges and universities, we are able to provide hands-on work experience in our industry as well as financial assistance to students who, when given the opportunity, are able to excel.”
Program Director, Seanice Austin says, “we are pleased with the partnership with Travelers and the opportunity EDGE affords our students. Students in this program are better prepared academically as well as professionally. As employees, our graduates will be able to contribute immediately to Travelers and any other organization they work for”.
This year’s graduation celebrates the graduates from the three EDGE partner institutions; University of Connecticut, Capital Community College and Central Connecticut State University. The UConn graduates are Omar Cassells, Business & Technology; Teresa Frausto, Accounting; Sandie Gong, Math & Economics; Eric Jain, Accounting; Elliot King, Accounting; David Macklem, Actuarial Science; Emily McDonnell, Management & French; Xiomara Ortiz, Business & Technology; Christian Osorio, Electrical Engineering; Sneha Parikh, Communication Disorders; Daniel Ratner, Management; Jayna Velez, Management; Prasant Venimadhavan, Accounting & Mathematics; Rex Winful, Business & Technology; Tracy Wright, Business & Technology.
At the graduation, held at the Hartford Marriott Downtown, Travelers EDGE scholar Sandie Gong talked about her experience as a Travelers intern. In addition to representatives from Travelers, CCSU President Jack Miller, Capital Community College President Wilfredo Nieves, and UCONN Business School Dean Dr. P. Christopher Earley also attended the event.
Pictured (left to right): Omar Cassells, Teresa Frausto, Sandie Gong, Emily McDonnell, Elliott King, Xiomara Ortiz, Rex Winful, Sneha Parikh, Jayna Velez, Tracy Wright, Seanice Austin
