Unigard Insurance Company is helping make college more affordable for 12 outstanding students by awarding them renewable $1,000 scholarships.
Rising education costs make tuition assistance more valuable than ever. College Board experts report that most students paid $95 to $1,404 more in 2007-08 than the previous year for tuition and fees. On average, expenses at four-year private schools rose 6.3 percent, four-year public schools 6.6 percent, and two-year public schools 4.2 percent.
To combat these costs, Unigard is awarding four scholarships to dependents of employees, four 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).
Recipients were judged and selected by Scholarship Management Services, an independent scholarship program administrator. Winners were selected based on:
- 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
2008 Unigard scholarship recipients
Alex Bacon of Yakima, Wash., daughter of Bruce and Cyndey Bacon, will be a freshman at Western Washington University (Bellingham). She will major in journalism. (E)
Lesli Baker of Yakima, Wash., daughter of Mary and Tom Baker, will be a freshman at Eastern Washington University in 2009-10. She will study secondary education. (C)
Kenny Helmandollar of Salt Lake City, son of Brett and Kathy Helmandollar, will be a junior at the University of Utah (Salt Lake City). He is majoring in biology. (E)
Mindi Helmandollar of Boise, Idaho, daughter of Brett and Kathy Helmandollar, will be a senior at Oregon State University (Corvallis). She is majoring in business management. (E)
Adessa O’Shana of Hilmar, Calif., daughter of Matthew and Jana O’Shana, will be a freshman at the University of California-Davis. She will major in political science. (P)
Abbie Poirier of Wenatchee, Wash., daughter of Mike and Maureen Poirier, will be a freshman at the University of Portland. She will study pre-medicine. (C)
Lauren Reed of East Wenatchee, Wash., daughter of Mike and Lori Reed, will be a freshman at Washington State University (Pullman). She will study biology. (C)
Jessica Starley, of Twin Falls, Idaho, daughter of Allen and Corinne Starley, will be a sophomore at Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah). She is studying English. (P)
Alexander Tarr of Everett, Wash., son of John and Julie Tarr, will be a freshman at the University of New Orleans. He will major in pre-medicine. (C)
Sam Trautman of Renton, Wash., son of Marie Hoshino and Len Trautman, will be a freshman at the University of Washington-Bothell. He will major in business administration. (E)
Brittney Tuomala of Fort Bragg, Calif., daughter of Chris Tuomala and Ronda Tuomala, will be a sophomore at the Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park, N.Y.). She is studying pastry arts. (P)
Jeffrey Walston of Madras, Ore., son of Dan Walston and Chris Walston, will be a junior at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Prescott, Ariz.). He is studying aeronautical engineering. (P)
P – Premier Partner division recipients
C – Community division recipients
E – Employee division recipients
For more information please contact Anne M. Smith.