MassMutual Helps Multicultural College Students Realize Dreams
Company announces 28 scholarship recipients
SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) has awarded $135,000 in scholarships to students who reside in or are attending college in 9 metropolitan areas across the United States.
Through its MassMutual Scholars Program, the company will help 28 high achieving college students of diverse backgrounds pursue their higher education dreams -- students like University of San Francisco sophomore Angelica Virginia Guio.
Guio, who plans to be the first in her family to graduate from a four-year-university, is using her grant to assist her in continuing with school full time, while working two jobs and caring for an infirmed parent and younger sibling.
Guio and the other student applicants were evaluated on their academic performance and commitment as well as a personal essay where many shared poignant stories about their desires to achieve a degree and their need for assistance.
"In April 2009, my mother suffered a stroke at age 43 and I have been the primary breadwinner for my family. As a full-time student; working two jobs can be extremely exhausting…I have learned many lessons since my mother suffered her stroke. I learned how to be a parent to my mother…I now know what it is like to stretch every dollar... and to truly appreciate every day you have because there is no way of knowing what tomorrow may hold," wrote Guio.
Guio and her fellow scholarship recipients hailed from San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Houston, Denver, Atlanta, New Jersey, Chicago, and Miami.
The MassMutual Scholars Program was expanded this year to include more states and include more students. The program was open to students of African-American/Black, Asian/Pacific Islander or Hispanic descent who met certain academic criteria, such as having concentrations in the fields of business, economics, finance, financial planning, and management, marketing and sales. The recipients must also show an interest in pursuing a career in the insurance and financial services industry
Each winner received up to $5,000 toward their education.
"In these challenging times it is heartening to be able to give students a hand up when pursuing their dreams. Assisting students as they pursue and complete a college education helps them, their families and, ultimately, our industry and country succeed," said Nick Fyntrilakis, Assistant Vice President of Community Responsibility at MassMutual.
The scholarship program's internship opportunities will expose recipients to the world of financial services, while helping to enhance diversity in financial services and to support increasingly diverse communities.
"Education is the cornerstone for multicultural families and is key to their economic empowerment. This scholarship program is just one of MassMutual's many efforts, including attracting talented professionals to the field of financial services and supporting people of diverse backgrounds, both as agents and as clients." said Chris Mendoza, Assistant Vice President of Multicultural market development for MassMutual.
The winners are:
Atlanta |
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Chantell Annette Ellis |
Mercer University |
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Jin Uk Kim |
Yale University |
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Sebastian Sinisterra |
Emory University |
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Chicago |
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Manuel Chavira |
DePaul University |
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Roberto Escutin Santosdiaz Jr. |
John Carroll University |
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Tamara Taylor |
University of Miami |
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Houston |
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Mindy Nhi Le |
University of Houston |
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Carolina Nathalie Silva |
University of Houston |
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Kendra Elaine Ware |
Texas Southern University |
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Los Angeles |
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Gina Elise Banks |
University of California-Berkeley |
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Lifang Huang |
Pasadena City College |
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Khai Thanh Nguyen |
University of California-Berkeley |
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Maren Quezada Lopez |
University of California-Berkeley |
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Miami |
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David Ardila |
Florida Atlantic University |
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Sandra Barlaan |
Emory University |
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Rochelle Akesha Rose |
Howard University |
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New Jersey |
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Laquisha A. Coley |
Bloomfield College |
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Michael Oh |
George Washington University |
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Yisell Rodriguez |
Montclair State University |
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San Antonio |
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Brittney Govan |
University of Houston |
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Sopheavy Kirby |
University of Texas - San Antonio |
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Rocio Leon |
University of Texas - Austin |
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San Francisco |
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Angelica Virginia Guiao |
University of San Francisco |
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Sochi Ilene |
University of California-Berkeley |
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Rachel Tsao |
University of California-Berkeley |
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Denver |
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Elizabeth Escobar |
University of Colorado at Denver |
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Sherene L. Hicks |
Regis University |
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Jay P. Liang |
University of Denver |
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About MassMutual
Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyholders. The company has a long history of financial strength and strong performance, and although dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid dividends to eligible participating policyholders every year since the 1860s. With whole life insurance as its foundation, MassMutual provides products to help meet the financial needs of clients, such as life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, retirement/401(k) plan services, and annuities. In addition, the company's strong and growing network of financial professionals helps clients make good financial decisions for the long-term.
MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts and its major affiliates include: Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MassMutual International LLC; MML Investors Services, Inc., member FINRA and SIPC; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB.
CONTACT: |
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Patty Norris Lubold |
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413.744.6957 |
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Karen Lavariere-Sanchez |
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413.744.7660 |
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SOURCE MassMutual
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