Protiviti Awards College Scholarships to Two Chicago Students

Now in its ninth year, Protiviti scholarship program continues to be funded entirely by Chicago area employee donations

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Sep 09, 2014, 11:00 ET

CHICAGO, Sept. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The employees of the Chicago office of Protiviti, a global consulting firm (www.protiviti.com), have once again awarded two Chicago students with college scholarships for $20,000 spread over four years. The scholarships were funded thanks to employee contributions through Protiviti's CommUnity Scholarship Program.

Tenzin Choenyi, a recent graduate of Sullivan High School, and Jasmine Baker, a recent graduate of Manley High School, were selected based on grade point average (GPA), school activities and community/civic involvement. As part of the selection process, Choenyi and Baker were also interviewed by Protiviti employees, and showed their initiative and commitment to furthering their education.

"We are so proud to support these two newest scholars as they embark on the next chapter of their education," said Sharon Lindstrom, a managing director in Protiviti's Chicago office who oversees the scholarship program. "Our CommUnity Scholarship Program has assisted eight college graduates to date, including three who have gone on to earn master's degrees. Eight additional students are in college pursuing their degrees with Protiviti support. We are very pleased to be able to offer Tenzin and Jasmine the same opportunity for success."

"Our Chicago employees came together in a tremendous effort to raise the funds for this year's CommUnity Scholarship Program," said Tom Andreesen, Protiviti managing director and head of the firm's Chicago office. "Helping scholars like Tenzin and Jasmine to realize their educational dreams is a tradition for Protiviti Chicago, and one that we are very proud to maintain."

Tenzin Choenyi and his family came to the U.S. from Nepal just over four years ago. Choenyi quickly mastered the English language, and went on to be placed in honors and advanced placement classes, graduating number five in his high school this year. He was recently selected as one of only 12 U.S. students to meet Michelle Obama at the White House, part of a college access initiative in which students who have overcome significant odds to get into college tell the First Lady their stories. He is using his scholarship to help him attend Adolphus Gustavus College in Minnesota.

Jasmine Baker ranked number two in her class at Manley High School. As part of her plan to study nursing, she was enrolled in a selective medical assistant program at school and had an internship at Mount Sinai Hospital, where she helped in the labor and delivery unit. She was also the National Honor Society president, as well as a member of "Upward Bound" (a support and tutoring college program) and is a keen cross-country runner. She is now attending Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, thanks to her Protiviti scholarship.

Through the CommUnity Scholarship Program, Protiviti selects two new scholarship recipients each year, providing both financial support and encouragement to Chicago public school students. Scholarships are renewable on an annual basis as long as minimum GPA requirements are met. Including Choenyi and Baker, Protiviti now supports a total of ten scholars on campuses across the United States. Another eight students have graduated with college degrees through the program.

Launched in April 2005, Protiviti's CommUnity Scholarship Program supports economically-challenged Chicago students who have the spirit and aptitude to achieve their goal of attending college. Candidates are selected with the help of the Chicago-based nonprofit organization Umoja Student Development, and the scholarships are funded entirely by donations from Protiviti's Chicago-area employees.

About Protiviti

Protiviti (www.protiviti.com) is a global consulting firm that helps companies solve problems in finance, technology, operations, governance, risk and internal audit, and has served more than 40 percent of FORTUNE 1000^® and FORTUNE Global 500^® companies. Protiviti and its independently owned Member Firms serve clients through a network of more than 70 locations in over 20 countries. The firm also works with smaller, growing companies, including those looking to go public, as well as with government agencies.

Protiviti is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half (NYSE: RHI). Founded in 1948, Robert Half is a member of the S&P 500 index.

Protiviti is not licensed or registered as a public accounting firm and does not issue opinions on financial statements or offer attestation services.

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SOURCE Protiviti