TORONTO, June 11, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Independent Order of Foresters, commonly known as Foresters(tm), has announced the 320 winners of its annual scholarship program(i), including the first two recipients of its Ken Peterson Award for Community Leadership. Foresters scholarships, available to eligible Foresters members in the United States and Canada, recognize those who have demonstrated solid academic performance with contributions to the community.
In its 22nd year, the Foresters scholarship program has awarded over $40 million in competitive scholarships; benefiting more than 4,000 students as they pursue their educational goals. This year alone, the contribution to these scholarships will reach $2.3 million.
"One complimentary benefit available to our members when they purchase a Foresters life insurance or annuity products is our Scholarship Program, which helps create bright futures for our members, their families and their communities," said George Mohacsi, President and CEO of Foresters. "Enriching the lives of our members through these benefits and inspiring them to follow our leadership in making a difference in their communities has been a tradition at Foresters for over 130 years."
For the first time this year, two students were presented with the Ken Peterson Award for Community Leadership. Ken Peterson was a tireless volunteer, serving as a member of the Board and executive management team of Foresters. The two students chosen for this award who best exemplify Peterson's community spirit are Abigail Smith from Beachwood, Ohio, and Jeremy Headlee from Hesperia, California. Both have demonstrated exceptional leadership in their communities and extraordinary effort and ability to overcome adversity.
Smith is a sophomore at DePaul University in Chicago and has made her mark through her passion and dedication to community service and raising awareness of social justice issues. Headlee, a recent graduate of Sultana High School, has turned some troubling times in his own life into a commitment to providing hope to others through countless mentoring and volunteer initiatives. Each recipient will receive $5,000* this year and upon the renewal of their award, receive $2,000* in each of their subsequent years of undergraduate studies.
Each year, Foresters Scholarship Program recipients are awarded $2,000* for up to a maximum of four years or until their first degree is obtained. A Foresters scholarship can help pay for tuition, books, supplies, residence, clothes, food and other expenses.
The impact these scholarships can have on students is immense. "Foresters has made it possible for me to go to medical school," said Scott Miller, a student from Idaho and one of the 320 scholarship recipients. "Now I can get an education that will make a real difference in ways that matter."
Krista Best, a winner from Texas comments, "I'm not your typical scholarship recipient. I'm 34 years old with six adopted children and six foster children. I'm going to Nursing School because it means that I'll have more to give to my family. And it will help my kids see that education really is important. But none of this would have been possible without Foresters."
This year, Foresters extended the reach of the program to include currently enrolled mature students over 25 years of age; undergraduate university, vocational college or trade school students and students who have taken a year or two break from studies as well as high school seniors.
Details about the 2008-2009 Foresters Scholarship Program and application process will be available online this summer at www.foresters.com.
About Foresters
Founded in 1874, Foresters(tm) helps individuals and families achieve financial security with its innovative portfolio of life insurance products and annuities. Foresters shares its financial strength with its members, who are customers, through complimentary life, health and education benefits that help its more than 745,000 eligible members and their families in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Foresters provides opportunities that inspire its members to make a difference in their communities. For more information, please visit www.foresters.com
Foresters(tm) is a trademark of The Independent Order of Foresters, a fraternal benefit society, 789 Don Mills Road, Toronto, Canada M3C 1T9.
The Foresters logo is available at http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2969
(i) Foresters Scholarship Program is a competition for scholarships, open to eligible applicants meeting the eligibility requirements. Scholarship recipients will be selected from the completed applications submitted before the deadline date. The program is administered by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.
* This figure reflects the currency of the country where the student will be attending school