Program Provides Financial Support to Underrepresented Individuals
October 19, 2022 (WASHINGTON, DC) – The Surety & Fidelity Association of America Foundation (SFAA Foundation) announced today the 15 students selected as recipients of a $5,000 scholarship as part of the Surety and Fidelity Intern and Scholarship Program for 2022. Started in 2003, the program helps increase diversity within the surety and fidelity industry by attracting underrepresented students into the field. The scholarship recipients for this year represent individuals from underrepresented groups based on race, gender, sexual orientation and ability. These talented scholarship recipients will each receive a $5,000 academic award.
“Each year we are impressed by our scholarship recipients’ level of professionalism as interns and their academic accomplishments, and this year is no exception,” said Larry Taylor, president of The Surety & Fidelity Association of America Foundation and president at Merchants Bonding Company. “The Foundation’s Board of Trustees is thrilled to award each student a $5,000 scholarship and we look forward to seeing these talented individuals pursue surety and fidelity as a career upon their graduation.”
“These 15 students represent the diverse future of the surety and fidelity industry, and on behalf of the SFAA Foundation, I would like to congratulate them on their academic and professional achievements,” said Lee Covington, president and CEO of SFAA. “We are grateful to our member companies, industry partners, and individuals whose donations to the SFAA Foundation make this program a success.”
The 2022 Surety and Fidelity Intern and Scholarship Program scholarship recipients are as follows:
- Audrey Xia, University of Southern California – Chubb Surety
- Morgan Wendt, University of Central Florida – CNA Surety Group
- Darius Grant, Western New England University – Hanover Insurance Group
- Kelly Rhyner, University of Delaware – The Hartford
- Nataly Brown, Quinnipiac University School of Law – IAT Insurance Group
- Kelsey Connell, Saint Mary’s College of California – IAT Insurance Group
- Savein Wilson, University of Maryland, College Park – IAT Insurance Group
- Nayeli Rodriguez, Texas A&M University – Liberty Mutual Group
- Kylene Hoven, Iowa State University – Merchants Bonding Company
- Erica Johnson, Iowa State University – Merchants Bonding Company
- Gabriel de Medeiros, Grand View University – Merchants Bonding Company
- Max Pettit, Drake University – Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
- Serra Vithlani, University of California, Los Angeles – Sompo International
- Daniel Zhu, University of Connecticut – Travelers Bond and Specialty Insurance
- Erin Frenk, Ashland University – Westfield Group
For information on the Surety and Fidelity Intern and Scholarship Program, please visit www.surety.org
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The Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan trade association representing all segments of the surety and fidelity industry. Based in Washington, D.C., SFAA works to promote the value of surety and fidelity bonding by proactively advocating on behalf of its members and stakeholders. The association’s more than 425 member companies write 98 percent of surety and fidelity bonds in the U.S. For more information visit www.surety.org.
