Program Provides Financial Support to Underrepresented Individuals

October 18, 2023 (WASHINGTON, DC)– The Surety & Fidelity Association of America Foundation (SFAA Foundation) announced today the 19 students selected as recipients of a $2,500 scholarship as part of the Surety and Fidelity Intern and Scholarship Program for 2023. Started in 2003, the program helps increase diversity within the surety and fidelity industry by attracting underrepresented students into the field.

“I am impressed by our scholarship recipients’ level of professionalism as interns and their academic accomplishments,” 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 $2,500 scholarship, and we look forward to seeing these talented individuals pursue surety and fidelity careers upon graduation.”

“These 19 students represent the future of the surety and fidelity industry, and on behalf of the SFAA Foundation, I would like to congratulate them,” said Peter Roth, SFAA’s VP Marketing, Communications and Research. “We are grateful to our member companies, industry partners, and individuals whose donations to the SFAA Foundation make this program a success.”

The 2023 Surety and Fidelity Intern and Scholarship Program scholarship recipients are as follows:

• Kane Perez, Clayton State University – The Hartford
• Sebastian Romero Lalama, Occidental College – The Hartford
• Ashley Oswald, West Chester University of Pennsylvania – IAT Insurance Group
• Thomas Hunt, University of North Texas – IAT Insurance Group
• Thompson Cole, San Francisco State University – IAT Insurance Group
• Carolina de Barros Antonucci, University of Washington, Bothell – Liberty Mutual Group
• Erica Johnson, Iowa State University – Merchants Bonding Company
• Aubree Altman, Iowa State University – Merchants Bonding Company
• Kaleb Shah, Grinnell College – Merchants Bonding Company
• Isabelle Wade, Gettysburg College – Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
• Davis Telleen, St. John’s University – Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
• Grace Long, Catholic University of America – Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
• Serra Vithlani, University of California, Los Angeles – Sompo International
• Allison Musser, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities – Travelers Bond and Specialty Insurance
• Evan Punches, University of Arizona – Travelers Bond and Specialty Insurance
• Megan Flaherty, University of the Pacific – Travelers Bond and Specialty Insurance
• Rainerio Reyes, Wesleyan University – Travelers Bond and Specialty Insurance
• Samantha Paz, University of the Pacific – Travelers Bond and Specialty Insurance
• Amanda Noonan, Bryant University – Westfield Group

For information on the Surety and Fidelity Intern and Scholarship Program or to make a donation, please visit www.surety.org

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The Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) is a trade association of more than 425 insurance companies that write 98 percent of surety and fidelity bonds in the U.S. SFAA is licensed as a rating or advisory organization in all states and it has been designated by state insurance departments as a statistical agent for the reporting of fidelity and surety experience. www.surety.org