[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: City, Shelter Insurance team up for student success

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Toni Messina 
City of Columbia
573-230-1678 

Lt. Geoff Jones
Columbia Police Department
573-999-6833

JJ Musgrove
Office of Cultural Affairs
573-874-7512

Jay MacLellan 
Director of Public Relations
Shelter Insurance
913-486-0977

City, Shelter Insurance team up for student success

COLUMBIA, MO (October 26, 2016) - The City of Columbia and the Shelter Insurance Foundation announced that seniors at Battle, Douglass, Hickman and Rock Bridge high schools are eligible to apply for Success Grants to help fund their college and vocational plans.

Awards will be made to three seniors who demonstrate financial need and good character, have at least a 2.5 GPA upon graduation and who complete a service project in one of three neighborhoods identified in the City's 2016-2019 Strategic Plan. 

The Shelter Insurance Foundation will give an annual $1,000 grant -- which may be used for tuition, fees, books and housing -- to each student who completes a neighborhood service project.  Grants may be used at the two- or four-year accredited college, university or career/technical school of the student's choice.

The City's Social Equity Team, made up of City employees, developed the idea and, with City Manager Mike Matthes, pitched it to Shelter Insurance executives. 

"Our City team includes extraordinary people used to helping citizens every day, and they're totally aware of the connection between education, good citizenship and success in life," City of Columbia Civic Relations Officer Toni Messina said. "To have engaged a partner like Shelter is like a dream come true.  I still have to pinch myself on this one."

Brian Jones, Shelter's manager of diversity and inclusion, said that Success Grants are consistent with the company's belief that investing in young people yields long-term benefits for students, their families and the community. 

"We wanted to make this more than a one-time connection," Jones said.  "Our commitment over two or four years means we'll be watching these students and pulling for them, as if they were our own kids."

As Success Grant partners, the Shelter Foundation and the City know that the cost of higher education far exceeds the awards offered. 

"But some of us recall needing every extra dollar and every last word of encouragement to reach our education goals, especially if we were the first in our family to aim that high," Messina said.

Jones said that Success Grants carry benefits beyond cash. 

"Students will gain study and work skills, have City employee mentors and see the tangible results of their work in their neighborhoods," Jones said. "Columbia gets future leaders and employees ready to make their own personal investments in the community."

Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 13, 2017.  Application forms are available at the reception desk at City Hall (701 E Broadway), at https://www.shelterinsurance.com/lp/successgrants/, and at CoMo.gov.


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