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The Hartford Awards This Year's 'Straight A' Scholarships to 17 City High School Seniors

The Hartford Awards This Year's 'Straight A' Scholarships to 17 City High School Seniors

Published 06-08-00

Submitted by The Hartford

Seventeen of Hartford's best and brightest from the class of 2000 are college-bound, thanks to The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

The Hartford today announced this year's recipients of its unusual four-year scholarship program -- the Alliance for Academic Achievement - The Hartford Straight A Program.

Launched in 1998 in partnership with Trinity College, the University of Connecticut and Howard University, the program provides top-ranking city students who have been accepted at the schools with four years of financial aid, summer employment, mentoring, and business and life skills courses from the company’s corporate education center. The Hartford has committed upwards of $500,000 a year to fund the program that is expected to serve 60 students annually within the next two years.

Last month, the 12 young men and women who comprised last year's inaugural Straight A Scholarship group completed their freshman year college studies.

At a ceremony at the company’s headquarters honoring this year's Straight A Scholars, Ramani Ayer, The Hartford’s chairman and CEO, told the scholarship winners, "It is our responsibility as a company and member of this community to do as much as we can to support the education of the city's young people. You are our future, and The Alliance for Academic Achievement was created to help you realize your full potential. Your exemplary achievements prove that you are ready to take on the rigors of college life."

Ten of the Straight A Scholars are from Bulkeley High School. They are Beatrix Lindinger, Dimitrios S. Meleounis, Fortunato Morello, Jr., and Giorelly Prado who will attend Trinity College; and Georgianna Newson, Carmen Valeria Palacios, Soide Y. Rodriguez, Juliany Rosario, Natasha K. Shekar, and Ryan A. Singh who will enter the University of Connecticut this fall. Hartford Public High School winners are Melissa Burgos and Jennifer Gomez, who are UConn-bound; Jennifer I. Torres, who plans to go to Trinity; and Thomas Jor-El Hardy and Donald Darling, who will go to Howard University. Recipients from Weaver High School are Horace E. Rhone, Jr. a future Trinity student, and Christina Dzenyuy, who will enter Howard.

Ayer emphasized that the scholarship winners were distinguished not only by their academic achievements but also their drive to succeed when the odds were against them.

"For a number of our scholarship recipients, English is their second language. Others are the first in their families to graduate from high school or pursue higher education. They've prevailed in an environment where poverty, drugs and violence are commonplace," said Ayer.

He noted that according to Connecticut's Department of Education the Hartford public school system sent only 36.8 percent of its graduates to four-year colleges in 1999, compared to the state average of 60.4 percent. "We want to help improve upon that," Ayer said.

The Alliance for Academic Achievement was born out of The Hartford’s long-standing commitment to improve educational opportunities for the city’s young people. Seniors at all three of the city’s public high schools are eligible to apply, and are selected by the partnership colleges based on their academic achievement, financial need, and ability to meet the admission requirements of their chosen college.

The Hartford annually is contributing up to $300,000 in scholarships for the program and some $200,000 in summer employment for the students. The Hartford’s funds will supplement scholarship monies given by Trinity, UConn and Howard according to the needs of each student.

In addition to the financial aid, the Straight A program offers four years of summer employment at The Hartford, matches each student with mentors from The Hartford’s staff and his or her college, and provides business and life skills courses on such topics as time-management and goal setting.

"Our level of involvement is much deeper than financial," underscored Ayer. "We and our college partners are here to provide a safety net to ensure that these fine students have the support they need to succeed and flourish both in school and in the workplace beyond."

The Alliance for Academic Achievement - The Hartford Straight A Program is one of many components of The Hartford's corporate commitment to improve the educational environment in the greater Hartford area. Since 1998, as part of its partnership with Hartford Public High, the company has committed more than $800,000 in computer equipment and services to transform the school into a center of technological excellence. Similarly, The Hartford maintains strong relationships with both West Middle Elementary School and Quirk Middle School where it has donated computer labs and also sponsors various reading, tutoring and after-school programs.

Other Hartford educational initiatives include its 30-year-old STAG program, which offers employment and training for students from area high schools; internships for MBA students and college recruits; scholarship grants for Connecticut colleges; and tutoring, mentoring and remedial math programs in city schools staffed by employee volunteers.

The Hartford (NYSE: HIG) is one of the nation's largest insurance and financial services companies, with 1999 revenues of $13.5 billion. As of March 31, 2000, The Hartford had assets of $172.4 billion and shareholders’ equity of $5.7 billion. The company is a leading provider of investment products, life insurance and employee benefits; automobile and homeowners products; commercial property and casualty insurance; and reinsurance.

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The Hartford

The Hartford

The Hartford (NYSE: HIG) is a leading provider of insurance and wealth management services for millions of consumers and businesses worldwide. The Hartford is consistently recognized for its superior service and as one of the world's most ethical companies. More information on the company and its financial performance is available at www.thehartford.com.

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