“A successful InVEST program is critical not only to the future of the independent agency system, but to the insurance industry as a whole and to the financial literacy of our young people,” says Robert Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO. “Many are concerned that the average age of an insurance professional is around 54 and as baby boomers retire, the InVEST program has the potential to replenish our workforce and produce the next generation of industry professionals and leaders.”

Across the country, scholarship hopefuls submitted essays describing the influence and benefits of the InVEST program for their educational plans. Quality of the essay, along with grade point average and extracurricular activities were factors in selecting recipients for scholarships.

Students representing 18 schools from California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Texas and Virginia were awarded scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000.

Two students received the Bob Betters Memorial Scholarship, which is the newest component of the InVEST program, established in 2011. The scholarship awards $5,000 in honor of Bob Betters of the Watson Insurance Agency in Gastonia, N.C., who passed away in February 2011 after battling brain cancer. Betters served as the InVEST state champion for North Carolina, and was appointed to the InVEST board of directors in 2009. The board agreed to award the top scholarships for five years to honor his commitment to the program. This years' recipients are Danielle Dacanay of Glen Allen, Va. and Erin Dudley of Orlando, Fla.

Winners of the $3,000 scholarship include Andres Alvarez, Manuel Carmona, Gabrielle Cotilla, Sean Coughlin, Madeline Haller, Tyler Moffit and Ashley Palmer.

Thomas Christino, Diana Estrada, Peyton Holl, Josh Hutchinson, Katherine Johnson, Jenna Renaud and Taylor Schneider each received $2,000.

An additional 30 students received $1,000 and InVEST issued 24 scholarships in the amount of $500.