Funds support Travelers EDGE Scholars Career Pipeline program
Inver Hills Community College recently received a $60,000 grant from Travelers to support the Travelers EDGE Scholars Career Pipeline, a program that helps underrepresented students succeed through a unique, holistic approach to education. Travelers EDGE®, or Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment, was established in 2007. Through ongoing partnerships with colleges, universities and community-based organizations, Travelers EDGE® gives underrepresented students increased access to higher education, providing more opportunities for advancement on academic and professional pathways.
“The program helps students progress from middle to high school curriculum in preparation for post-secondary education, building a strong pipeline of future leaders to college and beyond. Once enrolled in college, Travelers EDGE students benefit from a broad range of support services, including financial support, career and business advice from our employees, internships and job shadowing, and professional development workshops.” — Travelers EDGE® Overview
Matt Kruger, director of TRIO Student Support Services and Travelers EDGE at Inver Hills, is proud of the college’s new Travelers EDGE Scholars, Lillian Conely, Dominique Dailey, Jinhua Freeman and Brent Lundell, as well as returning EDGE Scholars, Salina Sok, Maayuk Eta and Arcelia Hernandez Ramirez.
“The continued support of Travelers for career-focused learning opportunities at Inver Hills has allowed us to develop innovative programs that empower our students to take their learning into the workforce,” Matt said. “The Travelers EDGE program is an excellent model of how to create career pathways for students from diverse backgrounds. The scholarships allow our students to gain work experience relevant to their fields of interest while still being able to pay their bills and support their families.”
Travelers EDGE Celebration
Gail Morrison, Inver Hills Foundation director, reported that the college’s partnership with Travelers represents one of the best ways to develop the talent pool required by Minnesota businesses and industries to strengthen the state’s economy in a global marketplace. The partnership also allows the college to advance its ongoing efforts to eliminate the racial and economic disparities that keep too many Minnesotans from becoming valuable members of a dynamic and inclusive workforce.“Travelers EDGE is a wonderful program,” Gail said. “During fall semester 2015, EDGE Scholars participated in professional development workshops that covered the topics of communication, resume and cover letters, and interview preparation. Our new scholars interned in positions relevant to their career goals. They met one on one with faculty and took part in biweekly group meetings. Our continuing scholars completed individualized career development plans that led to additional work experience, mentoring, and leadership experience in student organizations. We had one hundred percent persistence fall to spring and are looking forward to similar success fall to fall.”
Travelers EDGE program goals
- Increase the number of underrepresented students attending college through rigorous middle and high school curricula
- Help underrepresented students graduate from college through scholarship support and academic advising
- Build awareness of careers in insurance and financial services by providing a combination of professional development, internship and mentorship opportunities
Travelers is ensuring opportunity by contributing to efforts that create strong, vibrant communities and offer pathways to success. Through corporate funding and the Travelers Foundation, Travelers targets its giving to three key outcomes:
- Academic and career success
- Thriving neighborhoods
- Culturally enriched communities
With the primary focus of educating underrepresented students to lead tomorrow’s workforce, Travelers also contributes to organizations that aid in developing communities through small business support and neighborhood revitalization, and enriching lives and learning through arts and culture.
About Travelers
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has approximately 30,000 employees and generated revenues of approximately $27 billion in 2015. For more information, visit Travelers.
Travelers EDGE Scholars spotlight
Jinhua Freeman
Age: 29
High school and year graduated: Qiqihar Chinese-Korean High School Class of 2005; after high school Jin studied in China at the English Language Academy
Hometown: Qiqihar, Heilongjiang Province, People’s Republic of China
Current residence: Hastings, Minnesota
Program and degree area at Inver Hills: Associate of Arts (A.A.); graduating fall 2016
Transfer plans: Looking at Carlson School of Management (has been accepted) and Augsburg College to pursue bachelor’s degree in accounting
Career plans: Become a certified public accountant (CPA); undecided on focus area, tax, corporate, etc.
Why did you choose Inver Hills? Jin met her husband, Frank, in Korea, and then moved to the states; when Jin expressed interest in going to college, Frank suggested Inver Hills because of the small class sizes and opportunities to work directly with instructors, who will know and support her.
What do you like best about Inver Hills? “Everyone at the college is so kind and supportive. They want you to succeed.”
Why did you choose your career path? “I can use all three of my languages (Jin is fluent in Mandarin, Korean and English) and apply my previous accounting experience. I like the idea of communicating with my clients and helping them with their finances.”
What has been your toughest challenge in life? Jin was living in South Korea when her future husband, Frank, received a scholarship to finish his master’s degree in the U.S.; he asked Jin to go with him to the U.S.; she said yes, but leaving South Korea was difficult because all her family lived there; Jin is the only one in her family married to someone who isn’t Korean.
What was your happiest experience in life so far? “Attending Inver Hills. I’ve learned so much in all my classes. I love learning about different cultures.”
What is your favorite place in the world? Everyplace
Three words that describe you as a college student: Positive. Creative. Brave.
Hobbies: Shopping!
Internships through Travelers EDGE: Apple Tax and Accounting Service in Rosemount, Minnesota, for four months; “I picked up a lot of tax knowledge that I can apply to my own returns.”
Travelers EDGE Scholarship: Jin received $500 a semester at Inver Hills; her scholarship will continue to help fund her education when she transfers to Carlson or Augsburg
21 answers
- Favorite season: Winter
- Favorite natural feature (e.g., waterfalls, oceans, mountains, etc.): Mountains
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Volleyball
- Your national bird if you could have one: Red-crowned crane
- Place you would most like to visit: South Korea to visit her family
- Favorite actor or actress: Robert Downey Jr., aka Iron Man
- Your national mammal if you could have one: Cow
- What is the most exciting thing you’ve ever done? Took third place nationally in the English Olympics in China
- Favorite band or performing artist: Big Bang (South Korean band)
- Your personal motto if you had to have one: “Enjoy.”
- Coolest thing in the world: “Everything is changing all the time.”
- Scariest thing in the world: The unknown
- Favorite all-time TV show: Bates Motel
- Favorite all-time movie: The Ring
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: “I want to be a role model for women in South Korea. I want to show them that they can reach their goals.”
- Most precious material possession: Smartphone
- First thing you would buy if you won the $1.5 billion Powerball: “I would put all the money in the bank.”
- Dream occupation: Super accountant
- Person you would most like to meet: Ellen DeGeneres
- Skill (other than acting) you would most like to learn and master: “I would like to learn every skill.”
- Most important issue or problem facing humankind? “Young people need to know how to express themselves through writing.”
Dominique Dailey
Age: 26
High school and year graduated: Jefferson High School Class of 2008
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Current city or town of residence: Lakeville, Minnesota
Program and degree area at Inver Hills: Associate of Arts (A.A.)
Transfer plans: Looking at Augsburg College to pursue bachelor’s degree
Career plans: Undecided, but leaning toward event planning, marketing or information systems management
Why did you choose Inver Hills? “I felt welcomed when I came to the campus. I liked the small class sizes and amazing diversity.”
What do you like best about Inver Hills? “I love all the help you receive from staff and faculty. I also value the college’s resources. Inver Hills has resources for everything and everyone.”
Why did you choose your career path? “I’m still looking at my options. I know that I want a job where I’m doing something different everyday. I want my career to be fun and intriguing.”
What has been your toughest challenge in life? “Raising two children (Jaylen, 7, who loves football; Jersi, 5, who loves ice skating) while working and going to school full time.”
What was your happiest experience in life so far? “Having my children.”
What is your favorite place in the world? Lake Calhoun in Minnesota; the Bahamas because the water is so blue
Three words that describe you as a college student: Determined. Involved. Motivated.
Internships through Travelers EDGE: Human resources intern for the city of West St. Paul
Travelers EDGE Scholarship: Dominique received $500 a semester at Inver Hills; her scholarship will continue to help fund her education when she transfers to Augsburg
21 answers
- Favorite season: Summer
- Favorite natural feature (e.g., waterfalls, oceans, mountains, etc.): Waterfalls
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Watching NFL games, especially the Seattle Seahawks
- Your national bird if you could have one: Bald eagle
- Place you would most like to visit: Dubai
- Favorite actor or actress: Ellen DeGeneres
- Your national mammal if you could have one: Killer whale
- What is the most exciting thing you’ve ever done? Dominique recently attended NerdNation in Maryland; she ran for Phi Theta Kappa Division 3 International Vice President; she didn’t win, but she was a top 10 finalist; campaigning was stressful and exhausting, but also an exceptionally rewarding experience; watch her NerdNation 2016 Finalist Speech.
- Favorite band or performing artist: Michael Jackson
- Your personal motto if you had to have one: “Treat others as you would like to be treated.”
- Coolest thing in the world: Human body
- Scariest thing in the world: The Exorcist, i.e., demon possession
- Favorite all-time TV show: Criminal Minds
- Favorite all-time movie: Dirty Dancing
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Hit all the continents
- Most precious material possession: Her brother’s bracelet
- First thing you would buy if you won the $1.5 billion Powerball: “Build my dream house.”
- Dream occupation: Event planner
- Person you would most like to meet: Nelson Mandela
- Skill (other than acting) you would most like to learn and master: Communication
- Most important issue or problem facing humankind? Violence
To learn more about Travelers EDGE at Inver Hills, contact:
Matt Kruger
TRIO Student Support Services Director
Travelers EDGE Director
651-450-3701
