5 2 1 Honoring Their Legacy Through Scholarships Over the years Big I Illinois has honored the legacy of those who served this industry with several scholarships to assist individuals interested in a career in the industry and to those currently working in the industry, looking to enhance their knowledge through a designation program. Ron Allen Scholarship Award For High School Seniors
Will Cook Memorial Scholarship For High School Seniors
Farm Agentsa division Council of Big I Illinois
This scholarship was introduced in 2022 to honor Will Cook, who served as a Marketing Representative with Frontier-Mt Carroll Mutual. Will’s father Larry Cook, CEO of Frontier-Mt. Carroll Mutual, is actively involved and a great supporter of Big I Illinois and the Farm Agents Council. This scholarship is awarded annually to an Illinois High School Senior pursuing career in the agricultural field such as farm/ranch management, farm science, agriculture sales, insurance, and more and provides $1,000 to the recipient. Deadline to Apply: March 1
Apply at ILFarmAgents.com
Ron Allen, founder and past president of the A. Allen Insurance Agency in Chicago, was a trailblazer in the insurance industry as one of the first African American’s to excel as an agent. Ron was instrumental in growing the Chicago Chapter of the National African American Insurance Association, with which Big I Illinois has had a long and productive relationship. He was a Silver Lifetime member of the NAACP and was awarded the 2009 “50 Men of Excellence” Award by the Chicago Defender Newspaper. Ron served as the 2009-2010 Chairman of the National African American Insurance Association, was awarded the NAAIA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011 and also accepted as a Fellow by the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance in 2011. To support the next generation of industry talent, NAAIA Chicago’s Ron Allen Scholarship is open to high school seniors in the Chicagoland area and provides $2,500 to the recipient. Deadline to Apply: March 15 Apply at naaiachicago.org/scholarships
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Gene Sberna CIC Scholarship For Member Agency Personnel
In remembrance of Big I Illinois Past President and education advocate, Eugene Sberna, Big I Illinois offer scholarships for employees of member agencies who are willing to take the necessary commitment of time, hard work and dedication to earn the CIC designation. Gene earned his CIC in 1986 and was a volunteer for the North Suburban Association of Insurance Agents in the 90s. He served as President of Big I Illinois during the 1999-2000 fiscal year. Covers the cost of one two-day Big I Illinois hosted CIC seminar. Apply at ilbigi.org/education
February 2024