BOSTON (Feb. 26, 2020) – Through its annual LEADA@Liberty Scholarship, Liberty Mutual Insurance today presented each of its five 2019-2020 recipients with $2,500 per year for each of the four years of their college career. Launched in 2017 and administered by the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the LEADA@Liberty scholarship is available to students of African descent attending community colleges in Massachusetts.
Developed by Liberty Mutual’s Employees of African Descent and Allies (LEADA@Liberty) employee resource group, the scholarship assists with college tuition for Massachusetts students who are enrolled in a community college through the Massachusetts Commonwealth Commitment and who plan to complete a degree at a state university or University of Massachusetts campus.
The recipients of the 2019-2020 LEADA@Liberty Scholarship are: Ugochukwu Amadi, North Shore Community College; Adedapo Azeez, Massasoit Community College; Jimmy Dorielan, Roxbury Community College; Chelsea Edo, North Shore Community College; and Ifunanya Nwabara, North Shore Community College.
“Forging new partnerships within the community is just one way Liberty Mutual’s employee resource groups are working with the diversity and inclusion team to expand our future talent pipeline,” said LEADA@Liberty Operations Chair Stacy Ann Hull. “Investing in students’ college careers gives Liberty Mutual an opportunity to reach the next generation of insurance professionals and help them chart a path to success.”
Attending this year’s ceremony as keynote speakers were 2019 and 2018 Scholarship recipients Marven Jean-Jacques and Chelsea Amadi, currently enrolled in Massasoit Community College and UMass Amherst, respectively, who shared their experiences.
“This scholarship allowed me to focus on school, participate in clubs and become a leader on campus,” said Jean-Jacques. “We succeed when we learn from our mistakes. Always be ready to seize opportunity when it shows up. This scholarship is an amazing opportunity and I encourage the recipients to use it to realize their educational success.”
“Liberty Mutual’s scholarship gives us the wings we need to soar to our aspirations. Because of this scholarship, I was able to stay in school at a time when I was on the edge of having to drop out because I couldn’t afford tuition,” said Amadi. “To today’s scholarship recipients, I say do not give up on your dreams. Our accomplishments are not for us, they are for the world.”
The Commonwealth Commitment is the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education’s innovative college affordability and completion plan that aims to help more Massachusetts students achieve the dream of a college career. The plan commits Massachusetts public colleges and universities to providing a series of financial incentives to students who begin their studies at one of 15 community colleges, earn an associate degree within two-and-a-half years, and then transfer to a state university or University of Massachusetts campus to earn a baccalaureate degree.
"Liberty Mutual’s generous support of the Commonwealth Commitment program helps us ensure that students of all races and ethnicities are able to learn," said Massachusetts Commissioner of Higher Education Carlos E. Santiago.
In addition to the scholarship, through the Commonwealth Commitment, students who attend college full time and maintain a 3.0 GPA receive a freeze on tuition and fees, a 10 percent rebate at the end of each successfully completed semester, and a full MassTransfer tuition waiver in their third and fourth years at a university.
“Without vital supporters like Liberty Mutual, UNCF New England could not help to advance educational opportunities for students in the Greater Boston area,” said UNCF Northeast Vice President Diego Aviles. “Since 1944, more than half a million students have been able to realize a higher education thanks to a UNCF scholarship and the generosity of companies like Liberty Mutual.”
For more information, please visit the LEADA@Liberty scholarship web site.
About LEADA@Liberty
One of Liberty Mutual’s six employee resource groups (ERG), LEADA@Liberty—Liberty Employees of African Descent and Allies—provides meaningful connections, professional development and ongoing support, while acting as a resource to influence inclusive business practices.
ERGs represent different affinity groups — groups formed around shared backgrounds and experiences — and their allies — those who support people beyond their own background, culture or experience. They are led by executives and co-chairs and are company-sponsored. Liberty Mutual’s Diversity & Inclusion team provides each group with a budget and oversight, and all ERGs follow a framework that supports the company’s broader business objectives, called the 4Cs: culture, community, career and commerce.
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About Liberty Mutual Insurance
Liberty Mutual’s purpose is to help people embrace today and confidently pursue tomorrow. The promise we make to our customers throughout the world is to provide protection for the unexpected, delivered with care.
In business since 1912, and headquartered in Boston, Mass., today we are the fifth largest global property and casualty insurer based on 2018 gross written premium. We also rank 75th on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2018 revenue. As of December 31, 2018, we had $41.6 billion in annual consolidated revenue.
We employ nearly 50,000 people in 30 countries and economies around the world. We offer a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, specialty lines, reinsurance, commercial multiple-peril, workers compensation, commercial automobile, general liability, surety, and commercial property.
You can learn more about us by visiting www.libertymutualinsurance.com.
Contact: Adrianne Kaufmann
617-574-5983
Adrianne.kaufmann@libertymutual.com
