Rust: We believe the success of the future lies in the youth of today

From State Farm Times, July 2006

Thirty students between the ages of 17 and 20, from across the United States and Canada, have been chosen for the first-ever State Farm® Youth Advisory Board. They are charged with helping State Farm design and implement a $5 million-a-year signature service-learning initiative to address issues important to State Farm and communities across both countries.

“These exceptional students will be the community leaders of tomorrow,” saidEd Rust Jr., Chairman and CEO. “This investment in young people reflects State Farm’s sincere commitment to tapping the passion and expertise of our younger generation.”

One board member and one associate board member will represent each zone on topics of particular interest to the zone. The Youth Advisory Board also includes a Corporate representative and three at-large members nominated by State Farm’s national service-learning partners – Youth Service America (YSA), the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC), and the National Service-Learning Partnership (NSLP).

The board members will play a critical leadership role in creating and overseeing the initiative that will address issues such as education, disaster preparedness or teen driver safety, through service-learning.

The youth board will:

• Help identify issues.
• Oversee the awarding of grants to student-driven, service-learning projects that address the issues.
• Provide technical assistance and oversight to those awarded the grants.
• Help communicate about the initiative.

In addition to a challenging and fun experience, Youth Advisory Board members in good standing at the end of their one-year term will receive a $5,000 scholarship that may be used for post-secondary education at a four-year, two-year or vocational training program. Associate Youth Advisory Board members will receive a $3,000 scholarship under the same terms for their first year of service, as well as an opportunity to serve a second year on the board and receive a second scholarship for $5,000.

The board is made up of a diverse group of students selected after a review of more than 600 applications and telephone interviews with the top 10 by the zone in which they live. Each member will commit about 15 hours a month to the board and participate in four meetings over the next 12 months, the first at Corporate Headquarters later this month.

Students chosen presented a clear understanding of service-learning and its value to communities. They were highly motivated, exemplary team players, school and community leaders, passionate, compassionate, innovative, committed and enthusiastic.

Board members and associate board members (second name) by zone are:

• Canada – Samantha Gowda and Sasha Faraone, both Ontario
• California – Justin Lam and Francisco Araujo
• Central – Bryant Laiche, Louisiana, and Whitney Black, Oklahoma
• Florida – Katelyn Baird and Anaili Medina
• Great Lakes – Patrick McAlister, Indiana, and Tara Kutz, Michigan
• Great Western – Meghan Hartvigson, Colorado, and Brooke Robison, Utah
• Heartland – Waco Phipps and Matthew Boring, both Nebraska
• Mid-Atlantic – Abby Martin, Virginia, and Bradford Corriher, North Carolina
• Mid-America – Victoria Bredt, Ohio, and Meghan Bostic, Kentucky
• Northeastern – Christopher Tassone, Massachusetts, and Jennifer Bauer, New Jersey
• Pacific Northwest – Karlo Leonor and Melissa Nguon, both Washington
• Southern – Kendra Key, Alabama, and Jessica Moran, Mississippi
• Texas – Angelica Medina and Terrance Hadnot
• Corporate – Kristin Unruh, Illinois

At-large board members are:

• Stephen Bruns, Ohio, represents Youth Service America (YSA)
• Behin Abedi , Minnesota , represents the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC)
• Kenya Goins, South Carolina, represents the National Service-Learning Partnership (NSLP)

Corporate oversight for the Youth Advisory Board will be directed by the Corporate Communications and External Relations department’s Education Leadership team.