Local Student Named to 2012 State Farm® Youth Advisory Board
Knoxville, Tennessee, December 1, 2011 - Garrett Holt from Knoxville was selected from more than 1,100 national applicants to serve as an Associate Board Member for the State Farm Youth Advisory Board.
He is one of 15 from across the United States and Canada selected through a competitive process based on youth leadership experience and a telephone interview. The State Farm Youth Advisory Board includes students ages 17 to 20. As a leadership board, they oversee a $5 million-a-year State Farm funded initiative.
The board members will direct the awarding of grants to student-led service-learning projects, which will address important community issues determined by the board themselves, like access to higher education and financial literacy. They will work in a virtual environment and convene for three meetings throughout the calendar year. The first 2012-2013 board meeting will be at State Farm Corporate Headquarters in Bloomington, Ill. on January 4.
"I look forward to working as a member of the Youth Advisory board. It will allow me the opportunity to make a difference in communities across the nation as well as learn more about myself,” said Holt.
Holt has the opportunity to serve a two-year term, committing about 15 hours a month to the board. As an Associate Board Member, Holt will receive a $3,000 scholarship. Upon successful completion of the first year, he will be considered for a second year as a board member and an additional $5,000 scholarship. Board members use the scholarships for post-secondary education at a four-year, two-year, or vocational training program.
“These exceptional students are already leaders in their communities,” said Kathy Payne, Senior Director of Education Leadership at State Farm. “This investment in young people reflects the sincere commitment of State Farm to tap into the passion and expertise of our younger generation.”
In August, the Board awarded 62 grants to youth-led service-learning projects that addressed natural and societal disaster preparedness, driver safety, financial literacy, environmental responsibility and access to higher education/closing the achievement gap.
The Board represents each of the 13 State Farm zones, a Corporate zone, and an Enterprise zone.
For more information about the State Farm Youth Advisory Board visit www.statefarmyab.com.
Judy McConkey, State Farm Corporate Public Affairs, (615) 692-6280.
State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and is a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 17,800 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts - more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 37 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.
The State Farm Youth Advisory Board is a diverse group of 30 youth, ages 17-20, who were chosen through a competitive process to lead and oversee this $5 million/year signature service-learning initiative. The Youth Board identified the issues, issued competitive grants and will now provide technical assistance, communication and oversight to site grantees.
