NATIONAL NEWS ZONE......

* The Foundation for Agency Management Excellence (FAME), the charitable foundation of The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, announced a new scholarship gift from Assurex Global in memory of Robert Ashlock, a former president of 20 years and longtime industry leader.

An exclusive partnership of the top independent insurance and risk management brokers worldwide, Assurex pledged a $125,000 gift over the next five years to fund the “Robert P. Ashlock” memorial scholarship, which will be granted annually at $5,000 to a risk management student at one of the nine current FAME scholarship universities, including Howard University; University of Wisconsin at Madison; University of Georgia; California State University at Sacramento; the Katie School of Insurance and Financial Services at Illinois State University; the University of Mississippi; Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C.; Temple University, Philadelphia; and California State University, Fullerton. The addition of the Assurex/Ashlock scholarship brings the total number of $5,000 FAME scholarships to 15 per school, per year.

The FAME scholarship program is aimed at helping promising business students who are considering the field of risk management and insurance as a career. To be eligible for a FAME scholarship, students must be juniors or seniors with a 3.0 or better grade point average, have a declared major or concentration in risk management and insurance and demonstrate financial need.

“We are pleased to contribute to the success and outreach of FAME for our industry’s youngest aspirants,” said Albert Counselman, chairman & CEO of RCMD, FAME vice chairman and Assurex member. “Robert Ashlock was an innovative, entrepreneurial industry leader who always recognized the importance of developing the next generation of talent. He would be so proud to know that this legacy would continue through this scholarship fund,” Counselman added.

Assurex President and CEO Jim Hackbarth added, “We are pleased to be partnering with FAME and The Council to develop a new generation of talent for our industry. We look forward to helping young people who want to join us in this great business.”