December 12, 2024
2024 Impact: COUNTRY Financial® and Illinois State University Team Up to Help Students Succeed
COUNTRY has a strong culture of giving back to the community. We are proud to partner with Illinois State University (ISU) in a variety of ways to positively impact students, the broader community, and to continue building employee engagement.
The numbers tell the story
In the ISU 2024 fiscal year, COUNTRY:
- • Awarded $192,056 in student scholarships
- • Exposed 1,255 students to career-building opportunities at the spring 2024 internship and career fair
- • Awarded 110 student scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year
- Helped six students attend the 2024 National Minorities in Agriculture, National Resources, and Related Sciences Conference in Chicago
- Provided internships to 20 ISU students during 2024
- Hired 5 ISU graduates (interns to full-time employees)
- Financially assisted four students to compete in the Spencer Risk Management Case Competition in San Diego, California, where ISU placed first in the U.S. and second in the world
The impact
In partnership with ISU, COUNTRY has:
- Generated real-world experiences
- Afforded opportunity
- Expanded students’ worldviews
- Encouraged excellence
- Changed lives
Here are a few stories from ISU students:
“Because of the generous support given by COUNTRY, I am now able to focus my attention completely on school rather than worrying about getting a job to help pay for my education,” said Carley Habing, senior Actuarial Science major and COUNTRY Actuarial Science Scholarship recipient. “I am honored and grateful to receive support from an organization that gives back to students at ISU.”
“This scholarship has allowed me to exceed in the classroom,” said Noah Stoll, senior Agribusiness major and COUNTRY Agriculture Scholarship recipient. “The burden of paying for college can have a major impact on the way students perform in the classroom, however with this scholarship it has taken a weight off my shoulders and allowed me to focus on my studies.”
“Because of this scholarship, I was able to provide for myself,” said Sophie Bill, senior Early Childhood Education major and COUNTRY Center for Civic Engagement Scholarship recipient. “I spent my summer completing two internships, one in Morton, IL and the other in Normal, IL. I also worked two jobs and was enrolled in two summer classes. I was able to use this money to pay for gas, groceries, and my rent. I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to have received this scholarship and hope that you continue to provide students with these funds. A ‘thank you’ just simply isn’t enough.”
Learn more about donating to ISU.
"I am honored and grateful to receive support from an organization that gives back to students at ISU."
" Because of the generous support given by COUNTRY Financial, I am now able to focus my attention completely on a school rather than worrying about getting a job to help pay for my education. I am honored and grateful to receive support from an organization that gives back to students at ISU."
-Carley Habing, COUNTRY Financial Actuarial Science Scholarship
"A 'thank you' just simply isn't enough."
"Because of this scholarship, I was able to provide for myself. I had spent my summer completing two internships... I also worked two jobs and was enrolled in two summer classes. I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to have received this scholarship and hope that you continue to provide students with these funds. Thank you again, COUNTRY Financial. A 'thank you' just simply isn't enough."
-Sophie Bill, COUNTRY Financial Center for Civic Engagement Scholarship
"COUNTRY Financial's scholarship has allowed me to exceed"
"COUNTRY Financial's scholarship has allowed me to exceed in the classroom. The burden of paying for college can have a major impact on the way students perform in the class, however with this scholarship it has taked a weight off my shoulders and allowed me to focus on my studies."
-Nolan Stoll, COUNTRY Financial Agriculture Scholarship
Media contact
COUNTRY Financial® is a family of affiliated companies (collectively, COUNTRY) located in Bloomington, IL. Learn more about who we are.