SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. – Northeast Community College in South Sioux City and Great West Casualty Co. are again partnering to offer graduating seniors a career in the insurance industry and free college tuition.
Through the program, qualified applicants will be offered a paid job at Great West Casualty Company earning $14 an hour in year one and $15 an hour in the second year. They will learn the trade through hands-on training and begin the process of developing their insurance career. In addition, they will receive 100% tuition reimbursement while earning their associate degrees from Northeast’s South Sioux City extended campus.
Cyndi Hanson, dean of Workforce Development at Northeast, said Great West Casualty approached the College about developing the program.
“Great West saw an opportunity to provide young adults in our community with a pathway to a secure and rewarding future. For many students, pursuing a college degree means sacrificing a solid income and taking on student loan debt,” Hanson said. “This program supplements that need by providing qualified candidates with a jump-start to their career by means of a paid job and tuition reimbursement. Essentially, they are being paid to earn a degree!”
This past year, three seniors participated in the program – Yatziri Loya Barraza, Sofia Hernandez and Jennifer Vazquez. Barraza, Hernandez and Vazquez were selected among qualified applicants for the paid internships at Great West Casualty following the submittal of a 500-word essay and interviews. In addition to learning about the insurance industry through hands-on training, each woman received full tuition reimbursement while earning their degrees through Northeast in South Sioux City.
Northeast and Great West Casualty Co. stress that the partnership is not only advantageous for the students, but also for the community.
“Our hope is that these budding young professionals will remain in the Siouxland community for years to come,” Hanson said.
Applicants must be graduating seniors from South Sioux City High School, have a minimum 3.0 grade point average, and be accepted to or enrolled at Northeast Community College in South Sioux City to pursue an associate degree.
Applications should include the student’s resume, a 500-word essay about their future career and educational plans, and two letters of reference. All documents must be submitted online to p.coenen@gwccnet.com by Feb. 1, 2022, for full consideration.
For more information on the program, contact Hanson at cyndih@northeast.edu or call (402) 241-6405.
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