Good Neighbor Stories

ASU and State Farm celebrate five years of transforming futures

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0500

State Farm Education Assist® at Arizona State University celebrates five years of preparing students for the workforce of the future.

Read full story here

UT Dallas awards State Farm® Community Leadership Award

Tue, 27 May 2025 08:00:00 -0500

State Farm is the first company to receive the distinguished Gifford K. Johnson Community Leadership Award for its service to the University of Texas at Dallas.

Read the full story

View the State Farm acceptance speech

2025 Graduates from Perimeter College LIFT program set their sights on Georgia State

Tue, 20 May 2025 10:00:00 -0500

State Farm Education Assist® at Perimeter College continues to broaden opportunity through access to education for Atlanta students.

Meet two of the 2025 State Farm Scholars graduating from Perimeter College’s LIFT program here:

· Daniel Smith

· Yahshevah Wilson

ISU Cybersecurity graduate will bring lessons learned into the world

Tue, 13 May 2025 12:12:03 -0500

Tyler Bever, recipient of a State Farm Cybersecurity Scholarship at ISU, is realizing his dream as a cyber defense analyst.

Read the full story

State Farm® supports ISU data science program with $3M grant

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 12:14:00 -0600

State Farm provided Illinois State University with a $3 million grant to support the recruitment and retention of faculty and students in the University’s new interdisciplinary data science bachelor’s degree program.

Read the full story here.

16 collision schools receive grants funded by State Farm®

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 10:42:00 -0600

Through their charitable support of the Collision Repair Education Foundation, State Farm funds grants to 16 collision schools for equipment and tools enabling the collision industry’s workforce of the future.

Read the full story here.

State Farm® and UTD team up to prepare students for the workforce

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 16:12:00 -0500

A Little Dinner, a Little Advice, a Lot of Thanks All Around

Read the full story here

State Farm® hosts Illinois State students for networking event to encourage professional growth

Tue, 28 May 2024 08:00:00 -0500

State Farm networking event highlights philanthropic partnership with Illinois State

Read the full story

State Farm® receives Investor in Excellence Award from Illinois State for decades of support

Tue, 14 May 2024 08:00:00 -0500

Philanthropy awards presented at second annual Gratitude Gala

Read the full story

State Farm supports advanced manufacturing programs at Heartland Community College with the State Farm Electric Vehicle Lab

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0600

Heartland cuts ribbon on Advanced Manufacturing Center

Read the full story

IWU Celebrates a Decade of Business, Economics, Finance Education at State Farm Hall

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 13:05:24 -0500

Illinois Wesleyan University celebrates the 10^th anniversary of State Farm Hall.

Learn how this building has improved student life.

UTD teams with State Farm to help underrepresented students achieve fulfilling careers

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 12:45:46 -0500

University of Texas at Dallas Undergraduate Success Scholars gain workforce insights through State Farm Career Day.

Read the full story.

State Farm among first to support U of I neurodiversity initiative

Mon, 01 May 2023 13:33:00 -0500

Grant from State Farm helps prepare students in the Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative for the workplace.

Learn more here on aces.illinois.edu.

Perimeter Graduate and State Farm Scholar Balances Studies and Caretaking Responsibilities

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 12:19:00 -0500

State Farm Scholars’ graduation from Perimeter College is a testament to her late mother.

Read Onyeokoro’s full story here.

College Students Face Hunger and Homelessness

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 08:00:00 -0600

Hunger and homelessness are prevalent struggles that affect many people – including college students.

They sometimes are forced to choose between paying for basic necessities, like food and rent, and covering their college expenses. When a student’s basic needs are not being met, it can cause them to earn lower grades and potentially withdraw from school before getting their degree.

With the number of students-in-need doubling during the COVID pandemic, the State Farm decades-long history of philanthropic grant funding proved invaluable. State Farm provides charitable funds for student emergency grants for transportation, food and housing insecurity and unexpected medical bills.

“These basic life disruptions were an immediate need, while committing to finishing their programs of study took second place.” Said Shanese R. Alexander, director, Pre-Award at Dallas College.

“Due to the resources provided by the State Farm Student Emergency Aid grants, Dallas College students were able to maintain their educational journey and offset some of the challenges experienced by the pandemic.”

Gina Nolan, project director of TRIO Student Support Services at Georgia State University, said, “With State Farm support, the First-Generation Student Support Services Program was able to launch a Health & Wellness Initiative program that directly addressed the ongoing issue of food insecurities among first-generation, low-income, and disabled participants.

“State Farm's contribution gave staff the ability to partner with the Campus Café to provide a voucher system that offers healthy lunch and breakfast options for participants with limited resources, enabling them to purchase meals while learning on campus.”

Student testimonials

The Comet Cupboard (supported by State Farm) has helped and continues to help me in immeasurable ways. Of the many times I have utilized the services, the Cupboard, and the volunteers who man the center have never made me feel less than human. If anything, they have treated me with the utmost respect and compassion without appearing to be condescending. There are many days when if not for the Comet Cupboard and the service it offers, I would have gone without a meal. Those meals provided me the concentration need to focus on the rather demanding classes I and many other students are part of.

- Student Testimonial – The University of Texas at Dallas

The (State Farm) student emergency fund was extremely helpful to me and my wife. We had been stressed out about stretching our savings until I started my internship. The emergency fund paid for rent for us! This helped me to focus on my studies and not worry about finances as much. I can't thank you enough. We are doing well, and I am very grateful for the support provided by the student emergency fund!

- Student Testimonial – The University of Texas at Dallas

You’re not alone

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 11:34:02 -0500

“State Farm® is more than a scholarship opportunity; it's like family in the way it helped me see I’m not alone.”

This testimonial was given by Shoshana Fowler, a graduate of Georgia’s Lithonia High School and recipient of a State Farm education scholarship through Georgia State University (GSU).

State Farm believes education is critical for healthy, vibrant communities and thinks everyone deserves an education that will help them reach their greatest potential.

By supporting scholarships through charitable giving, State Farm seeks to remove the barriers blocking higher education for underserved, minority, and first-generation college students.

“This scholarship met every need I had for college and removed every barrier in my path towards success.” said Fowler. “It impacted the way I value myself, and it excavated the intelligence and leadership qualities I had buried deep within me.”

According to Eric Cuevas, senior director of the Student Success Programs at GSU, “Many scholarship recipients are first-generation college students who would not have had the ability to attend college and be nearly as successful in their programs without the support of State Farm.”

Cuevas added, “The continued relationship with State Farm, along with their substantial investments, leads students toward success.

“The generosity of State Farm is helping Georgia State students thrive.”

At Illinois State, cybersecurity program growing more popular

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 13:43:44 -0500

State Farm and Illinois State University celebrate the growth of the cybersecurity program and its renovated space in Julian Hall. Read the full story published in The Pantagraph.

State Farm Celebrates 100th Year Anniversary

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 15:11:09 -0500

As State Farm is celebrating its 100^th Anniversary, the University of Illinois reflected on the significant impacts the State Farm Companies Foundation^® made on the campus through investments in students, participating in interdisciplinary research, and being one of their largest employers. Read the full story from University of Illinois.

Pathways for the Future

Fri, 20 May 2022 11:01:30 -0500

Preparing for the Future of Work

Written by Alina Dizik: original story appeared in the Spring/Summer 2022 edition of Good Neighbor Magazine

After Gil Emmanuel Ruiz became a father, the former U.S. Marine knew it was time to get other parts of his life running smoothly. For Ruiz, that meant focusing on educational opportunities to help turn around his career.

Luckily, he was in the right place.

The veteran was one of the first to earn a scholarship to the State Farm Pathways for the Future (PFF) program, a collaboration between State Farm and Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe, Arizona. Since launching in February 2020, PFF scholars like Ruiz can take advantage of the various offerings aimed at professional development. The program, funded through an endowment from State Farm, caters to the educational needs of a variety of learners — from high schoolers looking to continue their studies to adult learners focused on retooling existing skills.

“It’s not just a scholarship program — we’ve created a sense of community among these students,” says Kalani Rice, program manager for the PFF program at ASU.

Students take part in the programming in several ways: through degree, certificate or one-off courses to tailor their own programs. The variety of offerings and custom career counseling allows students to mix-and-match educational opportunities to meet their career needs. Learners are given help selecting their courses to create a “pathway to college,” Rice adds. Another program goal is to increase degree completion by preparing students to enroll in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, the W. P. Carey School of Business or the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

And the program goes far beyond academics.

Students can tap into tailored career resources necessary to continuously develop and adapt to the workforce, including a dedicated career transition support program manager, a program coordinator and two career counselors. Many participants also take advantage of digital portfolio and resume building services. Often the additional support makes it easier to understand how to transition into a growing field while using their previous knowledge. “There’s a strong emphasis on the mentorship components of the program,” says Rice.

For Neil Bhuyan, a PFF participant, the scholarship program has allowed him to make connections while getting real-world work experience. This year, the college junior was able to intern as part of the State Farm purchasing department to build hands-on skills. As a double major in supply chain management and business data analytics, Bhuyan says that putting his studies into practice throughout the internship will make it easier to make the transition into a full-time job. “They really want to develop you for your future,” he says. “I’ve learned a lot.”

Building Skills for Tomorrow

For State Farm, this is a chance to give back. The PFF curriculum helps students retool while incorporating educational opportunities around data and advanced analytics, says Ed Woods, Director of Corporate Responsibility at State Farm. The goal is to enable career readiness across a wide swath of students by giving them an opportunity for a fresh start or to continue their education.

For now, the PFF program is focused on upskilling participants’ existing qualifications in order to find more promising opportunities. The need is acute in areas where technology and automation have changed the nature of work. For companies like State Farm, this provides important opportunities to fill the gaps. “We’re seeing a need to continuously gain new skill sets as technology evolves,” says Woods.

PFF is now one of the signature State Farm programs in the education space, focusing on broadening opportunity through access to education as well as specific courses for students to prepare to enter the workforce. “We need to be helping people who are displaced from an economic standpoint, and one way to help people is to be gainfully employed,” says Woods.

Removing Barriers

Thanks to the program, many State Farm employees are also participating in mentor and volunteer opportunities as well as making appearances on campus (some via Zoom, for now). With a State Farm hub within walking distance, collaboration between students and mentors is easy. Recently, members of the State Farm Hispanic Employee Resource Organization mentored students in the PFF program, and additional employees participated in volunteer days with program participants. Company employees also regularly speak to classes about the ins and outs of professional networking. “It feels incredible to help remove barriers for students who are excited to return to school and get into their career,” says Stacie Wylie, a corporate responsibility analyst at State Farm who has participated in the volunteer events.

Erin O’Conner, a Pathways scholar in the Masters in Sustainability Leadership Program, works from home while parenting a toddler and taking ASU classes online. While the program helped to ease some financial burden for her, the career opportunities and resources have helped her put her education into practice in ways that make sense for her needs and passions. “They not only give you the financial assistance to earn the degree and gain the knowledge that you need, but they also help you align with professionals in the area or just provide information on what you can do with those tools,” she says.

Enabling Online Growth

Funding provided by State Farm also assisted Arizona State with enhancing online tools for current and prospective students. Already, 29,000 learners have logged on to me3, an online interactive major and career quiz. It allows students to explore their interests and match them to ASU majors. Since launching enhancements to the tool this year, students from more than 75 countries have logged on to better assess their own career aspirations.

Another virtual offering available is MyPath2ASU™, a transfer guide for learners to understand how their transfer credits will be applicable to more than 400 ASU majors. Already, more than 30,000 students are actively on pathways to ASU from community colleges locally and nationally, Rice says.

As the program grows, the goal is to continue to offer both in-person and online curriculum to ensure the program can have an impact on the lives of students who need it most. “We’re looking to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for life and work in the 21st century,” adds Woods. “It speaks to our concept of being a lifelong learner.”

State Farm Scholars Celebrate Graduation

Fri, 06 May 2022 12:32:12 -0500

COVID altered their college experience. Through perseverance and support from the LIFT program, ten State Farm Scholars are celebrating their graduation from Perimeter College. All earned their associate’s degree debt-free thanks to a grant from State Farm.

Read the full story from GSU

State Farm support of SkillsUSA helps students soar

Wed, 04 May 2022 07:10:08 -0500

Mark Carr turned his high school vocational technical training into a successful State Farm® career as an appraiser on the estimatics team in P&C Claims. Mark is a 23-year employee who began his automotive career installing windshields in a body shop. He worked his way up to a body tech position, foreman and then eventually as an auto estimator with State Farm.

Mark is telling his story of success to high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled, and service occupations – including auto collision repair.

As part of the State Farm^® support of SkillsUSA, Mark is sharing in the mission to prepare students for success in a non-traditional educational environment. Taking a pathway other than a customary four-year college degree, Mark says skills training can, “open doors for new opportunities and financial reward.”

SkillsUSA is a nonprofit national education association with a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.

It provides quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, and citizenship and character development. It also provides training for career and technical education instructors to enhance their industry knowledge and teaching skills.

Chelle Travis, executive director of SkillsUSA, says, “State Farm has served as a strategic partner with SkillsUSA for 30 years. With the support of State Farm, SkillsUSA annually serves more than 20,000 career and technical education teachers, ensuring they have the most current technical skills and student engagement strategies to deliver the SkillsUSA mission on the local level.

“We appreciate State Farm for investing in these critical professionals who guide our students’ futures while helping to shape the future of our nation.”

For information on skilled and technical job opportunities at State Farm, please visit State Farm Careers.

Women trail in technology careers

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 07:00:18 -0600

Nancy Smith
State Farm Technology Analyst

Women are nearly half of the U.S. workforce, but only 27% of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workers. By the time students reach college, women are significantly underrepresented in STEM majors – 21% of engineering majors, and 19% of computer and information science majors, are women.

“State Farm promotes IT [Information Technology] engagement with STEM in diverse populations as early as grade school and continues to engage with students through our State Farm Enterprise Technology Internship programs,” said Nancy Smith, State Farm Technology Analyst and STEM lead.

As for her own path to the STEM world, Nancy said, “Since I went into a male-dominated field, I was always intentional about connecting with other women to be inspired by their journeys. Also, being a lifelong learner led to my current role in Enterprise Technology as the STEM Engagement Coordinator to partner with school districts to build a future talent pipeline.”

Pretty Reji, State Farm Technology Director and lead in the Women & Technology (W&T) Employee Resource Group, credits State Farm culture for making progress in STEM career opportunities.

Pretty Reji
State Farm Technology Director

She said, “The State Farm workplace is known for inclusiveness, opportunity, and personal development where everyone can thrive and do their best and grow personally and professionally. W&T can thrive in this environment as it helps bridge the gap by providing opportunities as a community to support women at State Farm as well as support the young girls in the community.”

There are many ways State Farm, and its external partners, are raising awareness of STEM for women.

Hundreds of State Farm employees volunteer at STEM events.

Technology Women in Leadership also plays an important role in STEM. The group models the importance of women in STEM through its leadership position. Members mentor, work in the schools, serve on the board of a variety of women’s organizations, and more.

How State Farm^® is closing STEM gender gap

Employee Resource Group [ERG] – Women and Technology

It provides technology and leadership-level connections, personal development, and exposure for ERG members, connecting them with internal resources, role models and opportunities to build their skills and develop professionally.

Educational Milestone – Girls Who Code

The event is held at the State Farm Atlanta office location with added virtual opportunities.
Girls participate in a seven-week, virtual/on-site coding camp.
More than 100 girls participated each summer over the last six years

State Farm Tech Astra™

Tech Astra (Previously known as Millennium Girls) is a one-day technology camp previously held at the State Farm Bloomington office location. In 2021, the event became virtual with 400 girls participating from 22 states.
For more than a decade, State Farm has empowered more than 2,000 fifth- through eighth-grade girls to experience coding, robotics, and engineering challenges in a safe and fun setting.
Hundreds of State Farm employees volunteer their time to support this event.

STEM Program in Schools – State Farm advocacy

The program engages the community to promote IT at State Farm in grades K-12 with local school districts.
State Farm provides charitable funds to support STEM programs run by colleges and universities:
- University of Texas at Dallas – Young Women in Science & Engineering Investigators
- Dallas College – STEAM Camp for Girls
- Collin College – Coding Camp for Girls

Solving complex crimes: Cybersecurity grads fight global threat

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 09:05:45 -0600

Do suspicious emails from unknown senders make you nervous? Can you swipe your credit card or make online purchases without worrying your financial information and identity are at risk because a company’s database may be hacked?

Have no fear. The next generation of cybercrime fighters are preparing to take on this challenge at Illinois State’s Center for Cybersecurity Research and Education. State Farm provided a $3M grant to help develop the future workforce of cybersecurity professionals.

Read the full story from ISU: Solving complex crimes: Illinois State University cybersecurity grads fight global threat

What does a pathway to the future look like?

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 11:58:00 -0500

Erin O’Connor is a spouse and mother studying sustainability leadership in a post graduate program. Neil Bhuyan is an undergrad studying business data analytics and supply chain management.

Both are benefitting from the personalized and comprehensive approach of the Pathways for the Future (PFF) program at Arizona State University (ASU) . The life-long learning program creates connections between students, faculty, mentors and employers.

Erin is a non-traditional student. Neil is a typical college junior. They voiced appreciation for the opportunities offered through the program as PFF Scholars. The State Farm-funded program is not just a $6,000 scholarship. Pathways also helps them build the knowledge, mindset and skills necessary for life and work in the 21^st century.

“They care about you,” Neil said. “Not just in school, but for your future.”

Placing an emphasis on education

The PFF education and career development program launched in February 2020. The $30 million investment from State Farm provides an endowment for scholarships and program operations. It also funds curriculum development, technology tools, and the new career and transition success center.

In addition to the 53 PFF Scholars seeking degrees and certificates, there are 40 other ASU students who received PFF awards. The awards of up to $1,700 cover fees associated with credit eligibility and credit conversion. The money helps jumpstart degree completion. The program seeks students at all stages of life, not just those entering the higher education system upon high school graduation.

PFF is specific to students seeking degrees or certificates in business, engineering and technology, and liberal arts and sciences. In addition to financial help, participants receive coaching and advisement through the Pathways Career Transitions and Success Center.

“Pathways for the Future is just one way State Farm is helping provide learners with the educational tools and resources to achieve and realize their dreams,” said Rasheed Merritt, Assistant Vice-President at State Farm. “State Farm believes education is critical for healthy, vibrant communities. Access to an education helps everyone reach their greatest potential.”

“Hackathon for Good” Benefits Chicagoland Nonprofit

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 08:03:00 -0500

A hackathon brings tech teams together to create a solution for a specific challenge. During 36 hours in June, seven teams of software developers, data architects/scientists, user experience designers, and others gathered virtually in Chicago. Their charge was to ideate, build, and create a technical solution. The twist was instead of a typical business solution, they were designing for a local charity.

State Farm and 1871, a Chicago-based non-profit that supports entrepreneurs, teamed up to sponsor and organize the “Hackathon for Good.” The event benefited the technical needs of True Star Foundation, a Chicagoland youth non-profit.

“The Hackathon for Good gave us a glimpse into the future. It provided technology solutions that allow the organization to operate at a higher level, engage youth in ways that excite and inspire them, and allow us to reach more young people in a cost effective way,” said True Star Foundation Co-Founder DeAnna Sherman.

True Star's weekly after-school, in-school and summer programming teaches students about a variety of disciplines in the media industry. Students not only learn about the profession, they actually work cooperatively to produce professional-quality work in each area.

The hackathon teams provided True Star with several technical solutions. These included digitizing its curriculum, helping its students create digital portfolios, and providing the organization with a blueprint for a mobile app that will extend their reach and mission.

It’s all part of a commitment to build a better future for our communities through innovation.

“State Farm believes in supporting our communities, in being a Good Neighbor. We were excited to be part of the Hackathon for Good with 1871 and to support True Star Foundation,” said Fawad Ahmad, State Farm Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer. “It was a great opportunity to observe innovative ideas that will ultimately benefit the students True Star serves.”

“At 1871, we support innovators that are building a better tomorrow for their communities,” said 1871 CEO Betsy Ziegler. “Organizations like the True Star Foundation are doing the necessary, on-the-ground work to empower youth in Chicago to lead. We were proud to join our longtime and dedicated partner State Farm to create technical solutions for this important non-profit.”

UTD Recognizes State Farm as a Diversity Champion

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 17:47:53 -0500

The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) Corporate Diversity Award honors champions of diversity.

Several individuals at UT Dallas nominated State Farm. They cited the company's overall demonstrated commitment to diversity.

State Farm grant funding at UTD supports a diverse cross-section of university programs and groups. The programs support veterans, women in STEM and minority low/moderate income students. Scholarships, student emergency grants including student veteran emergency financial suppport, and food and financial security programs are some examples. The result is a positive impact on a diverse student population.

Vice President Operations Eileen Flynn accepted the award on behalf of State Farm. Eileen is an active member the University's Naveen Jindal School of Management Advisory Council.

Link to the full program

NextGen Leadership Program Empowers Latinx Students

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 12:53:15 -0500

This month, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) will host its month-long virtual leadership experience for Latinx high school sophomores and juniors. CHCI is the nation’s premiere Latino leadership development organization.

For the first time in the history of the ground-breaking program, participants came from a national selection pool. With over 500 applicants and 120 selected students participating, this marks the largest R2L NextGen Program in CHCI’s history.

NextGen is designed to be an empowering, reflective and life-changing experience for the next generation of Latinx leaders.

From July 6-30, students will participate in virtual leadership development activities, including:

US Government and Policy Development Trainings
Resume Building and Personal Statement Workshops
Higher Education, Mentoring, and Career Panels
Social Identity, Power, and Privilege Workshops

Students will also meet with key experts/presenters from the PEW Research Center and Close Up Foundation during the virtual program.

As part of the program, State Farm offers a resume-building workshop. The workshop covers the basics including structure, the professional summary, formatting and how to highlight their achievements. Talent Acquisition Specialist Edgar Butler conducted the session in 2020 and looks forward to helping the students again this year.

“They learn how to maximize their experience and present it on paper, so they can stand out and be deemed as a competitive candidate for opportunities,” he said.

State Farm is proud to partner with CHCI, the nation’s premiere Latino leadership development organization, to support the NextGen program.

Students from the 2020 R2L NextGen program said it gave them education, fresh perspective – and inspiration.

“Some of us grew up with people who looked like us, but some of us didn't,” said Dani De La Cruz from Dallas. “It’s also a community where everyone is striving for the same thing: a better Latinx experience/community here in the States.”

Nayeli Amoles from Detroit said the program boosts skills and confidence. “It really inspired me to go after more opportunities such as this one, as I believe it not only helps my resume, but also helps me grow as a person by allowing me to see things from a different point of view and develop my collaboration skills.”

Congrats State Farm Scholars!

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 18:04:40 -0500

The first cohort of State Farm scholars graduated Georgia State University in May. State Farm Education Assist® was integral to their academic experience and success. We can't wait to see where their journeys lead as they begin their professional careers!

Proof Positive

“Four years ago, a group of 40 high school seniors from low-income backgrounds received the State Farm Scholarship at Georgia State’s Perimeter College. For many, it was the only way they could go to college. Now, they’re earning degrees at remarkably high rates, demonstrating that, with the right support, all students can graduate." ~ Read the full story from GSU.

Workplace training credits provide a college degree pathway.

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 17:13:00 -0500

Heartland Community College (HCC) and Lincoln College announced a partnership that grants HCC students and alumni the ability to complete their bachelor’s degree through the Lincoln College Accelerated Bridge to Education (ABE) Program.

The agreement also establishes a pathway for State Farm employees to transfer prior learning assessment (PLA) credits into the baccalaureate degree program at Lincoln College.

The PLA credits are awarded by Heartland for workplace training programs completed by State Farm Customer Care Center (CCC) employees. The credit recognizes learning that is completed outside of the classroom and can allow a student to enroll in more advanced courses without some prerequisites. Lincoln College will accept PLA credit toward a bachelor’s degree for transfer students, ensuring a smooth transition from HCC to Lincoln College for students utilizing PLA credit.

The agreement was announced and signed during the June Board of Trustees meeting at Heartland Community College. The CCC College Credit program is currently only available to CCC employees in Phoenix and now Bloomington. State Farm is working to expand the program in the Dallas and Atlanta hub locations.

“These free college credits for State Farm CCC employees are a win-win,” said Steve Florence, CCC assistant vice president. “At State Farm, our employees’ education and professional development is very important to us. After meeting eligibility criteria, employees may earn college credits for training they took while working. This saves them time, money, and can jump-start their college career.”

In the News:

Pantagraph - Watch now: Heartland, Lincoln College, State Farm enter agreements (6/15/21)

Lincoln Courier - Two local colleges have new agreement with State Farm (6/15/21)

WRPW-FM 92.9 - Lincoln College and Heartland Community College Announce New Articulation (6/15/21)

WHOI-TV - Heartland Community College, Lincoln College announce new partnership (6/15/21)

Herald & Review - Watch now: Heartland, Lincoln College sign agreement (6/15/21)

Get assistance paying for college while focusing on your career.

Fri, 28 May 2021 08:55:11 -0500

Broadening opportunity through access to education is vital to the development of the workforce of the future. It is also at the heart of the Community College Tuition Program. It's great for those focusing on their State Farm careers and who might not have the extra funds to go back to college.

Through the program, State Farm pays upfront employees' tuition, books, and fees at any of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges (MCCCD).

Thousands of State Farm employees have already taken advantage of the program. They also have access to onsite and virtual academic advising. The coaching is available to employee participants and provided by the Enrollment Management Outreach team at MCCCD. Student success is their top priority.

Onsite college classes have been offered at State Farm since May of 2017. And last year, a new pilot program launched. It provides new hires the opportunity to earn college credit while in training for their role at State Farm.

Because of these offerings, State Farm was recently awarded the Heroes of Education Award from the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation.

These programs would not be possible without a shared vision, strategy and passion. State Farm knows how beneficial earning a degree in higher education can be. Our partnership for workforce success with MCCCD helps make high-quality education accessible for everyone in our community.

View the virtual MCCC Heroes of Education award program in its entirety.

COVID-19 and Discrimination Taking a Toll on Youth

Tue, 25 May 2021 15:17:47 -0500

More than one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, young people across the U.S. are struggling. Two-thirds say the pandemic has adversely affected their work life, with stark differences by race and gender.

Many are financially strained, emotionally drained, and facing significant barriers to employment. These barriers are particularly acute among young people of color and women.

These are the findings of a recent America’s Promise Alliance survey. The nationally representative survey of 3,530 people age 16-24 found:

Nearly half (40.0%) of young people reported experiencing a sense of financial strain. They report high levels of difficulty surviving financially, paying their bills, and affording basic healthcare costs.
More than two-thirds (67.8%) indicated that COVID-19 and the related economic recession have had some effect or a large effect on their work life (e.g., getting the job that they desire or achieving their career goals).
70.1% report experiencing an elevated state of stress "about half the time" or more. More than one in three young people (34.5%) reported feeling this way "most of the time" or "always."
Among youth who are unemployed or marginally attached to the labor market, three in four (76%) reported that COVID-19 has made their job search more difficult. Nearly one in three (31%) reported having stopped their job search due to COVID-19.

The survey findings are outlined in The State of Youth Employment: Navigating the World of Work during COVID-19 report. It provides insight into young people’s experiences navigating the labor market and their overall wellbeing. A State Farm® grant supported the research.

“Employers of all types and sizes can play a role in prioritizing opportunities for young people. Those that pay fair wages and cultivate belonging provide not just a job, but a foothold to a meaningful career,” said State Farm AVP of Diversity and Inclusion Rasheed Merritt. “Working with young people and youth-serving organizations, we can create a more hopeful and prosperous future for this generation and those to come.”

Investing in the Cybersecurity Workforce of the Future

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 16:26:00 -0500

Hardly a day goes by without media or companies reporting on a new cyberattack. Whether it is spyware, malware, or stolen data, information and privacy is constantly at risk. Now more than ever, understanding and preventing hackers and cyberthieves from infiltrating computers and connected technology is critical. As a result, cybersecurity employees are in high demand.

With the help of a $4 million investment from State Farm^®, Illinois State University launched a cybersecurity major and is preparing students for this fast growing career field.

This charitable grant helped establish the Cybersecurity Center on campus, providing laboratory workspace and student collaboration areas for students in the School of Information Technology. The investment also created an Endowed Chair of Cybersecurity position. The important leadership position helps with recruiting and retaining the highest quality faculty for the department.

Earlier this month, ISU President Larry Dietz announced the selection of Dr. Shaoen Wu as the inaugural State Farm Endowed Chair of Cybersecurity in the School of Information Technology.

“Illinois State’s cybersecurity program is a true point of pride,” said President Larry Dietz. “The State Farm Endowed Chair position enables Illinois State to establish a reputation of strength and perpetuity in an increasingly vital field.”

~ Read the full story from ISU.

Good Neighbor Stories

ASU and State Farm celebrate five years of transforming futures

UT Dallas awards State Farm® Community Leadership Award

2025 Graduates from Perimeter College LIFT program set their sights on Georgia State

ISU Cybersecurity graduate will bring lessons learned into the world

State Farm® supports ISU data science program with $3M grant

16 collision schools receive grants funded by State Farm®

State Farm® and UTD team up to prepare students for the workforce

State Farm® hosts Illinois State students for networking event to encourage professional growth

State Farm® receives Investor in Excellence Award from Illinois State for decades of support

State Farm supports advanced manufacturing programs at Heartland Community College with the State Farm Electric Vehicle Lab

IWU Celebrates a Decade of Business, Economics, Finance Education at State Farm Hall

UTD teams with State Farm to help underrepresented students achieve fulfilling careers

State Farm among first to support U of I neurodiversity initiative

Perimeter Graduate and State Farm Scholar Balances Studies and Caretaking Responsibilities

College Students Face Hunger and Homelessness

Student testimonials

You’re not alone

At Illinois State, cybersecurity program growing more popular

State Farm Celebrates 100th Year Anniversary

Pathways for the Future

Preparing for the Future of Work

Written by Alina Dizik: original story appeared in the Spring/Summer 2022 edition of Good Neighbor Magazine

Building Skills for Tomorrow

Removing Barriers

Enabling Online Growth

State Farm Scholars Celebrate Graduation

State Farm support of SkillsUSA helps students soar

Women trail in technology careers

How State Farm® is closing STEM gender gap

Solving complex crimes: Cybersecurity grads fight global threat

What does a pathway to the future look like?

Placing an emphasis on education

“Hackathon for Good” Benefits Chicagoland Nonprofit

UTD Recognizes State Farm as a Diversity Champion

NextGen Leadership Program Empowers Latinx Students

Congrats State Farm Scholars!

Proof Positive

Workplace training credits provide a college degree pathway.

In the News:

Get assistance paying for college while focusing on your career.

COVID-19 and Discrimination Taking a Toll on Youth

Investing in the Cybersecurity Workforce of the Future

How State Farm^® is closing STEM gender gap