Northwestern Mutual awards scholarships to 12 Milwaukee college students

MILWAUKEE, Sept. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Statistics show that first-generation, low-income college students are four times more likely to leave higher education after their first year, and nearly half of those students who return will leave college without earning their degrees.¹ Northwestern Mutual, through its Foundation, is working to change those statistics through its Milwaukee Neighborhood Scholarship Program, by awarding more than $85,000 in college scholarships to 12 first-generation students from the Amani, Metcalfe Park and Muskego Way neighborhoods.

"Giving local students opportunities to succeed in their post-secondary education ensures that we are developing future leaders of the community," said John Kordsmeier, president, Northwestern Mutual Foundation. "First-generation students from lower income neighborhoods face a number of barriers such as financial resources. We are confident this group will succeed and these scholarships will help remove some of these significant hurdles."

Additional obstacles for first-generation college students are lack of exposure to professional role models and limited networking knowledge. Northwestern Mutual is helping to eliminate these obstacles by matching each scholarship recipient with an employee mentor, with the goal of making sure that each student makes the transition from college to the their career path.

Earlier this year, nearly 75 students filled out applications detailing his or her academic achievements and community involvement to earn scholarships to eight eligible area college and universities. The 12 scholarship recipients who were selected are involved in a wide range of activities outside of the classroom including student government, community service and part-time jobs or internships. The scholarships are renewable and will increase in value for each year the student stays in school and achieves the set grade-point average.

This scholarship program helps address two of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation's key focus areas: post-secondary education and neighborhoods. A thriving community is made up of educated and compassionate people, and Northwestern Mutual's commitment to the Amani, Metcalfe Park and Muskego Way neighborhoods helps improve the quality of life for more than 70,000 people.

Northwestern Mutual Milwaukee Neighborhood Scholarship Recipients:
Elisha Branch, Mount Mary University
Cecilia Castro, Alverno College
Cynthia Eason, Alverno College
Sebastian Fuentes, Marquette University
Artis Galloway-Landon, Marquette University
Ahmed Hollowell, Marquette University
Brianna Jackson, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Elizabeth Lezama, Milwaukee School of Engineering
Jerrell Lovett, Marquette University
Leonardo Serrato, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Cendi Trujillo Tena, Cardinal Stritch University
Lauren Wilkening, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

For more information about Northwestern Mutual Foundation's Milwaukee Neighborhood Scholarship Program can be found on this website. Applications for the next round of scholarships will be available in April 2015.

About Northwestern Mutual Foundation

The mission of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation is to improve the lives of children and families in need. The Foundation has given more than $270 million since its inception in 1992 and is designed to create lasting impact in the communities where the company's employees and financial representatives live and work. We accomplish this by combining financial support, volunteerism, thought leadership and convening community partners to deliver the best outcomes. Our efforts are focused nationally on curing childhood cancer, and locally on education, neighborhoods and making our hometown of Milwaukee a great destination.

About Northwestern Mutual

Northwestern Mutual has been helping families and businesses achieve financial security for nearly 160 years. Our financial representatives build relationships with clients through a distinctive planning approach that integrates risk management with wealth accumulation, preservation and distribution. With more than $217 billion in assets, $26 billion in revenues and more than $1.5 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than 4.2 million people who rely on us for insurance and investment solutions, including life, disability and long-term care insurance; annuities; trust services; mutual funds; and investment advisory products and services.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI, and its subsidiaries. Northwestern Mutual and its subsidiaries offer a comprehensive approach to financial security solutions including: life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, annuities, investment products, and advisory products and services. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC, broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, limited purpose federal savings bank; Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company; and Russell Investments.

¹ The Pell Institute, Moving Beyond Access: College Success for Low-Income, First-Generation Students, 2008

SOURCE Northwestern Mutual