Protiviti Awards 2010 College Scholarships to Two Chicago High School Students

CHICAGO, March 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Thanks to employee contributions, the Chicago office of Protiviti, a global business consulting and internal audit firm, has awarded two college-bound students with renewable $5,000 scholarships through its CommUnity Scholarship Program.

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Larry Washington and Ashley Williams – both of Manley Career Academy High School in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood – were selected based on grade point average (GPA), school activities and community/civic involvement. As part of the selection process, Washington and Williams also participated in interviews with Protiviti employees where both students demonstrated their passion, initiative and communication skills.

"Both of this year's scholars are tremendously driven; that quality really stood out to our selection committee throughout the entire process," said Sharon Lindstrom, a managing director in Protiviti's Chicago office, who oversees the scholarship program. "Larry and Ashley aren't just excelling in the classroom – they're very involved in extracurricular activities, and they've both taken on the responsibility of part-time jobs. With focus like this, we have no doubt that they will succeed in whatever career path they choose, and the Protiviti team is proud to be a part of helping them reach their goals."

Washington – who works an average of 30 hours a week at Rush University Medical Center and plays football for Manley – plans to attend the University of Illinois to study engineering. As the first to go to college among his 11 siblings, Washington hopes to start a tradition in his family.

"It's important to me that I continue my education because I want to give back to my community," Washington said. He talks of how his football coach has touched his life through a number of life stories, and Washington wants to do the same for someone else in the future.

Williams – who balances school, a part-time job and several extracurricular activities – would like to study architecture and is in the process of making her final school selection. As the middle child of seven siblings, Williams too will be the first in her family to go to college. She noted that it's important for her to set an example for her siblings.

"I hope continuing my education will help me establish a path to a good career, a career that will allow me to live comfortably," Williams said.

Through the CommUnity Scholarship Program, Protiviti selects two new scholarship recipients each year, providing long-term support and encouragement to Chicago high-school students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend college. Scholarships are renewable on an annual basis as long as minimum GPA requirements are met. The company's program will be supporting a total of eight scholars on campuses across the United States this fall.

"By renewing the scholarships over the course of the students' undergraduate studies, we try to personally connect our employees' donations to a positive impact in the students' lives," Lindstrom said. "One of the reasons this program has been successful is because our employees get to know these students and begin to take a real stake in their futures."

Launched in April 2005, Protiviti's CommUnity Scholarship Program supports economically challenged Chicago students who have the spirit and aptitude to achieve their goal of attending college. Candidates are selected with the help of the Chicago-based nonprofit organization Umoja Student Development, and the scholarships are funded entirely by donations from Protiviti's Chicago-area employees.

About Protiviti

Protiviti (www.protiviti.com) is a global business consulting and internal audit firm composed of experts specializing in risk, advisory and transaction services. The firm helps solve problems in finance and transactions, operations, technology, litigation, governance, risk, and compliance. Protiviti's highly trained, results-oriented professionals provide a unique perspective on a wide range of critical business issues for clients in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.

Protiviti has more than 60 locations worldwide and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI). Founded in 1948, Robert Half International is a member of the S&P 500 index.

Protiviti is not licensed or registered as a public accounting firm and does not issue opinions on financial statements or offer attestation services.

SOURCE Protiviti