Washington State University Honors PEMCO Insurance with Education Award

SEATTLE, Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PEMCO Insurance today was selected by Washington State University as the recipient of the annual Advocate for Education Award, an honor given by WSU's College of Education to companies or individuals who support the cause of higher education in Washington state.

PEMCO has long supported education through scholarships and its sponsorship of the state's Golden Apple Awards in partnership with KCTS-9, as well as sponsoring the School Administrator of the Year Award, Teacher of the Year Award, Vocational Teacher of the Year Award, and annual educator conferences. PEMCO also helped to pioneer the Professional Automotive Training Center at Shoreline Community College.

"PEMCO is known by the community for being rooted in education," said Stan McNaughton, the mutual insurance company's president and CEO. "Our founder, Robert Handy, was a journalism and math teacher when he launched School Employees Credit Union of Washington in 1936, which gave rise to PEMCO Insurance. Since then, we've teamed with others in our communities to champion the role of education wherever we can, and we're immensely grateful to Washington State University for recognizing such contributions."

The Advocate for Education Award helps the WSU College of Education recognize the contributions of individuals, businesses, and organizations that have advocated for good educational practice or policy on the state, regional, or national level.

McNaughton will accept the award at the university's homecoming weekend Scholarship and Excellence event that begins at 9 a.m., Oct. 15, at the Palouse Ridge Golf Course. The event is open to the public.

PEMCO also supports WSU's College of Education directly, which includes a recent grant to fund WSU research on achieving K-12 educational excellence.

PEMCO will share the stage at this year's award ceremony with WSU alumnus Sam Adams ('79), who is the recipient of the 2011 Miller-Manchester Mentor Teacher of the Year Award. Adams teaches mathematics at Clarkston High School and frequently guides Washington State student teachers through their practicum experiences.

About PEMCO Insurance

PEMCO Insurance, established in 1949, is a Seattle-based provider of auto, home, boat, life, and umbrella insurance to Northwest residents. PEMCO Insurance is sold by community agents throughout the region and through PEMCO offices. For more information, visit www.pemco.com.

CONTACTS:

Jon Osterberg
PEMCO Insurance
206.628.4019
[email protected]

Kristi Clough
Firmani + Associates Inc.
206.443.9357
[email protected]

SOURCE PEMCO Insurance