Western National is pleased to announce the release of the Application for our 2017 Western National Insurance Scholarship program.

Western National agency partners whose sons and daughters meet the eligibility requirements outlined below are encouraged to have them apply for one of our $3,000 scholarship awards.

To be fair to all applicants, we require that all applications are submitted online no later than April 14, 2017.

Eligibility for Sons and Daughters of Agency Partners

Must be the legal child/step-child of a current* Western National Insurance Group** partner producer, account executive/CSR, or other agency employee. For the child to qualify, the parent working in the agency should be a permanent employee averaging a minimum of 25 hours of work per week.

Must not have received the Western National Insurance Scholarship more than once before. (Applicants can receive the scholarship a maximum of two times.)

Must fit one of the following enrollment profiles:

Current high school senior who will enroll full-time*** in an undergraduate program at an accredited two- or four-year college or university beginning in Fall 2017.

Current or prospective undergraduate student who is beginning or continuing full-time*** enrollment at an accredited two- or four-year college or university in Fall 2017, and who is age 24 or younger as of September 1, 2017.

Must provide a complete application; incomplete applications will not be considered.
* current as of both the application date and the award date
** includes Umialik Insurance Company, Western National Mutual Insurance Company, and Western National Assurance Company
*** full-time as defined by the college or university

You can access the scholarship application using any browser; however, for optimal viewing in Internet Explorer, we recommend that IE users ensure the Compatibility View setting is turned to "off".

In addition to the link above, you can access the Scholarship Application at any time by logging into AgentsOnline, navigating to the “View Manuals & Other Resources” section, clicking on “Access other resources”, and then following the “Scholarship” link.

We are glad for the opportunity to once again support the education of our hard-working and talented youth, and we look forward to helping ease the financial burden that college puts on our agency partners’ families.

Meet O’Neal Elementary’s 10-year-old librarian

Poplar Bluff, Missouri - The self-imposed questionnaire above is precisely how 10-year-old Bailey filled out her successful “application for co-librarian” to land a job in the O’Neal library one year ago.

Bailey, now a Middle School fifth grader, can be found after school at her former elementary labeling and putting books on shelves, polishing tables, crafting holiday decorations, tending to the pet hamster and hedgehog, and running miscellaneous errands in the building as assigned by O’Neal Librarian Ashley Robertson.

“She just came to me one day and told me that she was gonna be co-librarian,” said Bailey’s mother Julie Williams, an insurance billing clerk. “I don’t know how she broached Ashley, but she filled out a job application, and evidently Ashley hired her.”

The seed was planted last school year when O’Neal upperclassmen were tasked with reading to younger students. After creating and submitting the application, Bailey began sacrificing her recess to help out as needed. Today she has her own desk at the library, complete with a nameplate and family portraits of her brothers and dog. She also volunteers during select academic labs at the Middle School.

“I like helping little kids find their books,” said Bailey, wearing a homemade lanyard that states her job title. “It’s mostly picture books in the first grade, then by second they start to learn how to spell words and write sentences. By third grade they are reading books like ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid,’ then in fourth they go back to comic books, because they are worn out from AR testing.” Accelerated Reader, used at some elementaries in the district, is a quizzing program designed to monitor the completion of reading assignments.

The girl’s budding passion for books has carried over to her home life. Bailey has a bookshelf in her bedroom and a system for her family to check out the books she has collected at fairs. Her father Jim, an occupational therapist, has a book that is twelve months overdue, according to Bailey, who enforces her own fines. “Let’s just say I’ve gotten a lot of shoes,” she said.

“She’s always done these sort of things – like having school with stuffed animals,” Julie said. “When she sets her mind to do something, she does it. And I mean she does it,” he mom continued, sharing that Bailey is also a Junior Girl Scout and sold 56 boxes of cookies on the very first day of the annual sale.

Earlier this school year, Bailey was informing elementary students how they are to behave in the hallway when O’Neal Principal Dr. Amy Dill first got to meet the young co-librarian. “She’s productive, responsible and a good role model,” Dill exclaimed. “She’s going to be a little teacher.”

Bailey’s application spawned other ideas from classmates for student positions at O’Neal, according to Robertson, including computer lab, counseling, physical education, nursing and breakfast assistants.

Robertson was even invited to Bailey’s birthday party over the summer, and is considered a friend of the family. “It reminds me that sometimes being a teacher is about making a connection with students, not just a curriculum,” Robertson said. “This experience could change the rest of her life.”

Name: Bailey Williams

Number: Don’t have one yet

Address: Mrs. Owings’ classroom

Talents: Able to organize perfectly

Achievements: Reading 66 chapters in one book
 
Shown in the photos: Bailey poses next to her computer desk, which contains a basket with items such as stickers to identify books that are about popular subjects like animals.

Photo and article submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District

Essex, Missouri - Richland R-1 Schools will hold a Kindergarten/Preschool Screening Enrollment for the 2017-2018 academic school year on Monday, March 27, 2017 from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the elementary school.

A child must be five (5) years of age before August 1, 2017 in order to enroll in kindergarten.

The preschool screening will be for children ages three and four years old before August 1, 2017.

Appointments may be made by calling the school at (573) 283-5310.

Parents or guardians will need to bring the child's birth certificate, Social Security Card, updated immunization record and proof of residency with them at the time of screening.

Proof of residency may be a water bill, utility bill, cable bill or tax statement bearing the name of the parent/guardian.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri - Dexter High School students did extremely well at the DECA District 12 competition held on Tuesday, February 7, 2017.

The competition was held on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.

Makayla Pyle earned 3rd place in Principles of Finance.

Jackie Kiger earned 3rd place in Human Resource Management.

Jon Smith earned first place in his Advertising Campaign.

Megan Foster earned 2nd place in Principles of Business Management.

Veronica Hampton earned 2nd place in Principles of Finance.

The DHA DECA sponsore is Tammy Crowley.

Shown in the photo from left to right are Makayla Pyle, Jackie Kiger, Jon Smith, Megan Foster, and Veronica Hampton.

Dexter, Missouri - Southwest Elementary honors students with Positive Office Referral certificates.

This award is presented to students who consistently show the 3R's RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, and READY TO LEARN at Southwest Elementary in Dexter.

Each student received a certificate and a FREE Taco from Taco Bell.

Front Row:  Brice Pollard, Jagger McFaddin, Ashton Deberry, and Campbell Neely
Back Row:  Talon Walker, Lucas Woods, and Grant Briney