CHARLOTTE, NC – Through a partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), Central Piedmont Community College has received $211,485 to provide scholarships to develop a more diverse and inclusive talent pool of trained and licensed individuals for the insurance production and sales industry. The goal of the partnership is to increase access to underserved populations and communities by diversifying the pool of licensed insurance agents.
“Blue Cross NC recognizes the important role insurance agents play in helping individuals and families choose the right coverage plan for their health needs,” said Roy Watson, Vice President of Group Segment and State Health Plan for Blue Cross NC. “This collaboration with Central Piedmont builds on our long-term diversity, equity and inclusion strategy, which includes increasing diverse representation in the insurance sales workforce through education and professional development opportunities.”
Central Piedmont will use the funds to offer scholarships to 26 students per year for five years to cover the cost of insurance pre-licensing courses provided by the college plus licensing exam fees and NC Department of Insurance fees. As scholarship recipients, students also will receive instruction through the “Working Smart: Essential Skills for Workplace Success and Career Development,” program and wrap-around services including, interview preparation, additional academic and career counseling, and small business counseling.
Scholarship eligibility is open to persons who meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Black
- Hispanic
- Bilingual – English-Spanish
- Women
- Workers displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic
- People in transition – leaving high school or college or looking to make a career change.
Interested individuals can apply to the program starting in May. Successful applicants will be notified in July, with classes beginning in late-August.
“Central Piedmont is so appreciative of Blue Cross NC for making such an investment to advance diversity in the field of insurance agents,” said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, Central Piedmont president. “We know this program will generate much interest and provide another pathway at the college that will lead to rewarding and family-sustaining careers with great opportunities for advancement, perhaps even business ownership.”
For more information, contact Hunter Smith, director of Central Piedmont’s James R. Worrell Sr. Financial Services Institute, at 704-330-4685 and hunter.smith@cpcc.edu.
*Editor’s Note: To support our branding initiatives, please refer to the college as:
First reference: Central Piedmont Community College
Second reference: Central Piedmont
The college no longer uses the “CPCC” acronym.