The philanthropic relationship between State Farm® and Illinois State University continues to provide resources for students, ensuring they succeed in the classroom and in their future professional careers. On May 2, Illinois State students who receive support from State Farm joined company leaders and recruiters at a networking event at State Farm’s corporate headquarters.
The event gave State Farm leaders the opportunity to connect with students impacted by the company’s generosity. Attendees included scholarship recipients from the College of Business and members of Illinois State’s SOAR Scholar Academy (Supporting Opportunity, Actualization, and Realization). SOAR is a holistic, cohort-based program designed to support undergraduate Black men at Illinois State. The program has proved to raise members’ retention rates through peer mentoring, academic coaching, and networking opportunities geared toward students’ professional development.
Following lunch, students asked questions of State Farm professionals representing various Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). State Farm’s ERGs connect employees with each other and with key resources that encourage their professional growth. Topics discussed included how to work collaboratively with colleagues in other states or countries, and the ease of exploring different career avenues within State Farm once employed there.
SOAR member and junior accounting student Leo Carney asked for tips to land a State Farm internship.
“We begin the internship application process in August or September,” said Hope Mineau, a talent acquisition specialist for State Farm. “We encourage interested students to list all relevant experiences, even those technological skills you may still be learning. And students’ GPAs are also important.”
Before wrapping up the event, students were given a tour of the Good Neighbor Center (GNC). The tour, led by Buck Farley ’01, highlighted State Farm’s history as a company. The GNC brings State Farm’s history to life and provided students a sense of connectivity to the company’s roots.
The event was just one instance of the longstanding commitment State Farm has to its town-and-gown relationship with Illinois State. Over the years, State Farm has funded hundreds of student scholarships, including 174 scholarships for students from underrepresented populations. Beyond the company’s visionary financial gifts, State Farm’s leaders frequently partake in speaking engagements, mentorship opportunities, and advisory board positions across campus and within the Lab Schools.
Melissa Shrader ’91, State Farm’s corporate social responsibility manager, spoke of the company’s emphasis on supporting community organizations, especially those aiming to close the education gap.
“We are an insurance company, but we are so much more,” Shrader said. “We feel a corporate responsibility to give back.”
Corporate supporters like State Farm provide meaningful resources for Illinois State University students and are recognized as Illinois State University Investors in Excellence. To learn more about becoming a corporate supporter, visit CorporateEngagement.IllinoisState.edu, or contact Joni Staley at (309) 438-7735 or jstale2@IllinoisState.edu.
