Gongaware Scholars: Class of 2005

Holly Handlin

Hometown:  Terre Haute, Indiana
Major:  Insurance and Risk Management

Holly HandlinA Terre Haute native and the daughter of Garry and Cathy Handlin, she earned her degree in insurance and risk management and business administration (minors in marketing and economics) with a cumulative grade point average of 4.0. During her college career, she was involved in a variety of clubs and organizations, including Zeta Tau Alpha, the Insurance and Risk Management Honors Corps and Gamma Iota Sigma. Her honors and awards included: National Dean's List, ISU College of Business Dean's List, Gongaware Scholarship, ISU Academic Scholarship, Alan C. Rankin Distinguished Senior Award finalist, past recipient of the Ronald K. Rich Insurance Scholarship, the State Farm Insurance Scholarship, the Richard and Margaret Gemmecke Memorial Scholarship in Economics, General Telephone Electronics Scholarship (Spring 2004), Outstanding Statistics Student Award (Fall 2003 and Spring 2004) and Sycamore Salute (Fall 2001).

At ISU, Handlin was involved in several community service activities as well, including serving as a Race for the Cure volunteer, working with Adopt-A-Highway, the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, as a Christmas Mouse House volunteer and with the 14th and Chestnut Community Center. She also served as a note taker for disabled students at Indiana State.

A 2001 graduate of Terre Haute North Vigo High School, Handlin studied abroad during the summer of 2004 while completing independent studies in marketing and economics. She served as an intern with Nationwide Insurance and worked as a substitute teacher, English tutor and cheerleading coach at schools within the Wabash Valley.

 

Rebecca Shorter

Hometown:  Terre Haute, Indiana
Major:  Insurance and Risk Management
Current Position:  Career Development Director, The Gongaware Center, ISU College of Business

Rebecca ShorterRebecca Shorter serves as director of career development half-time for the Gongaware Center and half-time for the College of Business as a whole. In this capacity, she directs initiatives designed to enhance the career preparation of students and augment related industry partnerships in the financial services disciplines supported by the Gongaware Center. She also plans, implements and directs activities related to scholarship programs, student recruiting and screening, retention, mentoring, career development, internships and job placement.

A 2005 graduate of ISU with degrees in insurance and risk management and finance, Shorter earned her MBA from ISU in 2007. She has been a licensed associate for Nationwide Insurance since 2004, mainly focusing on personal lines property and casualty insurance, and she was an instructor for the College of Business during the summer and fall of 2007.