R.I. Life Underwriters tourneys put URI scholarship in the green

GREEN FROM THE GREENS: URI President Robert L. Carothers accepts a check from Sharon L. Dong, past president of the Rhode Island Life Underwriters and John H. Sulyma, president of the Underwriters, for a scholarship to assist a Rhode Island resident majoring in finance.

R.I. Life Underwriters tourneys put URI scholarship in the green

In only three years, the Rhode Island Life Underwriters Association has raised $14,182 to establish an endowed scholarship for an outstanding University of Rhode Island finance student.

And its members came up with the green after playing the links.

Rhode Island Life Underwriters, the statewide association that represents 500 financial services and insurance professionals, established the scholarship after running a series of charity golf tourneys to benefit URI.

"We established this fund because we want to support the state University," said the group's president John H. Sulyma, who owns John H. Sulyma Inc., insurance and financial services, in Pawtucket. "Like URI, the Rhode Island Life Underwriters Association is a state institution, and we see positive changes at the University and its business college. We like working as a team with the University because we can get things done together."

The scholarship is need-based and will be given to a Rhode Islander.

The golf tournament was the brainchild of Sharon L. Dong, principal in Charissma Brokerage Insurance Agency in Warwick. She is a past president of the statewide association.

Dong echoed Sulyma's comments about wanting to help URI. "Many of our members are URI alums. URI also has a strong finance program and an extensive internship program. We like being involved.

"We wanted to give back to the community. We're only helping our clients, their children and their grandchildren," she added.

Edward M. Mazze, College of Business dean and the Alfred J. Verrecchia--Hasbro, Inc. Leadership Chair in Business, believes that support from Rhode Island professional associations, like the Rhode Island Life Underwriters Association, is a vote of confidence in the role that the URI College of Business Administration can play in providing future employees to Rhode Island businesses. "Thanks to groups like the Rhode Island Life Underwriters Association, the College has moved closer to becoming the region's most business friendly business college," Mazze said.

By Dave Lavallee