Rent-to-own News - NEW VIDEO: Cordillia Stewart wins top APRO Scholarship

Click to watch Cordillia Stewart video.

The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO) today honored Cordillia Stewart, a junior at Drury University. where she is pursuing a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology and Criminology, with a specially produced video in commemoration of her winning a $3,000 scholarship from APRO's Scholarship Foundation.

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Stewart, an assistant manager for National TV Sales and Rentals' Mountain Grove store, is one of four scholarship winners the year -- the first time multiple scholarship winners have been named. The opportunity was made possible after the non-profit APRO Scholarship Foundation reached its initial fundraising goal of $100,000.

The following are the winners of APRO’s 2010 Educational Scholarships.
 

Cordilia Stewart, National T.V. Sales and Rentals Assistant Manager
Drury University
APRO Member Sponsor – National TV Sales and Rentals
$3,000

Cordilia Stewart calls her educational pursuits a “Long Journey”.

She was an excellent High School student with a bright future. Then, as Stewart puts it, “everything went wrong”.

She dropped out of High School pregnant with her son as a single mother working at fast food restaurants to just get by. She became pregnant again and realized her once bright future through college was now destined for “dead end” jobs as a high school drop out which could serve only as an example to to her children of what "not" to do.

She and her family were living on her brother’s couch without a job. She applied at National TV and Sales but they were hesitant to hire her as her small stature would be challenged by the physical duties of an account manager. After she “bugged, nagged and annoyed the manager “ to give her a chance, Stewart is now assistant manager of National TV's Mountain Grove store, working there two years. She even won “Assistant Manager of the Year” last year.

Her pursuit of a degree never left her mind when she achieved her G.E.D. then enrolled at Drury University. She is now 104 credit hours on her way to a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology and Criminology. All while working full time at National TV Sales and Rentals and sustaining a 3.5 grade point average.

“The road has been very long and full of sacrifice. Working long hours, being a single mother, away from my children, studying on my lunch breaks, writing papers at two in the morning and forgetting what sleep used to feel like. The trip has been worth every mile though and it’s not over until I have that degree,” she said.

Stewart plans to teach G.E.D classes when she graduates to repay her gratitude to those who helped her when she needed it most.

Kylie Pelow

Ohio University – Honors Tutorial College
APRO Member Sponsor – Aaron’s Franchise (SEI /Aarons)
Aaron’s Employee Sponsor - Chris Pelow, General Manager
$2,000

Kylie Pelow’s goal is to be a translator and she has been accepted in the Spanish Program in the Honors Tutorial College at Ohio University. She graduated 5th in her class with an honors diploma at Eastlake North High School. She was on the Principal’s list, Volunteers Club and National Honor Society.

Pelow volunteered with the Girl Scouts, “Breakfast with Santa and with the Bunny” and was a Spanish tutor for younger students at Eastlake. Pelow was a member of the High School Varsity Soccer Team and was captain for her senior year. She volunteered and excelled in her studies while working part time at a local restaurant. Her father Chris is the general manager for SEI Aaron’s franchise store in Geneva, NY.

As the winner of the Foreign Language student of the year with her studies in Spanish and French, Kylie plans to use her scholarship to “work even harder to accomplish [her} objectives and become the best [she] can be.”
 

Evan Carter Howell
Faulkner State College
APRO Member Sponsor – Rent-A-Center
RAC Employee Sponsor – Patricia Enriquez, Accounts Payable Administrator
$1,500

Evan is a sophomore at Faulkner State College. He passed his first two semesters on the Dean’s List and the President’s List with a cumulative grade point average of 3.9. He graduated high school as a member of the National Honor Society.

Evan works full time as an assistant manager at a local sports store while attending school full time.  He, too, wants to pursue a degree in languages to become a linguistic expert for the F.B.I. His mother, Patricia Enriquez, works at the corporate headquarters of Rent-A-Center in Plano, TX.

“Evan works hard, volunteers at the church and is a solid citizen. He works at two jobs to make ends meet and times are tight and we thank God for this scholarship to help Evan graduate,” Patricia said.

Michael Kessler, RAC Manager – Massillon, OH

Kent State University
APRO Member Sponsor – Rent-A-Center
$1,500

Michael Kessler began his RTO career twelve years ago after he dropped out of college. He moved up to Assistant Manager quickly then store manager. After realizing he could make a much bigger impact at Rent-A-Center with a college education, he enrolled at Kent State to pursue a Business Management degree. Since then he has completed 89 hours and been on the Dean’s list with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5.

Kessler will graduate cum laude with a degree in Business Management in August. He then will be a first year graduate student in the fall working on an MBA in finance and marketing. Kessler has been married seven years and has two children. When Kessler is not being a father, store manager and full time student he also serves on the board for the 11th St Church of God in Canton as treasurer. This is the second time Kessler has applied for APRO’s Educational Scholarship.

“This scholarship is a fantastic opportunity for me and my wife. It’s tough to work full time while going to school full time so this scholarship is a great help. I just want to thank APRO and Rent-A-Center for this opportunity,” remarked Kessler.

Applicants must be employees or their children who work for APRO member companies. The recipients are judged on their financial need, their work in the communities, length of time as an employee and academic excellence.

This year’s scholarship winners were also treated to another surprise with an anonymous donor contributing additional funds for this year’s winners. The winner received a $3,000 scholarship. The runner up received a $2,000 scholarship and the two finalists received $1,500 scholarships. Each receive half of their scholarship immediately and the other half when they show proof of a 3.0 or better grade point average for the semester.