Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

Rent-A-Center Awards $60,000 to 60 Students Across the U.S.

Collage_1108G lowresPLANO, Texas – (BUSINESS WIRE) — Rent-A-Center, Inc. today announced the recipients of its Make-A-Difference Scholarship Program, in which $60,000 was awarded to 60 high school and undergraduate students across the country.

Program officials said they chose scholarship recipients based on a number of factors including academic and non-academic accomplishments, community activities, work experience, and educational and career goals. Out of the 250 applications, 20 recipients were coworker dependents, while the remaining 40 were either customers of Rent-a-Center or their children.

Juan Mercado, the son of an assistant manager of a Rent-A-Center, Inc. owned Get It Now store in Walworth, Wis., was happy about receiving the award.

“My mother cannot help me with my expenses because of the rent and basic bills that she needs to pay,” wrote Mercado in an email. “This scholarship will be used to fill the missing gap for my college expenses. I am very grateful to receive this scholarship and thankful for Rent-A-Center.”

Scholarship beneficiaries must pursue their first undergraduate degree at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, vocational school or technical school in the United States or Puerto Rico.

Rent-A-Center has donated more than $730,000 to hundreds of students through the Make-A-Difference Scholarship established in 2004.

“Supporting and empowering our customers, their children and our coworkers’ children is an investment in our future,” said Gina Hethcock, Rent-A-Center’s senior public and community relations manager. “Our goals are to help students get a step ahead and give back to our customers and coworkers for their loyalty and support.”

This year’s recipients were chosen from all Rent-A-Center, Inc. divisions including Get It Now, AcceptanceNOW and Rent-A-Center Franchising. 

The following is a list of recipients who have given permission for their names to be used in  media: Mikalyia Trice, Abbeville, Ala. Terrence Henderson, Phoenix, Ariz. Bobbie Hogue, Merced, Calif. Marlia Maniatis, Santa Ana, Calif. Cheyenne, Mahon, Tamarac, Fla. Jessica Trosper, Northwood, Iowa Lissette, Hernandez, Ligonier, Ind. Jolivette Williams, Shreveport, La. Jennifer Moore, Bradley, Maine Tyler Gray, W. Farminton, Maine Emma Baxter, Randolph, N.J. Jada Solomon, Newark, N.J. Julia Rushlow, Norfolk, N.Y. Harlee Rush, Roseville, Ohio Kyla Ibarra, Muskogee, Okla. McKenzie Gladney, Roland, Okla. Christy Ridolfo, Chalfont, Pa. Tyra Johnson, Cordova, Tenn. Latoya Johnson, Fort Worth, Texas Berenice Hinostroza, Dallas, Texas Jason Maynard, Huntington, W. Va. Katlynne Hytrek, Saratoga, Wyo. Benito Komadina, Jr., Woolwich, N.J. Abbigael Denman, The Colony, Texas Julia Vasilyev, Frisco, Texas Michael Vasilyev, Frisco, Texas Shoshana Zhang, Frisco, Texas Juan Mercado, Walworth, Wis. Giovanni Knight, Chesapeake, Va. Logan Matthews, Wilmington, N.C. Stephanie Ibarra, Marana, Ariz.

Applications for Rent-A-Center’s Make-A-Difference Scholarship 2018 begin this December. For more information visit: http://usascholarships.com/rent-center-make-difference-scholarship-program/

A rent-to-own industry leader, Plano, Texas-based, Rent-A-Center, Inc. is focused on improving the quality of life for its customers by providing them the opportunity to obtain ownership of high-quality, durable products such as consumer electronics, appliances, computers, furniture and accessories, under flexible rental purchase agreements with no long-term obligation.

Media Contact: Gina Hethcock Public and Community Relations Manager Gina.Hethcock@RentACenter.com 214-801-1424

 

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Mike Tissot

Countryside Rentals Inc., dba Rent-2-Own

Mike grew up in the rent-to-own industry under the guidance of his father, former APRO President and RTO legend Darrell Tissot. For nearly 25 years, Mike’s innovative leadership has helped expand the family business to more than 40 stores across Ohio and Kentucky while also shaping the industry as a whole.

He has served as President of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association, an APRO board member and Treasurer, and President and Treasurer of the TRIB Group. His contributions have earned him the APRO President’s Award of Excellence and the title of APRO Rental Dealer of the Year.

Outside of RTO, Mike enjoys time at the lake house or in Orange Beach, Alabama, with his girlfriend, Angela Strong McCool. A passionate Cincinnati Reds fan, he rarely misses a game, whether watching or listening alongside his parents. He also takes every opportunity to visit Arizona, where his daughter is currently attending Arizona State University.