Aaron’s Scholars Program Provides Financial Support For 20 Morehouse College Students
APRO Board Member and Aaron’s General Counsel and Foundation President Robert Kamerschen with Morehouse College President David Thomas, Aaron’s Chief Operations Officer John Smith, Morehouse College Board Trustee Harold Martin Jr., Morehouse College Board Trustee Billye Suber Aaron and Morehouse College Alumnus, TV Host and Songwriter Derek Watkins.
Aaron’s, Inc. recently announced the launch of the “Aaron’s Scholars Program,” created to provide Morehouse College students who are the first in their families to enroll in college with financial support and internship opportunities.
The Aaron’s Scholars Program will be underwritten by a $1 million gift benefiting 20 students at Morehouse College through 2022. Each student in the program will receive a 3-year, $50,000 scholarship. The first series of scholarship recipients will be announced in late April at the annual E.B. Williams Awards Banquet. Students will be selected from Morehouse College’s three departments of humanities, business, and science and mathematics.
“It is heartwarming and inspiring for young men to be the first in their families to attend college and Aaron’s is proud to assist them as they endeavor toward this high academic achievement at Morehouse,” says Aaron’s CEO John Robinson. “Morehouse College is a historic institution in our hometown of Atlanta and the Aaron’s Scholars Program is our way of giving back and advocating for our future community leaders.”
Morehouse President David A. Thomas said the College appreciates the support of corporate partners like Aaron’s that believe in Morehouse’s mission and unique space in developing global leaders.
“Morehouse College appreciates the $1 million contribution to support student scholarships,” says Thomas. “Aaron’s investment will be a great help to young men who dream of earning college degrees to uplift their families, impact their communities, and change their economic futures. I look forward to working with Aaron’s in this partnership and following the success of our Aaron’s Scholars.”
To qualify for the Aaron’s Scholars Program, students must maintain a 2.5 GPA, submit a letter of recommendation from a faculty advisor and have received enough credit hours as a full-time student to be considered a second-year student.
“Nationwide trends show tuition and fees are rising at a faster rate than the financial aid and family income needed to cover costs. Aaron’s is committed to helping highly qualified students who are the first to attend college in their families graduate with a bright future,” says Robinson.
Aaron’s has a long legacy of giving back to communities, a commitment that began with the Company’s founder Charlie Loudermilk 63 years ago. Today, Aaron’s is more committed than ever to improving the lives of young men and women who are college-bound and helping them “Own the Life They Want.”
Morehouse, the world’s only historically black college for men, has been grooming primarily black men for global leadership and service for more than 150 years. The liberal arts college began in the basement of Springfield Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia, as Augusta Institute, a place where former slaves were prepared for careers in ministry and teaching. Since then, Morehouse has moved to Atlanta and produced four Rhodes Scholars, several college presidents, and many other leaders. In fact, the National Science Foundation ranked Morehouse as the No.1 producer of black men who receive doctorates in education, life and physical sciences, math and computer sciences, psychology and social sciences, as well as humanities and the arts.
Morehouse Men continue to distinguish themselves in business, the arts, politics, education, journalism, and science because they strive for excellence and are committed to community service. The College has produced many prominent graduates, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Spike Lee.
Mike Lewis is a Premier Rental Purchase franchisee with multiple stores and currently serves as Vice President of Operations. With 33 years of experience in the rent-to-own industry, he has spent the past 20 years working closely with franchisee owners and previously spent 12 years in Corporate RTO, gaining a strong foundation in the business.
For the past five years, Mike has been sharing his knowledge by teaching managers and franchisees at the company’s Training Center.
Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, kids, and grandkids, and appreciates the simple things in life – especially riding his Harley Davidson with the sun on his face. If you know, you know!
Lauren Talicska
Arona Corporation dba Arona Home Essentials
Lauren Talicska is an experienced multi-channel marketing specialist and the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Arona Home Essentials. She has found her home in the RTO community, supporting stores in branding, growth, and increasing traffic.
You may recognize Lauren as a former RTO vendor, including her time as a partner for Nationwide RentDirect, or her previous participation in the APRO Vendor Advisory Committee. Lauren calls Columbus, Ohio, home and spends her workday crafting and executing marketing promotions from inception to realization, all while supporting the branding and social media needs of all the Arona stores in 12 states (plus Puerto Rico!).
Charles Smitherman
APRO
Charles Smitherman, JD, PhD, CAE, became CEO of APRO in 2023, bringing years of legal and executive experience in the rent-to-own industry.
Prior to joining the association, Charles served as COO, General Counsel, and Vice President of PTS Financial Services, where he played an active role in the rent-to-own industry by representing his company through PTS’s club program offering with APRO member dealers. Charles is an attorney with two decades of experience across a wide variety of areas, including RTO, consumer financial services, antitrust, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, franchise law, and privacy law. Following law school at the University of Georgia, Charles earned a Master of Legal Studies and PhD in Law from the University of Oxford in England.
Charles is credentialed as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with the American Society of Association Executives, a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) with the International Franchise Association, and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. As APRO’s sixth CEO in its 45-year history, he brings a collaborative, member-focused approach to association leadership, emphasizing transparency, advocacy, and value creation. Outside of work, Charles is an active ultra runner and open water swimmer.
Mike Kays
Ashley Furniture Industries
As VP of Rental Sales for Ashley Furniture Industries, Mike thrives on building relationships with our RTO industry veterans, and helping businesses grow through new product, new marketing, and new supply chain options.
Mike works to leverage a wide breadth of relationships and influence, intimate knowledge of market trends, and unique knowledge of what RTO dealers need from a supplier to be successful.
The saying goes that a high tide raises all boats, and our goal is to leverage the world’s largest furniture manufacturer to drive the continued growth of the RTO industry and all the suppliers.
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.
