Posted: Thursday, July 24, 2008 3:32 pm

Cynthia Villamizar from Murfreesboro was selected from more than 250 national applicants to serve as a Board Member for the State Farm Youth Advisory Board.

She is one of 17 from across the United States and Canada selected through a competitive process based on youth leadership experience and a telephone interview. The State Farm Youth Advisory Board includes students ages 17 to 20. As a leadership board, they oversee a $5 million-a-year State Farm funded initiative.

The board members will oversee the awarding of grants to student-led service-learning projects, which will address important community issues like teen seatbelt use and disaster preparedness. They will work in a virtual environment and convene for four meetings throughout the next year. The first 2008-2009 Board meeting was held at State Farm’s Corporate Headquarters in Bloomington, Ill. on June 23.

Villamizar will serve a one year term. She will commit about 15 hours a month to the board. As a Board Member, Villamizar will receive a $5,000 scholarship. Board members use the scholarship for post-secondary education at a four-year, two-year, or vocational training program. Villamizar is a sophomore at Vanderbilt University majoring in communications studies and Spanish.

“These exceptional students are already leaders in their communities,” said Public Affairs Specialist Judy McConkey. “This investment in young people reflects State Farm’s sincere commitment to tapping the passion and expertise of our younger generation.”

In 2007, the board awarded grants to youth-led service-learning projects that addressed disaster preparedness, driver safety, financial education and access to higher education/closing the achievement gap.

Board members represent each of the 12 U.S. State Farm zones, the Canadian zone and represent our national service-learning partnerships.

For more information about the State Farm Youth Advisory Board visit www.statefarmyab.com.