New York HS Senior Wins $5,000 NCBFAA Scholarship

Washington, DC: During its 2002 Annual Conference themed "Staying Ahead of the Curve," the NCBFAA will recognize Kellenberg Memorial High School senior, Bartholomew J. Kerner, Jr., as this year’s recipient of the NCBFAA’s Annual $5,000 Scholarship Award. At a presentation ceremony during the Conference Keynote Breakfast on March 11 in Hollywood, Florida, Bart will receive his scholarship from the program sponsor, XL Surety, and the NCBFAA. His winning essay, which the NCBFAA Scholarship Committee judged the best, was on "U.S. Trade Embargoes - Are They Still Effective In Today’s Global Trade Environment."
    In its ninth year, the annual essay-writing contest is open to employees or children of employees of regular NCBFAA members, but not open to any individual with ownership in a company involved in the industry. Contestants must intend to pursue a career in Customs brokerage, freight forwarding or a related field, and be a high school senior or an undergraduate student at an accredited college or university.
    Bart’s father works for John F. Kilroy Co., Inc., in Jamaica, NY. "This was great news for us and we are really happy that Bart was selected to receive the scholarship because I know he worked hard getting the material together," Mr. Kerner said. "It’s nice to see that the industry supports the folks who work in it and I’d like to thank the NCBFAA Board for making this opportunity available and XL Surety for generously funding this terrific program year after year."
    For his part, Bart, Jr., has his own goals in mind, one of which is "to obtain a quality education in the field of international trade law and to follow in my father’s footsteps by entering the customs brokerage and freight forwarding industry." The NCBFAA congratulates Bart on his successful entry and wishes him the best in pursuing his goals.
    "I think this is one of the most important programs the NCBFAA offers and I congratulate Bart on his success," said Matthew Zehner, Vice President- Customs Surety for XL Surety. "Helping folks to achieve their dreams benefits not only the recipient but also the giver and XL Surety is proud to be a part of this wonderful enterprise."
    XL Surety (www.xlcapital.com), one of the top 20 US surety underwriters, is a leading writer of contract, commercial, and US Customs bonds for accounts of all sizes. XL Surety maintains 13 offices nationwide and is a division of XL Specialty Insurance Company, an XL Capital company. XL Capital Ltd, through its operating subsidiaries, is a leading provider of insurance and reinsurance coverages and financial products to industrial, commercial and professional service firms, insurance companies, and other enterprises on a worldwide basis.
    As of June 30, 2001, XL Capital Ltd had consolidated assets of approximately $18.7 billion and consolidated shareholders' equity of approximately $5.7 billion.
    With headquarters in Washington, D.C., the NCBFAA (members.ncbfaa.org) represents nearly 700 member companies - the nation's leading freight forwarders, customs brokers, ocean transportation intermediaries (OTIs) and air cargo agents. Established in 1897 in New York, NCBFAA is the strong, effective national voice of the industry. Through its various committees, counsel and representatives, the association maintains a close watch over legislative and regulatory issues that affect its members. It keeps them informed of these and other related issues through its weekly Monday Morning eBriefing, Quarterly NCBFAA Bulletin, and various meetings and conferences throughout the year.