C. Donald Ainsworth Scholarship – Sponsored by Safety National

Purpose:

To provide a scholarship to deserving college student who is from the St. Louis, Missouri area majoring in insurance or a related area of study in a Missouri college or university.

Award Components:

One (1) $2,500 scholarship and an individual certificate will be awarded to the applicant of the C. Donald Ainsworth Scholarship with selection made by the Missouri Insurance Education Foundation Scholarship Committee.

Criteria:

  1. Applicant must by a St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area resident (including St. Charles and Jefferson counties).
  2. Applicant must be an undergraduate student properly enrolled in an accredited college or university in Missouri during the fall semester of year 2026.
  3. Applicant must be majoring in insurance or a directly related field of study.
  4. Applicant must be a full-time Missouri college/university student.
  5. Applicant should have a minimum grade point average of 2.75 out of 4.0.
  6. Preference may be given to a student who demonstrates financial need.
  7. The Scholarship Committee may also request a personal interview.

Applicants Must Submit:

  1. Completed application form (located below).
  2. Letter of application addressed to the Scholarship Committee of the C. Donald Ainsworth Scholarship containing a brief explanation of career goals and biographical (background) information.
  3. An essay expressing interest in a career in Property and Casualty Insurance.
  4. One (1) letter of recommendation from a college professor or current/former employer supporting the application.
  5. A complete college transcript.
  6. A financial needs form – only if you desire to demonstrate financial need. (Form located within application below.)

Deadline for submission is March 31, 2026.

C. Donald Ainsworth Scholarship

Sponsored by Safety National Casualty Corporation

Safety National is proud to sponsor an annual $2,500 scholarship in the memory of C. Donald Ainsworth.

Mr. Ainsworth, a longtime insurance executive and a former Director of the Missouri Department of Insurance, passed away on November 10, 2015 at the age of 95. He was known by many as “Mr. Insurance.”

He was born in Mason City, Ill., and graduated from the University of Illinois in 1943. He was an FBI agent before joining the Navy in 1944, serving in the Pacific with a cryptography unit. Returning home, he graduated from the Washington University School of Law in 1948 and entered the insurance business.

In 1955, he formed Ainsworth Insurance Service, which merged 20 years later with Alexander & Alexander, where he worked until being appointed insurance director by Gov. Christopher “Kit” Bond.

Mr. Ainsworth continued to serve the public in various capacities over the years, including as a member of the Kirkwood City Council, president of the Kirkwood Chamber of Commerce and St. Louis County Library Board.

After leaving state service in 1985, he was an executive for Safety National Casualty Corp., in Maryland Heights, retiring from the board of directors in 2011.

Safety National Casualty Corporation:

Founded in 1942, Safety National is the market leader in excess workers’ compensation for self-insured employers and groups nationwide and a leading multi-line casualty provider of products for risk management clients, reinsurance, loss portfolio transfers and other related coverage.

For over 75 years, the company has offered a long-term commitment to its broker partners and insureds, striving to provide top industry expertise, consistency in decision making, exemplary service and superior outcomes. This approach has led to a broad and loyal customer base. Safety National insures directly or indirectly, many workers in the United States and averages over 90% annual retention of existing policyholders. The company insures many of the nation’s largest healthcare facilities, educational institutions, retail establishments and public entities. In addition, Safety National is constantly monitoring trends in the marketplace and responding with solutions like the company’s most-recently released cyber risk insurance product line.

Safety National is a subsidiary of Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc., a leading Tokyo-based global insurer with a presence in over 40 countries. With over $200 billion in assets, Tokio Marine is among the top ten insurance groups in the world and its companies are among the highest rated. Safety National is a member of the Tokio Marine Group, which consists of Tokio Marine Holdings, 245 subsidiaries, 32 affiliates and over 30,000 employees located worldwide.

Safety National is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, and currently has nine additional remote offices throughout the United States. The company is a five-time Best Places to Work in Insurance honoree, ranking in in both the insurers/providers category and the medium-size employers category.