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Ascendium celebrates first anniversary of its new identity

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Ascendium celebrates first anniversary of its new identity
Ascendium interns from L-R: Julius Morris-Ramos, Lupe Salmeron Ibarra, Noelia Pardo Patino and Paul Nwankwo. Photo by Katie Wing

Bob Jacobson
Ascendium Education Group

On Nov. 15, Ascendium Education Group celebrated the first anniversary of, well, becoming Ascendium Education Group. Known for decades as Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation & Affiliates, the company changed its name last year following the acquisition of its biggest operating unit by another company, Nelnet.

Now a full year into the Ascendium era, employees at company headquarters on Madison’s Northside marked the occasion by gathering to enjoy treats, watch a special anniversary video, and recount some of their biggest accomplishments of the past 12 months. Staff at Ascendium’s other offices in the Twin Cities; Indianapolis; and Aberdeen, South Dakota, celebrated as well.

Founded in 1967, Ascendium is the nation’s largest federal student loan guarantor, a major postsecondary education philanthropy, and a provider of student success and financial literacy services for colleges. Since last year’s name change, Ascendium has grown from 233 employees to 264, more than three-quarters of whom work in Madison.

“I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished since changing our name and launching the Ascendium brand a year ago,” said Richard George, chairman, president and CEO of Ascendium. “This new chapter in our half-century history is off to a wonderful start, thanks to the hard work of the entire Ascendium team.”

Among those accomplishments are the ongoing expansion of the company’s philanthropic activity and a new strategy for targeting those resources; rapid growth of the Attigo line of student success services; and a variety of improvements to the company’s employee benefits, including major upgrades to its parental leave, wellness and tuition reimbursement policies.

“We’re fortunate to be in a position to offer employees a very competitive benefits package,” said Maureen Harrill, vice president of human resources. “Ascendium’s mission is to elevate opportunity for everyone, and that applies to our own people as well as to those we touch through our business and our philanthropy.”

Another highlight of year one was a big increase in the number of employees taking part in Ascendium’s Volunteer Time Off (VTO) program. By early November, the company was nearing its goal of having every employee volunteer with a local nonprofit for at least one hour on company time. Many employees in Madison use their VTO to help out at their office’s adopted organization, Vera Court Neighborhood Center, or at The River Food Pantry.

“The Ascendium name may be only a year old, but our values and our commitment to the Northside have been a constant for a long time,” said Amy Kerwin, vice president of education philanthropy. “Our people are passionate about being good neighbors.”