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Over the past year, HAWK has had the pleasure of getting to know James Last, a Blue Ridge Fellow with a passion for insurance. James has since advanced to the role of Personal Lines Adviser, building on his invaluable experience as a Business and Project Development Intern.

We asked James to share more about his experiences at HAWK, including his past roles and future expectations, what brought him to the Roanoke Valley, and his reasons for choosing a career in insurance!

| Who Am I

My name is James Travis Last Jr., and I was born and raised in Statesville, North Carolina. I attended High Point University for four years, where I double-majored in Strategic Communication and Religion. One of my proudest achievements during my time at High Point was being crowned the defending intramural pickleball champion!

After graduating, I moved to El Paso, Texas, for three months to focus on content creation for a non-profit ministry called Casas por Cristo (Houses for Christ). During my time there, I frequently traveled into Mexico, capturing a variety of content, including aerial drone footage. You can read about my experiences here.

My journey with the Blue Ridge Fellows program brought me to Virginia, where I also joined HAWK Advisers.

| What is the Blue Ridge Fellowship

The Blue Ridge Fellowship is a Christian program that guides recent college graduates in living a life of impact for the glory of God. Many people drift away from their faith during college, and even more do so once they graduate and start their careers. The Blue Ridge Fellowship teaches how to build a life that keeps Christ at the center of everything we do, rather than compartmentalizing Him.

For the past nine months, I have been participating in the Blue Ridge Fellowship while also working part-time at HAWK as an intern. During my internship at HAWK, I earned my VA Property and Casualty Insurance License and began servicing and even writing policies.

| Why Insurance

I enjoy working in the insurance industry because it allows me to help people purchase a product that provides peace of mind for themselves and their loved ones, ensuring they can sleep better at night.

I also appreciate the stability of the industry, as nearly everyone in the nation has some form of insurance, making it a reliable field for employment. Likewise, I value the relational aspect of insurance and the practical expertise it offers. Being knowledgeable in this area enables me to be of genuine service to those around me.