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Aysha ’27 Sets the Standard: A Rising Star at ABA Insurance Services

ABA Insurance Services has been a proud partner of Saint Martin’s Corporate Work Study Program for the past two years. Their connection to Saint Martin comes through two key ABA employees: Zytionna Barkley, Associate Business Developer and Saint Martin Class of 2010 alumna, and Laura Simmons, Employment Claims Manager and longtime supporter of the school, along with her husband, Tom. Zytionna shared with her team how impactful the program was during her own high school experience and how ABA could play a meaningful role in supporting current students. With Zytionna and Laura’s help, ABA Insurance proudly signed on to mentor a student and provide real-world work experience in the insurance field.

Today, ABA’s student associate, Aysha ’27, works under the guidance of Zytionna, Laura, and Sharon Anderson, a Customer Service Manager. All three describe Aysha as a valuable member of the team and speak highly of her contributions to the office.

Aysha ‘27 helps with the engagement aspect of the sales team. She records the high growth rate for clients and present them to the Business Development Team. She also contributes to daily operations by organizing and managing office supply inventory and assisting the receptionist with various administrative tasks. “What blew us away when we first met Aysha was her confidence,” explains Laura. During her first week at ABA, Aysha was asked to meet with different departments to get acclimated. To her supervisors’ surprise, she not only drafted her own interview questions but confidently conducted the interviews herself. “We’ve had college-level and high school interns before, but we’ve never seen confidence in a student like we have with Aysha,” says Laura. "I’ve lost count of how many times people have asked me, ‘Who’s your intern? She’s really impressive.’ She is just a joy to have at the office.”

Aysha has made a positive impression on Laura and Sharon, but her impact has been especially meaningful to Zytionna, who was once in Aysha’s shoes. When asked how it feels for Corporate Work Study to come full circle, Zytionna shared that Saint Martin had a profound impact on her life and played a key role in shaping the person she is today. Having experienced the value of Corporate Work Study firsthand, she understands the impact it can have on a student’s future—and is now excited to give back as a mentor, helping to pass that experience on to the next generation.