Is it mere coincidence that the first three grant competition winners were each female, or do their accomplishments indicate a credible trend? Among the 2,128 rookies who applied for the Grant Program’s 4th Season, women agents continue to dominate – this fact would seem to beg the obvious question: where in the world are the great male agents?

The number of Apprentice semi-finalists working for a franchise organization are however inline with industry averages with about sixty percent (60%) of this Season’s top 30 grant applicants are working for a national franchise: five (5) working for Keller Williams, three (3) for Coldwell Banker, three (3) for Prudential, two (2) for Century 21, two (2) for RE/MAX, two (2) for Realty Executives, and one (1) for GMAC. The remaining 12 candidates hail from a myriad of independent brokerages dotted across the country.

The top 30 semi-finalists are:

• Steve Roach was educated by Armbrust Real Estate Institute, a RealtyU® Affiliate. Steve is currently an agent with Coldwell Banker Adobe Realty.
• Melanie Eifling was educated by Tennessee RealtyU® Affiliate, TREES. Melanie is currently an agent with Bill Colson Auction and Realty.
• Pauline Espinosa studied with Anthony Schools, a Kaplan School. Pauline is currently and agent at Century 21 Beachside.
• Cheryl Oldweiler trained with Champions School of Real Estate a RealtyU® Affiliate and is an agent with Prudential Gary Greene Realtors in Texas.
• Maureen Bryand completed her licensing training with Career Education Systems, a RealtyU® Affiliate. She currently is an agent with Coldwell Banker, Stucky & Associates
• Melody Buehler was educated by Allied Business Schools and she works as an agent with ACTS Realty Services, Inc.
• Dawn Heinemann completed her licensing training with Arizona RealtyU® Affiliate Hogan School of Real Estate. Dawn is a currently an agent with Blackhawk Realty.
• Kristin Pavliscak studied with The Real Estate Education Center, one of the three RealtyU® Affiliates in Michigan, and is an agent with John Burt Realty/GMAC.
• Shernita Jackson completed her licensing course with the Chicago Association of REALTORS®, and is currently an agent with Wesford Realty.
• William Moon was educated by RealtyU® Affiliate Polley Associates. William is currently an agent with Gates & Burns Realty.
• Amber Denney completed her licensing training with Career Education Systems, a RealtyU® Affiliate.  She is now an agent with RE/MAX® Results.
• Chris Hain completed his licensing training with Allied Real Estate Schools. He is an agent with Ramsey-Shilling Associates.
• Golda Smith trained with Barney Fletcher RealtyU® and is currently an agent with Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Midtown.
• Kelly Howell completed her licensing course with Hogan School of Real Estate. Kelly works as an agent with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
• Maida Besic studied with The Real Estate Education Center, a RealtyU® Affiliate and is an agent with Real Estate One.
• Mary Billings studied with The Real Estate Education Center, a RealtyU® Affiliate and is an agent with Real Estate One.
• Mayra Kennedy, Armbrust Real Estate Institute, HR Realty/Keller Williams
• Michica Guillory trained with Champions School of Real Estate a RealtyU® Affiliate, and is an agent with Keller Williams Realty North Houston.
• Roberto Moreno completed his licensing course with Hogan School of Real Estate. Roberto works as an agent with Tierra Antigua Realty.
• Smita Patel was educated by Tennessee RealtyU® Affiliate, TREES. Smita works as an agent for Prudential Rowland Real Estate.
• Susannah Satterstrom completed her licensing course with Armbrust Real Estate Institute, a RealtyU® Affiliate and works at Keller Williams Realty.
• David McGowan was educated by RealtyU® Affiliate Tri State Real Estate School and works at Prudential Fox and Roach, REALTORS®.
• Karen Smith studied with Champions School of Real Estate, a RealtyU® Affiliate, and is an agent with Century 21 Executive Realty.
• Bruce Gwaltney was educated by Kaplan Real Estate School. Bruce currently works as an agent with Keller Williams Realty.
• Dawn Burton was educated by CB & Associates; Charles B. Sandberg and is an agent with Next Home Real Estate.
• Heather Melchior studied with The Real Estate Education Center, a RealtyU® Affiliate. Heather is an agent with Bolton-Johnston Associates.
• Douglas McGovern was educated by Career Education Systems, a RealtyU® Affiliate. Douglas is an agent with Realty Executives 4Results.
• Linda Taylor was trained at the Long and Foster Real Estate Training Center and works at Fairfax Realty.
• Lisa Thompson studied with 24X7 Online School of Real Estate and is an agent with RE/MAX Prime Realty.
• Nguyen Lam was educated by Career Education Systems, a RealtyU® Affiliate. Nguyen is an agent with Realty Executives Center.

From this group of luminaries will arise the top 10 Finalists, as selected by the panel of 14 independent judges from across the nation. The first two Finalists will be revealed through RIS Media beginning August 14th, followed by one Grand Prize Winner on August 22nd, who will be awarded $70,000 in education, mentoring, industry products and services.  Nine (9) Finalists will receive $7,000 of the same, while the remaining twenty (20) Semi-Finalists will each receive $2,500 in grants.

On July 1st the Foundation officially opened its doors for their fifth grant term (through December 31st), whereby new rookie agents can apply for a total of $500,000 in special grants. No other program anywhere in the world provides help every year to some 5,000 new licensees, equipping them to become more successful in their new real estate career. To read the latest Foundation news and apply to the Grant Program, visit the at www.RealEstateApprentice.org

The success of the non-profit Foundation rests in large part on the continuing generous donations of many industry-leading service providers, such as: First American Corporation, Hobbs/Herder, RealtyU, iSucceed, eNeighborhoods, McLean International, Thomson Publishing,  Calculated Industries,  CreateAPlan, Real Estate Simulator, ExpressCopy,  The Real Estate CyberSpace Society, Broker Agent News, Saris Technologies/Real Agent Suites,  VisualTour,  Seller Agency Council  and, of course, RISMedia.

Formed in 2004, the Real Estate Apprentice® Foundation is a unique, nationwide public benefits corporation designed to use apprenticeship and best practice concepts to help newly-licensed real estate agents succeed early in their careers. Vendors, brokers, top agents and Realtors® willing to make the industry a better place should contact Foundation Deputy Director Dr. Martin Oliver at Dr.Oliver@RealEstateApprentice.com or 813-527-9755.