(NEW YORK) March 27, 2025 – Committed to supporting tomorrow’s risk management leaders, RIMS, the risk management society®, presented 20 students with a 2025 Anita Benedetti Student Involvement Program grant (ABSIP). The program, sponsored by The Spencer Educational Foundation, recognizes the achievements of outstanding undergraduate and graduate risk management students, providing them with funds for travel expenses, complimentary hotel accommodations and registration to RISKWORLD® 2025 scheduled for May 4 – 7 in Chicago.
“The risk management profession is filled with so many rewarding opportunities for students and rising risk professionals to grow, learn, and make an immediate impact within their organizations,” said RIMS President Kristen Peed. “The ABSIP program provides such a special moment for aspiring risk leaders to experience the breadth and power of the RIMS Community firsthand. I am personally looking forward to welcoming each of them to RISKWORLD this May.”
This year’s ABSIP grant recipients are:
- Samit Bin Alam – St. John’s University
- Bilal Alzaeem – The University of Colorado Denver
- Ellen Anderson – Missouri State University
- Spencer Burnette – The University of Georgia
- Sergio Castillo – The University of Southern California
- Katie Cerda – St. Mary's University
- Grace Cittadino – Illinois State University
- Katie Connelly – The University of Georgia
- Hatatu Killeen – The University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Angelica Ledezma – St. Mary’s University
- Gavin Lee – Georgia State University
- Caitlin Leuck – The University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Christian Matson – Old Dominion University
- Zack Mazariegos – Illinois State University
- Alex Palmer – Wilfrid Laurier University
- Aaron Ping – The University of Southern California
- Brock M. Polydoroff – The University of North Texas
- Tony D. Tran – The University of Colorado Denver
- Lily Westmoreland – The University of North Texas
- Maxwell Wozniak – St. John’s University
Initiated as a pilot program at the 1978 RIMS Annual Conference, the program recognizes exceptional students involved in the study of risk management and has grown into a differentiating part of RISKWORLD®. The program became known as the Anita Benedetti Student Involvement Program in 1997 to honor Ms. Benedetti's commitment to developing the next generation of risk professionals.
RISKWORLD will feature a special Rising Risk Professional/Student track comprising fundamental risk strategies, trending topics and skill development sessions specifically designed for individuals in the early stages of their risk management careers. Highlighting that track is the Student Speed-Networking Lunch, an opportunity for students to connect with leaders in the field. RISKWORLD’s full agenda of learning experiences are available here.
RIMS offers a range of programming, resources, and opportunities for Rising Risk Professionals. To learn more about RIMS, visit https://www.RIMS.org.
About RISKWORLD®
Launched in 1963 as RIMS Annual Conference & Exhibition, RISKWORLD® attracts some 10,000 risk and insurance professionals at all experience levels, business executives with risk management interests, brokers, insurers and service providers for the ultimate learning and networking experience. The four-day. RISKWORLD experience offers more than 150 learning opportunities, keynote presentations, special events, and an expansive Marketplace with hundreds of solutions providers – all with countless opportunities to engage and elevate the risk community. RISKWORLD 2025 is scheduled for May 4 - 7 in Chicago. RISKWORLD 2026 is in Philadelphia from May 3 - 6.
About RIMS
RIMS, the risk management society®️, empowers risk professionals to make the world safer, more secure, and more sustainable. Through networking, professional development, certification, advocacy, and research, RIMS and its 80 chapters serves more than 200,000 risk practitioners and business leaders from over 75 countries. Founded in 1950, the Society publishes the award-winning Risk Management Magazine and produces RISKWORLD®️, the largest annual gathering of global risk professionals. RIMS embraces diversity, equity and inclusion and welcomes all risk professionals to connect and learn, explore the online Risk Knowledge library, tune into the RIMScast podcast series, and engage via social media. To learn more, visit https://www.RIMS.org.