Society Adds Four International Grants to Anita Benedetti Student Involvement Program
(NEW YORK) February 21, 2017 – RIMS, the risk management society™, presented 34 students with a 2017 Anita Benedetti Student Involvement Program grant. 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 RIMS 2017 Annual Conference & Exhibition scheduled for April 23 – 26 in Philadelphia.
In an effort to continue to strengthen RIMS’ global network, for the first time, the Anita Benedetti Program has been expanded to include four grants for international students (outside the United States and Canada). Jing Chen from Peking University (Beijing), Siming Fan from Peking University, Xinyi Huang from Fudan University (Shanghai) and Ashirwad Padhee from the National Insurance Academy (Pune, India) will attend RIMS 2017.
“Just as organizations’ risk management needs and expectations evolve, the needs and expectations of risk management students continue to change as well,” said RIMS CEO Mary Roth. “The Anita Benedetti Student Involvement Program not only affords this bright and enthusiastic group of students the opportunity to experience RIMS Annual Conference and Exhibition but it also allows the Society to gain a better understanding of the future of risk management and engage the men and women who will one day lead this profession.”
Below is a complete list of this year’s grant recipients:
• Connor Aldridge – University of Mississippi
• Casey Ballenger – Troy University
• Garrett Bell – Temple University
• Amanda Bill – University of North Carolina (Charlotte)
• Parker David Chalmers – Butler University
• Jing Chen – Peking University (Beijing)
• Lolita Dukundane – University of Colorado (Denver)
• Meredith Durden – Troy University
• Siming Fan – Peking University (Beijing)
• Sean Fitzgerald – Illinois State University
• Andrew Grieco – Saint Joseph's University
• Jessica Groenewegen – St. John's University
• Sarah Hercules – Bowling Green State University
• Sunmi Hirata – Georgia State University
• Xinyi Huang – Fudan University (Shanghai)
• Viet Huynh – The University of Texas (Dallas)
• Madison Knowles – Florida State University
• Meerie Lee – The University of Texas (Dallas)
• Emma Leinweber – University of Georgia
• Zheng Lyu – University of Wisconsin (Madison)
• Ryan Mroz – Temple University
• Ashirwad Padhee – National Insurance Academy (Pune, India)
• Wesley Robinson – University of Calgary
• Brianna Saylor – Eastern Kentucky University
• Matthew Sease – University of Mississippi
• Sydney Simpson – The University of North Carolina (Charlotte)
• Meagan Stenger – Indiana State University
• Lisa Sullivan – University of Colorado (Denver)
• Vicki Villarreal – University of Wisconsin (Madison)
• Alexis Wallace – Missouri State University
• Shelby Weatherman – Appalachian State University
• Ethan Witting – Illinois State University
• Katherine Wrightam – University of Central Arkansas
• Joshua Young – University of Hartford
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 the RIMS Annual Conference and Exhibition. 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.
About RIMS Annual Conference & Exhibition
Launched in 1963, RIMS Annual Conference & Exhibition 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 educational and networking experience. The four-day event offers more than 165 educational sessions, keynote presentations, special events and an expansive RIMS Marketplace Exhibit Hall with 400 exhibitors. Following Philadelphia, the event will be hosted in San Antonio in 2018. For more information, visit www.RIMS.org/RIMS2017.