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Six Students From Outside North America Receive Anita Benedetti Student Scholarship

(NEW YORK) February 8, 2018 – RIMS, the risk management society™, presented 37 students with a 2018 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 2018 Annual Conference & Exhibition​ scheduled for April 15 – 18 in San Antonio.   

This year’s class of Anita Benedetti Student Scholars includes six students from outside of North America, as well as greater participation from universities outside of the Northeast region of the United States. 

“The international and regional diversity of this year’s scholars reflects the evolution of the risk management profession,” said RIMS CEO Mary Roth. “RIMS collaboration with a growing number of universities that offer risk management curriculums is critical to closing a talent gap and supporting this profession’s future. We are excited to welcome this ambitious group of students to RIMS 2018, introduce them to the global risk community and learn from their unique perspectives.” 

Below is a complete list of this year’s grant recipients: 

• Kendall Banks, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Jenna Benvenuti, Olivet College

• Yuuki Bomar-Kawakita, University of Georgia

• Rebecca Cacioppo, University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Laura Colmenares, Universidad EAFIT (Colombia)

• Abby Cothran, Mississippi State University

• Daniel Coyle, Temple University

• Douglas Dick, Troy University

• Maggie Flynn, Illinois State University

• Ashley Gao, University of Akron

• Matthew Garofalo, University of Hartford

• Nicholas Goers, Missouri State University

• Carina Gonzalez, St. Mary's University

• Jason Hall, British Columbia Institute of Technology

• Madison Hardy, University of Mississippi

• Noah Hicks, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Maranda Johnson, University of North Texas

• Megan Keathley, Olivet College

• Akash Kheterpal, National Insurance Academy (India)

• Logan Krause, East Carolina University

• Nick Kubala, Eastern Kentucky University

• Pratik Kumawat, Birla Institute of Management Technology (India)

• Ben Landes, University of Georgia

• Chunyan Lei, Peking University (China)

• Kyle McDonald, Ball State University

• Shannon Nisi, Troy University

• Nicholas Patnode, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Nathan Paulik, Missouri State University

• Sam Reese, Butler University

• Abygail Schukin, Lasalle University

• Christy Simpers, Appalachian State University

• Andrew Smith, University of Calgary

• Alexandra Stoughton, University of Mississippi

• Brent Vansickle, British Columbia Institute of Technology

• Santiago Villa, Universidad EAFIT (Colombia)

• Amanda Wolfgang, Temple University

• Yangfan Yao, Peking University (China)

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 San Antonio, the event will be hosted in Boston in 2019. For more information, visit www.RIMS.org/RIMS2018.