A celebration of scholarships

Actuarial sciences and risk management students and supporters honored at ceremony
State Farm scholarship award winners
Student recipients of the State Farm Actuarial Science Scholarship attended a ceremony highlighting scholarship winners and scholarships that support the Actuarial Science & Risk Management Program at the U of I. At far left is Kirstin Lane, director of State Farm’s Enterprise Risk Management Department, and at far right is Jeff Clinch, assistant vice president actuary. (Photo by Maggie Knutte.)

The Actuarial Sciences and Risk Management Program (ASRM) recently honored scholarship winners, supporters, and scholarships that help students complete their degrees.

Ten students received the State Farm Actuarial Science Scholarship. Eight students received other scholarships and awards, including the Most Outstanding Major Award in Actuarial Science, Actuarial Science Alumni Scholarship, Bradley M. and Karen A. Smith Scholarship, Zekai Li Scholarship, and Willis Towers Watson Scholarship. The Munich Case competition team was also honored.

Faculty members and staff from ASRM along with representatives from companies supporting the scholarships attended the event.

“State Farm supports programs that provide today’s learners with the tools and resources to equip them for future opportunities,” said Rasheed Merritt, assistant vice president of corporate responsibility at State Farm. “We are delighted to help students realize their dreams.”

At the scholarship event, Destin Yu, a freshman studying actuarial sciences, spoke about the importance of the State Farm scholarship.

“As an out of state student, tuition was kind of on the pricier side so the scholarship definitely alleviates some of the financial burden that comes with going to a university like this,” said Yu, who is from California. “This scholarship pushes and motivates me to work harder and shows me that the work I've been putting in is recognized by other people.”

Another student who received the State Farm scholarship, Kushal Kothapalli, said the support has helped ease the financial burden of going school, allowing him to focus more on his academics.

“Being recognized by a company like State Farm has also boosted my confidence as I pursue a career in the actuarial field. It’s both encouraging and inspiring to know that my hard work is being acknowledged,” said Kothapalli.

Joe LoCicero, the academic advisor for ASRM who arrived on campus last year, organized the event. “We felt like it was important to recognize our students and it’s something I’ve always believed as a staff member,” he said.

With LoCicero as an academic advisor, ASRM has built upon its student-related programs. This includes collaborating with the Actuarial Science Club, which was formed in the early 2000s to create opportunities for students in the field.

“I rely on the students a lot and I give them a lot of freedom to make decisions and empower them to do things so that it benefits their career,” LoCicero added.

Maggie Knutte