Why You Should Apply for the CAS Trust Scholarship

Significant tuition assistance, an all-expenses paid trip to the CAS Annual Meeting, networking opportunities with the leaders in the casualty actuarial profession, and access to world-class professional development sessions; these are some of the countless benefits I have received since being selected as one of the 2014 CAS Trust Scholarship recipients.

The CAS Trust Scholarship has been awarded annually for over a decade to high-achieving college students that have demonstrated a strong interest in casualty actuarial science. The CAS is currently accepting applications for the 2015 CAS Trust Scholarship, and will award the scholarship to up to three deserving students. The first place winner will receive $10,000, and the runners-up will each receive $5,000. The application is available to download on the CAS Trust Scholarship website and is due by March 2, 2015. I strongly encourage all CAS Student Central members to apply!

Not only does the scholarship provide significant financial assistance to offset rising tuitions and the costs of actuarial exams, but the recipients are also invited to attend the CAS Annual Meeting. I was fortunate enough to be selected the same year that the CAS Centennial Celebration was being held. The meeting was an excellent networking opportunity, as the CAS members were very friendly and willing to share their insights about the profession. Further, they were very supportive of one another, and took the time to recognize the volunteer and research contributions of their members.

One of the major segments of the meeting was an address from outgoing President Wayne Fisher. He discussed the current state of the actuarial profession, and explained why he is confident that, despite increasing competition, demand for casualty actuaries will remain strong. There was also a terrific selection of professional development sessions, where I learned about world-class research and developing trends in the industry. One of the sessions that I attended focused on cyber security and was led by two high-ranking national security officials. They discussed the state of our nation’s cyber security and the role the insurance industry can play in managing the risks of cyber attacks.

I have benefitted greatly from receiving the CAS Trust Scholarship, thanks to the financial assistance and the opportunity to attend the CAS Centennial Celebration. Attending the meeting offered a tremendous opportunity for networking and professional development, and added significant value to my long-term career prospects. If you are an actuarial student looking for similar benefits, I encourage you to submit an application for the 2015 CAS Trust Scholarship!

Jonathan Bisschop is a senior at the University of Connecticut and an actuarial science major. He has completed three internships at Travelers in various areas of the company. Upon graduation, he will begin working at Travelers as a member of the Actuarial & Analytics Leadership Development Program. In addition to his studies, Jonathan is also the Vice President of UConn’s chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma – the international risk management & actuarial science fraternity.