Media Contact
Jenifer Shockley
Office of Communications & Marketing
Robinson College of Business
jshockley@gsu.edu
ATLANTA–The insurance community recently came together virtually to honor outstanding students and members of the risk management community as part of The Riskies Awards, an annual event held by the Georgia State University Risk Management Foundation and the Department of Risk Management & Insurance (RMI) in the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University.
The Riskies Awards serve two purposes: To recognize active or retired business executives who have demonstrated a career of high achievement and service to the insurance, risk management or related industry, and to award scholarships to outstanding students of the Robinson’s RMI Department.
Students of the Year
Four high achieving students who perform well in the classroom and lead and participate in the department’s student organizations were named Students of the Year and awarded Riskies scholarships. This group of students represents how the RMI Department transforms the lives of students and serves as an engine of economic mobility by preparing them for successful careers in high-demand fields.
- Undergraduate Actuarial Science Student of the Year: Gerardo Bentancort
Senior Gerardo Betancourt is a double major in actuarial science and risk management and insurance. He is president of the Actuarial Student Association, enrolled in Georgia State’s Honors College, and a Career Advancement Center champion who mentors other students. In his free time, Gerardo enjoys learning about financial markets, preparing for actuarial exams, and playing golf. His career goals and aspirations stem from experiences growing up in Puerto Rico. Gerardo’s vision is to give back to his community by making insurance more accessible and transparent. - Master of Actuarial Science Student of the Year: Yi-Husan Hung
Yi-Hsuan Hung is pursuing dual master’s degrees in actuarial science and quantitative risk analysis and management. Yi-Hsuan had internship experiences in Shin Kong Life Insurance Company’s product development department and the Decent Actuarial Consulting Company. Currently, Yi-Hsuan is working as a graduate research assistant and is responsible for text mining. Yi-Hsuan can speak six languages and also enjoys learning about different cultures and new languages. - Master of Quantitative Risk Analysis & Management Student of the Year: Karan Kumar
Karan Kumar is finishing his Master of Science in Quantitative Risk Analysis and Management. Previously he worked as an investment banking analyst for JS Bank Limited and passed all the levels of Chartered Financial Analyst CFA (with pending charter). Recently, he led a group of students in an Institute for Insight Sprint automating the tranching, valuation and cashflow generation process of non-agency-based mortgage-backed securities for BDO USA LLP. He hopes to work as analyst in risk and data analytics area in future. - Undergraduate Risk Management & Insurance Student of the Year: Kenny Pham
Kenny Pham chose to major in risk management and insurance at Robinson because of his interest in the insurance industry and the department’s reputation and ranking. While maintaining an above 4.0 GPA, Kenny secured three internships with AssuranceAmerica, Pritchard & Jerden, and Aon. Outside classes, Kenny is president of Gamma Iota Sigma, Zeta Chapter, in the inaugural cohort of the Eric Joiner Achievement Academy, and the 2020 Panthers on Wall Street Cohort. Upon graduating in May 2021, Kenny plans to return to Aon where he will be starting his career as a cyber risk associate broker.
Meeting Industry Demand With Highly Qualified Graduates
Risk management and insurance is a high-demand field due to two factors: a wave of job opportunities, and the introduction of new technologies that are changing the pricing, products and processes of the industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates job growth in the field at about 19 percent though 2026, which is significantly faster than average for all occupations. Graduates of the RMI program at Georgia State University are in demand for this reason, as well as for the fact that the program draws from the diversity of Georgia State University.
Georgia State University is a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion and confers more undergraduate degrees to African American students than any other not for profit U.S. university. Forty percent of Georgia State University’s 53,000 students are African American. Among RMI Department undergraduates, 70 percent identify with a race or ethnic group other than white. Many RMI Department students are from low-income families and 36 percent of its undergraduates are eligible for Pell Grants.
“We serve as an engine of social mobility by offering an outstanding education to diverse students in fields with tremendous market demand,” said Stephen Shore, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Risk Management & Insurance. “Our purpose is to transform the lives of all students by unleashing their true potential and providing them with the collaborative experiences they need to not only have a successful career but also to build the future of business.”
Whether employers looking to recruit graduates or companies looking to partner, those who also aim to advance diversity in the profession are working with the RMI Department in unique ways. Close to 100 companies and individuals sponsored this year’s The Riskies Awards, including AIG/Lexington, Great American Insurance Group, and Truist Insurance Holdings.
As a means of assisting students during the unpredictable and challenging time the pandemic ushered in, this year’s sponsorships were redirected to the 2021 Riskies Student Support Fund to help students during the pandemic. The fund aims to remove the obstacles that may prevent the RMI Department students’ ability to stay in school and provides support for scholarships, actuarial exam preparation courses and reimbursement, and assistance for student activities, including the Gamma Iota Sigma – Zeta Chapter and the Actuarial Student Association.
“Through the generous support of our sponsors, we are able to provide added support to our students and continue our mission of training students from all backgrounds to become the next generation of risk and insurance leaders,” said Shore.
Icon Leadership Awardees
Individuals who have demonstrated a career of high achievement and service to the insurance, risk management or related industry, and who exemplify the professional and business knowledge principles envisioned by Georgia State University and Robinson College’s Department of Risk Management & Insurance. Awardees are also concurrently inducted into the Georgia State University Risk Management & Insurance Hall of Fame.
- Lee Ann (B.B.A. ’81) and Steve DeCarlo
Corporate Icon Award
A company or companies that have promoted college and university education through their activities and financial support.
- Amwins Group Inc.
Career Achievement Awards
Individuals whose career has consistently and directly impacted the RMI program at Georgia State University, as well as the insurance and risk sciences industry. Awardees are also concurrently inducted into the Georgia State University Risk Management & Insurance Hall of Fame.
- Paul Sparks (MBA ’97)
- Alwyn Powell (M.A.S. ’76)
Corporate Recognition Award
A company or companies that have promoted college and university education through their activities and financial support.
- Chubb
Rising Champion Award
Young alumni from Georgia University who are high achievers and that exemplify the ideals taught in the Risk Management & Insurance Department.
- Tandeka Nomvete (B.B.A. ’13)
Georgia State University Risk Management & Insurance Hall of Fame Inductees
Individuals within industry or academia whose legacy has an ongoing impact in the risk sciences, which incorporates insurance, actuarial science, legal studies, risk management and analytics.
- Deborah Gaunt (M.I. ’79)
- Martin F. Grace Ph.D.
- Doocheol Kim (Ph.D. ’88)
- Greg McCollister
- Paul Scope
- Charles Timmons (MBA ’76)
About the Department of Risk Management & Insurance
Georgia State University’s nationally ranked Department of Risk Management & Insurance in the J. Mack Robinson College of Business is a world leader in risk management scholarship and education with one of the largest research faculties and doctoral programs in the world. Its accolades include: #4 among undergraduate RMI programs nationally by U.S. News & World Report, #1 in actuarial science research productivity among North American business schools by the University of Nebraska—Lincoln, designated a Center for Actuarial Excellence (Society of Actuaries), and designated a Global Center of Insurance Excellence (International Insurance Society).
About Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business
Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business is 8th among accredited U.S. business colleges for graduate enrollment, according to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB). More Georgia executives hold advanced degrees from Robinson and Georgia State than any other U.S. institution. Learn more at www.robinson.gsu.edu.