Career Resource Center - Student
KS Students Achieving Excellence
Post Graduate Information Form
Kelsie Griffin is a recipient of the Spencer Educational Foundation Award.
Stacey Hinterlong (left) and Susan Lipps are recognized at the 2009 CPCU Annual Meeting in Dever, CO.
Doug Johnson is presented with a Student Laureate Medallion and certificate for the Lincoln Academy’s Student Laureate Award.
Rebecca Kagan, recipient of a FAME Scholarship.
Thomas Lauren was the recipient of a prestigious Wooddy Scholarship from the Actuarial Foundation.
Joanna Leggett is pictured here at the Gamma Iota Sigma national conference in Philadelphia, PA.
Jake Timmins is a recipient of the Spencer Education Foundadtion Scholarship.The Katie School of Insurance and Financial Services attracts some of the best and brightest students from around the country. Throughout their terms at Illinois State University and within the Katie School of Insurance, these students are often recognized for their outstanding achievements. Many former students attribute the Katie School with a major role in their successes by providing students with opportunities to build their professional skills, leadership experience, and exposure within the industry. These high-achieving students speak for the exceptional quality of education provided by Illinois State University and the Katie School of Insurance. These are some of the Katie School students achieving excellence:
Kelsie Griffin is a Katie School junior double majoring in Insurance and Finance. Kelsie has thoroughly enjoyed becoming actively involved in Gamma Iota Sigma this academic school year. The Katie School and Gamma specifically have provided her with numerous opportunities such as company visits, networking events, socials, and conferences that have all helped to broaden her knowledge about the insurance industry and strengthen her professional skills.
Kelsie was awarded the Spencer Education Award in the spring of 2010. The Spencer Scholarship is made possible through the generosity of the Chicago Chapter of Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. RIMS Chicago Chapter President, Alan W. Kubitz who wishes to assist and commend students for their hard work and dedication as future professionals in the insurance industry.
This summer Kelsie will be interning at COUNTRY Financial in their Claims Department to gain practical knowledge and experience in a professional setting. Kelsie is honored and excited to be next year’s Treasurer of Gamma Iota Sigma and to positively represent the Katie School of Insurance throughout the community. “Becoming involved in Gamma has opened the door up to so many more opportunities and allowed me to meet numerous helpful mentors through the process” Kelsie states. She is truly thankful for all of these experiences and is proud to be a part of such a wonderful program here at Illinois State University.
Stacey Hinterlong is a Katie School student now in the MBA program at ISU with a focus in Finance and Insurance. She graduated with her BS in Insurance and Finance from ISU in December 2009. Stacey has been very involved with the Katie School by holding leadership positions her junior and senior year in Gamma Iota Sigma. She has had an internships with NAPSLO and with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. Thanks to the Katie School, Stacey was able to attend conferences such as RIMS, REBEX, and different CPCU meetings.
Stacey was among one of the first two students awarded the opportunity to attend the CPCU Annual Meeting, which took place in August 2009, in Denver, CO. Stacey said, "The Katie School teaches you all the key components and importance of networking. And they are sure to put you in positions to network and truly helped me position myself for success in my future career." And due to these exceptional networking skills, Stacey made a lot of connections and was asked to write an article about her experience being the first student at this Annual Meeting. She was published in the CPCU Personal Interest Group's magazine. Her article can be found by following the previous link.
She was also asked to lead and speak at a seminar at next year's Annual Meeting, which will be held September 25-29, 2010, in Orlando, FL. Stacey's seminar will be called, "Risk Management and Insurance Students Look into the Future." Stacey is also working with a committee to establish scholarships for around 20 students from around the country to be able to attend the seminar, and gain the unique educational and network experiences she gained when she attended.
Stacey truly thanks the Katie School for all of the opportunities they have presented her with. She stated, "It is so great the effort and care they put into us students to provide us with experiences and learning opportunities that I wouldn't have received anywhere else. They are always pushing us to be better. I am so thankful to have the resource of the staff within the Katie School."
Doug Johnson is a Katie School senior who will be graduating in May 2010 with an insurance and finance double-major. Doug has made the most out of his time at Illinois State University and with the Katie School by balancing his classroom responsibilities with involvement in extra-curricular activities and organizations. A quick glance at his resume not only shows his involvement across campus, but also his desire to be a leader in many of those organizations.
Doug attributes that desire along with his determination to succeed and the help and guidance of his professors, peers, and mentors that have lead him to be recognized for his hard work. He was presented with two of the most prestigious awards that an undergraduate can receive at Illinois State University; the Robert G. Bone Scholarship and the Lincoln Academy of Illinois Student Laureate.
Being designated a Bone Scholar is the highest honor an Illinois State undergraduate student can receive, and this honor contributes markedly to student success. Bone Scholars are students who combine broad and excellent academic achievement with campus and community engagement. They are expected to have shown outstanding qualities of character and leadership. Doug's involvement with the insurance industry was highlighted throughout the application process.
The Lincoln Adademy of Ilinois Student Laureate Awards are presented for excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities to one senior from each of the four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities in Illinois. Doug was awarded the Student Laureate Award in the fall of his senior year and attributes the recognition to his extensive involvement with the Katie School and College of Business.
After graduation Doug will be off to Princeton, New Jersey to work for Munich Re America as a Risk Analyst. "I could not have secured such a great position after graduation without the help of the Katie School of Insurance program," Doug admits. "Throughout the interview process I am certain that it wasn't these awards that made me stand out amongst the other candidates, but instead it was my involvement with the insurance industry, which was made possible by the Katie School." Doug will be the first to tell you that out of all of his accomplishments, awards, and experiences his Katie School sponsored international internship in Zurich, Switzerland was by far his most memorable experience while a student at Illinois State University.
Rebecca Kagan is a junior Insurance and International Business student in the Katie School of Insurance at Illinois State University. Rebecca has been increasingly involved in the College of Business since her freshman year. She has gained valuable industry experience through the activities and opportunities provided to her by the Katie Insurance School including networking events, company visits, and conferences. Rebecca is an accomplished student due to her involvement on campus and throughout the community of Normal. She is actively involved in a variety of organizations throughout her school campus.
Rebecca was presented a FAME scholarship by the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers from Washington D.C. The Foundation for Agency Management Excellence provides these scholarships to assist in the education and guidance of future insurance leaders.
Rebecca is very excited to continue her education in the insurance industry through a Bermuda International Internship provided by the Katie School of Insurance. This opportunity will not only teach her about risk management and insurance, but will also compliment her passion for international business. Rebecca will also be working at RLI Corp. this summer in Peoria to continue her current internship in the Risk Services Department. Rebecca would like to thank Debbie Babcock, Jim Jones, and the rest of the Katie School faculty for providing great networking events which have opened these opportunities for her to gain real experience in the insurance industry.
Thomas Lauren, a recent actuarial science graduate and member of the Katie School, was the winner of a 2009 John Culver Wooddy Scholarship Award from the Actuarial Foundation. The Foundation awards this prestigious scholarship annually to approximately ten graduating actuarial students from all over the world, selecting no more than one student from one university. Lauren is the fourth ISU student in five years to win a Wooddy Scholarship. “We are very happy that Thomas's outstanding record has been recognized by the Actuarial Foundation in this way,” said Dr. George Seelinger, Chair of the Department of Mathematics. “Being the fourth Wooddy Scholar from ISU in the past five years, Thomas continues the tradition of excellence in our actuarial program. Professors Ostaszewski and Thiagarajah have done a great job with this program.”
Thomas Lauren is from Mundelein, Illinois, and graduated in December 2009 with a minor in economics in addition to his actuarial science major. He was an ISU Presidential Scholar and has been on the Dean's List every semester. Lauren is also the recipient of the D.W. Simpson Actuarial Science Scholarship, the State Farm Scholarship in Actuarial Science, and the Katie School of Insurance Scholarship. For all his semesters at ISU, Lauren has been involved with the Katie School as a member of the Gamma Iota Sigma Professional Insurance Fraternity and the Actuarial Club. In addition to these accomplishments, Thomas graduated with six actuarial exams passed. He is currently working at Allstate.
Joanna Leggett is a Katie School senior who will be graduating in May 2010 with an insurance and finance double-major. Joanna has been very involved with the Katie School by holding leadership positions her junior and senior year in Gamma Iota Sigma. The Katie School has provided her with many great opportunities that have allowed her to gain some great experience in the industry. She has had three internships before her senior year, and has also attended several insurance conferences which have helped her further her knowledge of the industry.
As a result of Joanna's achievements and involvement within the industry, she was awarded the Association of Professional Insurance Women (APIW) scholarship in the fall of 2009. Each year since 1987, APIW has awarded scholarships to worthy students at St. John's University, the School of Risk Management and the Katie School of Insurance at Illinois State University. In the latter years, these were given under the name "Lana James Memorial Scholarship," in honor of a dedicated APIW volunteer and Board Member who died prematurely in 1992.
After graduation Joanna will be working full time for Travelers Insurance in Naperville, Illinois in the Bond & Financial Products department. After interning there for two summers, she knew Travelers was the company she wanted begin her career with. “I would not be where I am today without the help of the Katie School,” Joanna says. “The Katie School has provided me with so many amazing opportunities that have helped me get to where I am today.” The Katie School sponsored an international internship to Bermuda where she was able to learn about many different areas of insurance and receive an international perspective of the insurance industry. The Katie School provides great opportunities for students to gain real world experience and help prepare them for their futures. Joanna could not be more thankful for what the Katie School has done for her.
Jake Timmins is a Katie School junior double majoring in Insurance and Finance. Jake has been involved in the Katie School and with Gamma Iota Sigma since the start of his junior year. Due to his involvement he was elected the position on the executive board as the Director of Fundraising Efforts at the end of the fall 2009 semester. Jake is also very excited to become Gamma Iota Sigma's president for the 2010 - 2011 school year. He has learned many different things since joining Gamma including valuable networking and interviewing skills.
Jake has also participated in the many different opportunities offered by the Katie School including company visits, golf outings, and numerous guest speakers, conferences and symposiums. He has already been fortunate enough to attend conferences such as REBEX, Troy Symposium, NAPSLO, and he will be attending RIMS in Boston in late April. Jake is also very involved in other organizations at ISU including Financial Management Association, playing on the Illinois State Club Baseball and Club Bowling teams, and he enjoys his current employment as a server at the Bloomington Olive Garden.
Because of Jake's involvement he was awarded the Spencer Education Award in the spring of 2010. The Spencer Scholarship is made possible through the generosity of the Chicago Chapter of Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. RIMS Chicago Chapter President, Alan W. Kubitz who wishes to assist and commend students for their hard work and dedication as future professionals in the insurance industry.
Jake is very excited to continue his growth of knowledge and understanding in the insurance industry through an international internship to Zurich, Switzerland, provided by the Katie School of Insurance. On this internship he will meet and shadow industry professionals at over eight different companies.
After Jake is done in Switzerland he will be working for two months in Kansas City on an internship from Westrope. He is very excited about this internship as well, as he will be able to gain experience as a property and casualty broker, and also gain experience on the non-admitted surplus lines side of the industry. Jake is working towards obtaining his CPCU designation and also will be working towards obtaining his ASLI. Jake says, "This year has been a life changing year with all the wonderful opportunities the Katie School has made possible to me. I could not be more thankful and happy to attend such a wonderful university that has a tremendous insurance program like the Katie School offers here at Illinois State University." Jake would like to send a special thank you to Debbie Babcock, Jim Jones, and the rest of the Katie School faculty for providing such great opportunities for its students to learn, grow, and succeed.
