Gamma Iota Sigma  Student Newsletter
August 2017   

 
In This Issue
46th Annual Conference
Dive In Festival
GCIE Designees
New Chapter Charterings
Industry Career Opportunities
Scholarship Opportunities
Week of Giving
Chapter Spotlight
Student Spotlight
Alumni News
GIS Merchandise
GIS on Social Media
Amazon Smile
Quick Links


Mark Your Calendar!

View all  scholarship deadlines  and events.
Executive Committee
  Meg Allwein

President

 

Glenn Dorr

Executive Vice President

 

Jason Warden

Vice President

 

Jeff Henry

Vice President

 

John Hammond

(Immediate Past President)

 

Sabrina Hanitz

Secretary

 

Wes Griffiths

Treasurer

 

Jake Timmins

Alumni Representative

 

Jacob Galecki

Industry Representative

 

Dr. RB Drennan

Faculty Representative

 

Dr. Karen Epermanis

Faculty Representative

 

Celeste Azubuike

Student Representative

 

Sarah Rumon

Student Representative

 

Noelle Codispoti 

Executive Director

 

46th Annual International Conference!
Contact Your Officers and Advisors to Register!



The  46th Annual International Conference  is less than two months away! We are looking forward to seeing you at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas from  September 28-30, 2017. Block your calendar and get ready to be "Professional, Prepared, Primed" to enter the insurance industry.

Our sponsors are ready to meet the best and brightest future industry professionals from Gamma Iota Sigma! Take this incredible opportunity to expand on your industry exposure and knowledge. Check out the  agenda which includes the largest career fair of its kind with first round interview opportunities with many companies. There are educational sessions, Dive In diversity and inclusion sessions, and keynote addresses, in addition to leadership seminars and continuous networking opportunities. 

Make sure we see you in Dallas! 

Please reach out to your chapter president or advisor if you are interested in attending! 
"Dive In" Again at the Annual International Conference
The Festival for Diversity & Inclusion in Insurance



Excitement is in the air as the GIS Annual Conference will be a global Dive In Festival city for the second time! The Dive In Festival was first held in 2015 in the Lloyd's market. It was a market-wide four-day celebration of the bottom line benefits of diversity and inclusion for the insurance industry led by Inclusion@Lloyd's.

Similar to last year, the Festival is global and includes cities and events where diversity and inclusion initiatives and programs are taking center stage. In 2016, GIS students created a diversity committee to give themselves a voice in this topic and the enthusiasm has continued.

Programming for the conference is being planned and GIS is thrilled to offer this opportunity to share with our members for the second time!

For more information about the festival, and to appreciate our excitement about its inclusion in the conference, please visit: http://diveinfestival.com.

GCIE Designees 2017
GIS Risk Management and Insurance Programs Honored!


The Global Centers of Insurance Excellence released their list of universities and colleges recognized for their outstanding Risk Management and Insurance programs. 

In last month's newsletter, Alpha Iota at St. John's University was left off of the list. Congratulations to Alpha Iota as well, we aplologize for the accidental omission. 


Congratulations to the following GIS schools that made the 2017 list:

Appalachian State University
Ball State University
California State University - Fullerton
Florida State University
St. John's University
The University of Iowa
University of Mississippi
Temple University
Virginia Commonwealth University

 
See more at:  GCIE 2017 Designees

New Chapter Charterings
#GammaIS Growing!

GIS is thrilled to have two new schools officially joining the organization this fall. The Gamma Beta Chapter at the University of Akron will charter September 14, 2017 and the Gamma Gamma Chapter at Iowa State University will charter October 14, 2017.

If you are interested and may be able to attend, please contact your chapter officers or advisor. 

Congratulations in advance to these two incredible schools!





GIS Features Industry Opportunities:  
Don't miss out on these great opportunities, apply today!

C heck out the GIS  Career Center , the only centralized location for you to search through and apply for  internship and entry-level opportunities across the industry.   Employers can also search through student profiles, so be sure to get  your resume on there!  It's  easy:
            1. Go to the Career Center website
            2. Upload your resume
            3. Check out the posted jobs and internships
This is an exclusive benefit for Gamma Iota Sigma members  to be seen by companies and organizations who are actively recruiting and to apply for internships and jobs. Don't miss out!

Below are just a sample of some of the opportunities that await you in the Career Center. Go to 
for additional opportunities!
Scholarships Available:
Do You Need Money to Pay for School? Apply today!

There are many scholarship opportunities available for stu dents studying to pursue careers in insurance. See below for application and deadline information for upcoming opportunities. 

October 31:

DW Simpson Actuarial Science Scholarship Program: Deadline for Fall: October 31.

November 1: 
The Griffith Insurance Education Foundation Scholarship: November 1

Westfield Insurance and Westfield Agents Association Scholarship Program: November 1

Ezra Penland Actuarial Scholarship: November 1 st

For additional scholarship opportunities visit:  http://gammaiotasigma.org/resources/deadlines/

Week of Giving - Save the Date! 
Make a Difference from October 14-21, 2017

Gamma Iota Sigma strives to give back to our local communities, and in partnership with the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation Week of Giving, we are hoping to make our biggest impact yet. 

Additional details will be made available soon, but please be prepared to volunteer, give, and make an impact in your local communities during the week of October 14-21, 2017.   



Chapter Spotlight: 
Beta Lambda and Alpha Iota


Earlier this year Butler University's MJ Student-Run Insurance Company, which will insure items such as the University's live mascot bulldog Trip, rare books, fine art, and observatory telescope, received licensing approval from the Bermuda Monetary Authority, moving it one step closer to opening.

The student-run operation (captive insurance company) was scheduled to officially begin work on August 1. Full details can be found in this press release. AON and KPMG have been appointed by Butler to launch and manage their captive.

The Board of Directors for MJ Student Run Captive gathered on July 25th and met with key educational influencers on the island (ABIC, BII, BFIS) and recent recipients of Bermuda scholarships who are studying or have recently been studying risk management and insurance.

The meeting was organized through the Association of Bermuda International Companies (ABIC), an organization that also gives out scholarships to students studying abroad in Bermuda. They had a great discussion on a variety topics such as the rundown of the captive, why its a beneficial experience, and insurance and international business education in Bermuda, and awareness of the insurance field in both Bermuda and the U.S. 

Congratulations to the GIS participants p ictured below: Clevon Cunningham and Marcus Henschke of St. John's University, Josh Toly, Anna Geist and Derek DeKoning of Butler University and (non-GIS Daniel Nash of Southampton University in the U.K.)

Student Spotlight: 
"My leadership roles in Gamma Iota Sigma have taught me the soft skills that are so necessary to have a successful career."
Name:  Jessica Sharp
School:  University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Chapter: Alpha Tau Chapter
Officer Title:  President 
Major:  Finance 
Concentration:  Risk Management Insurance
Graduation:  May 2018
What do you hope to do with your degree?
My internship this summer with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has given me a very real look at the life of a Property and Casualty Insurance Broker. I am excited to say that I am on track for and strongly pursuing a job as a Producer after graduation.              
Why did you choose to major in Risk Management, Insurance, or Actuarial Science?
I have always wanted to help people but I didn't know exactly who or how I wanted to help others. I was originally a special education major so I wanted to teach and advocate for children with special needs. Then I thought about being an interior designer and helping people create their ideal home. The more I have learned about insurance, the more I am convinced that it is truly the industry of helping people. In one job you can be helping them manage risk, protect their balance sheet, and take care of their employees. It is the right career for me because of the opportunity I didn't see in the special education or interior design -- those are still my favorite hobbies. 

Why did you join Gamma Iota Sigma?

I joined Gamma Iota Sigma to learn more about the opportunity in the Insurance Industry and to begin building my network by attending conferences. Our program advisors have been invaluable in the process of me finding my career path.
  
How has your participation in Gamma Iota Sigma prepared you for your career?

My leadership roles in Gamma Iota Sigma have taught me the soft skills that are so necessary to have a successful career. Being cognizant of the needs of others, being diplomatic at all times, and ultimately being a resource for peers are just a few of my favorite take-aways. 

What would you say to a student interested in joining Gamma Iota Sigma?

I would tell anyone interested in joining GIS, that there is limitless opportunity for personal and professional growth. It is a time investment that will yield better results than you will anticipate. I have been an active member at volunteer events, career fairs, and conferences which has all taken time. However, because of that time investment, I got to know my program advisors and was recommended for the best internship program I could have asked for. From that internship I have grown so much and I can't wait to bring back all of my knowledge to GIS in the Fall. 


Are you interested being considered for the Student Spotlight?

If you are interested in being featured on social media, newsletters, or other GIS communications, please fill out the form in the link below! Thank you!

https://gammaiotasigma.formstack.com/forms/gis_student_profiles

Alumni Updates and Events
Calling All GIS Graduates to Stay Involved! 

There are many ways to stay involved as an alumnus of GIS, and by providing your new information we can keep you informed with newsletters, e-mails and about important information and upcoming events. We look forward to watching your careers grow!

Students, please consider joining one of our alumni chapters if you are looking to continue your involvement with our organization upon graduation. Our alumni chapters are growing in current cities and expanding into new cities. We are looking for alumni who would like to be involved in starting new chapters in new locations!  

Recent graduates, another reminder to please help us stay in touch with you and take a moment to fill out this Alumni Update Form. We will keep you informed on all things GIS as your career develops! Without your personal e-mail or new work e-mail addresses we risk losing touch! 

For more information on the GIS Alumni Council, please contact one of the regional chapter leaders below or Alumni Council President, Jake Timmins at [email protected]  or Vice President, Sabrina Hanitz at  [email protected]  for information on starting a chapter in your area! You can also visit the Alumni Council Webpage  to contact your local leaders.

GIS Online Merchandise Store
Get your Gamma Gear Today!

GIS has partnered with an online vendor to conveniently provide customized Gamma merchandise to you such as polo shirts, fleeces, pins, padfolios, table cloths, coffee mugs, and graduation stoles.

Check out the  site at the link below to order your Gamma Merchandise today!

GIS is looking forward to sharing your pictures this year with the cap toppers now available on the website!
 
The GIS Pom-Pom shirts that were so popular at the Annual Conference shown to the right are also available in the Merchandise Store! 
 

GIS on Social Media:
Please be sure to like, follow, and join! #GammaIS

Did you know that Gamma Iota Sigma is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn?
 
Share your photos and events, and f ollow us on social media to get updates on upcoming events, hear from other chapters, and get information on industry scholarships and opportunities!
 
We hope to see you on social media! 

Gamma Iota Sigma Grand Chapter on  Facebook , Instagram LinkedIn , and Twitter .


 

Remember GIS on Amazon Smile!
It's Easy and Free!
http://smile.amazon.com/  and select "Gamma Iota Sigma" where  every time you shop, GIS will receive a donation from Amazon of 0.5% of your eligible purchases with no cost to you!  

Simple, effortless and free! Thank you!

Sincerely,
  
Noelle Codispoti                                            
Executive Director                                         

Sharla Floyd
Director of Development and Strategic Initiatives

Grace Grant
Director of Chapter Services

Alyson Koehler
Director of Marketing & Communications


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