Three SRM students receive scholarships

Three juniors majoring in Risk Management and Insurance at the School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science have each been awarded a $5,000 scholarship by the QBE Women in Insurance Scholarship Program.

Sharon Adickes, Allison Conboy and Sylvia Watroba received the scholarships from this program of QBE North America, an integrated specialist insurer, which made the announcement in celebration of International Women’s Day.

Sharon Adickes first encountered the true value of the insurance industry through a high school teammate who lost her family home to a fire. Through further academic and internship exposure, she’s hoping to help others in their time of need as a claims contract professional.

The daughter of a retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant, she grew up in Browns Mills, N.J., which is next to the joint military base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, and graduated from Pemberton Township High School.

Allison Conboy has found great support through key mentors in her internship experiences and impressive extracurricular involvement. Wishing to give back by serving as a mentor in her future professional career, the New Fairfield (Conn.) High School graduate is minoring in International Studies.

Sylvia Watroba has great passion for risk and insurance, with a particular interest in cyber security and catastrophe risks. Her study abroad experience, coupled with past working experience, leads her to view the industry from unique and varied perspectives. Originally from East Meadow, N.Y., she attended St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington, N.Y., and credits her Polish heritage for influencing her life learning.

“I believe that it is part of the whole "melting pot" that is so beautiful in this country that enables our diverse backgrounds and personalities from which our behaviors and ability to understand one another be able to come together and share our experiences and grow from them together -- all the way to forming innovative ideas for workplaces and excel not only personally but companies' growth,” she said.

The three winners were selected by St. John’s University School of Risk Management Scholarship Committee. Eligible applicants included either undergraduate or graduate level candidates pursuing degrees in actuarial science, risk management and insurance, or enterprise risk management.

“The QBE Women in Insurance Scholarship Program is designed to create a direct connection between the company and scholarship recipients,” said Maureen Furlong Weber, Director of the School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science. “This provides a unique value to the students well beyond financial support, including professional enrichment and quality networking opportunities as a part of their educational experience.”

The success of this program led the QBE Foundation to expand its partnership with St. John’s University to support Veteran, Multicultural and LGBTQ students, as well as Women pursuing careers in insurance, with an additional $50,000 of funding.

QBE’s Women’s Initiative Network employee group – with funding from the QBE Foundation – partnered with St. John’s University to empower future insurance and financial industry leaders.

“Managing risk requires analyzing exposure from a variety of perspectives,” said Josie Barnett, QBE Foundation Manager. “We recognize the value of promoting diversity in the insurance professionals who will shape the future of risk management.  We are encouraged by the success of our partnership with St. John’s University, and are thrilled to expand the scholarship program to include students from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.”

The entire press release can be viewed here.