DePauw Students Return to Top Three of Risk Management Competition

A DePauw team has once again earned a place among the top three at the Spencer-RIMS Global Student Risk Management Challenge. After finishing second in 2025, DePauw's actuarial science and risk management students secured a third place finish at the 2026 competition in Philadelphia. Coached by Zhixin Wu, professor of business analytics and Ian M. Rolland Professor of Mathematical Sciences, the team of Ashley Le '27, Christine Nguyen '27, Vinh (Kevin) Huynh '27 and Annie Vu '27 impressed their peers, industry professionals and faculty members from other universities with their preparation and performance under pressure.

This achievement marks a historic milestone for DePauw's students and program. DePauw is now the only liberal arts college in competition history to be named among the eight finalists. DePauw is also the only U.S. team to finish in the top three in two consecutive years

Team captain Ashley Le answered some questions about the experience:

What were the most important things your team did to prepare for the competition?

I think the most important thing was dedication and commitment. We have spent a lot of time each week since September 2025 - at least three hours, and even more as the competition got closer - researching and working on the case together. Everyone put in a lot of effort to make sure we were prepared. Another important factor is the strong collaboration among team members. Because we already knew each other well, we understood one another's schedules, working styles and individual strengths. This allowed us to divide responsibilities effectively and maximize each member's contribution to the project.

What was it like to work closely with other students for such a long period of time to achieve a shared goal?

We're all in the actuarial science and risk management program and had worked together before, which made collaboration easier. The hardest part was finding time to meet consistently. Communication was extremely important throughout the project. We always tried to be straightforward with each other so we could solve problems together and stay on the same page. Another important factor was careful planning. When we first started, we created an overall plan in a Google Sheet with detailed deadlines and actions to track everyone's progress. This helped us make sure everyone stayed on track and allowed us to support each other whenever issues came up.

How did your coursework and faculty mentorship at DePauw give you the tools to succeed?

Our curriculum is strongly embedded in real-world applications and experiential learning. Across different courses, students complete a variety of projects, case studies, presentations and business communication assignments that simulate professional actuarial and risk management work environments. Rather than focusing only on theoretical concepts and exam preparation, the curriculum emphasizes applying quantitative skills to solve practical business and risk-related problems. Faculty also work closely with students throughout their academic journey, providing continuous feedback and mentoring both inside and outside the classroom.

Why do you think DePauw's actuarial science and risk management program is now able to consistently compete with some of the top programs in the nation?

We're the only U.S. team to place in the top three for two consecutive years. During the conference, a lot of insurance professionals already knew about DePauw. Much of that recognition comes from Professor Wu and our Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS) team building strong connections in the industry. Even though we're a small program, we still have access to great classes, resources and opportunities that help us build both technical and soft skills for the professional world. The program has established a growing national reputation within the actuarial science and risk management community.