Eight University Teams Advance To Spencer RIMS Risk Management Final Rounds at RISKWORLD

(NEW YORK) March 16, 2026 - The Spencer Educational Foundation (Spencer) and RIMS, the risk management society®, selected eight universities to compete for the 2026 Spencer-RIMS Risk Management Challenge top honor. Fifty-three university teams from 12 countries entered the annual competition that is supported by FM. Based on the solutions they developed for a case-study provided by Lakeshore Recycling Systems (Rosemont, Illinois) the top teams have been invited to present their risk management strategies in at RISKWORLD in Philadelphia.

The eight university teams chosen to compete at RISKWORLD are:

• University of Alabama - Risk Wranglers
• University of Lagos (Nigeria) - Risk-Transformers
• DePauw University - RiskBusters
• University of Texas at Austin - Risky Wranglers
• Azerbaijan State University of Economics (Azerbaijan) - Schrodingers Stock
• University of New South Wales (Australia) - Stratum Advisory
• National Insurance Academy (India) - The Mitigators
• Tribhuvan University (Nepal) - The Variance Vanguard

Developed by Lakeshore Recycling Systems Vice President of Risk & Insurance Richard Rabs, this year's Challenge case-study asked student teams to develop strategies for the waste industry to address mounting fire risks resulting from the improper disposal of lithium batteries.

On May 4, the final three university teams will present one last time in front of a panel of risk management leaders, and the winner will be announced later that evening at the Spencer Soriée. This year's esteemed judging panel includes:

• Sandy Avina, MBA - Claims Services Manager, California Schools JPA
• Kristy Coleman, CRM, ARM - Director of Risk Management, Warner Bros. Discovery
• Cristian Iglesias, ARM - Manager of Risk Services, The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated
• Jeff Stolle, ARM - Vice President, Risk Management & Treasury, Castle & Cooke, Inc.
• Tony Quinones, RIMS-CRMP, ARM, AIC-M - Director, Risk Strategies & Compliance, Walt Disney World & Disney Cruise Line
• Catrina Gilbert - Vice President, Risk Management, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• Tyler Vaughan - Global Risk Manager, Cook Group

To learn more about the Spencer-RIMS Risk Management Challenge and other opportunities, resources and content for risk management and insurance students, visit RIMS Student Resource Center at https://www.rims.org/students.

For more information about the following, visit the corresponding website:
The Spencer Educational Foundation - www.SpencerEd.org
RIMS - www.RIMS.org
RISKWORLD - www.RIMS.org/RISKWORLD

About the Spencer Educational Foundation:
Founded in 1979, the Spencer Educational Foundation is dedicated to funding the education of future leaders in risk management and insurance. Spencer has awarded over $11 million in scholarships and more than $11 million in grants to support universities and students worldwide. Through scholarships, grants, and experiential programs, Spencer advances academic excellence and strengthens the global talent pipeline.

For more information about the Student Risk Management Challenge and Spencer's programs, visit www.spencered.org.

About RISKWORLD®
Launched in 1963 as RIMS Annual Conference & Exhibition, RISKWORLD® attracts some 10,000 risk and insurance professionals at all experience levels, business executives with risk management interests, brokers, insurers and service providers for the ultimate learning and networking experience. The four-day. RISKWORLD experience offers more than 150 learning opportunities, keynote presentations, special events, and an expansive Marketplace with hundreds of solutions providers - all with countless opportunities to engage and elevate the risk community. RISKWORLD 2026 is scheduled for May 3 - 6 in Philadelphia. RISKWORLD 2027 is in New Orleans from April 18 - 21.

About RIMS
RIMS, the risk management society®️, empowers risk professionals to make the world safer, more secure, and more sustainable. Through networking, professional development, certification, advocacy, and research, RIMS serves more than 200,000 risk practitioners and business leaders from over 75 countries. Founded in 1950, the Society publishes the award-winning Risk Management Magazine, RIMScast podcast series, and produces RISKWORLD®️, the largest annual gathering of global risk professionals. RIMS welcomes all risk professionals to explore the online Risk Knowledge library, earn the RIMS-CRMP certification, and connect with the global risk community via the RIMS Engage online forum. Follow RIMSorg on X, Facebook, Instagram, and RIMS on LinkedIn. To support the future of the risk management profession, visit RIMS, The Foundation for Risk Management®. To learn more or to join, visit www.RIMS.org.

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