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WSIA for Students

WSIA offers a variety of educational and outreach programs to support college students interested in working in the excess and surplus lines industry.


Learn more about all of WSIA's student opportunities here.

Check out these resources to learn more

  • Download this flyer to learn about working in the E&S industry and what to expect

What is E&S and What Makes It So Great?   
    
WSIA Internships and Opportunities for Students


A Day in the Life of a Broker   
    
A Day in the Life of an Underwriter

Stay up to date on WSIA opportunities


Internships

Over 40 internships are offered for nine weeks each summer – some geared towards students who have a risk management and/or insurance background and others geared towards students without this background but who are interested in learning more about the wholesale, specialty and surplus lines industry. Students are paid $22 per hour and are provided many benefits including transportation and housing. Learn more here.

Insurance Scholarships 

Each spring, the WSIA Education Foundation awards up to 30 scholarships worth $5,000 each for the next academic year to undergraduate students studying risk management and insurance as part of the Derek Hughes Scholarship Program. Learn more here

Early Career Search Tool

Check out a round up of many WSIA member firms' job opportunities for early career professionals. This search tool lets you narrow your search by member type or you can see a list of all participating firms. 

Symposiums

Four college symposiums are held each year for students primarily studying risk management and insurance, finance or business, although they are open to all majors, and are held in various locations around the country. All include a career fair, networking opportunities with industry professionals, and educational sessions with both young and experienced professionals. Learn more here.

White Paper and Video Contest

WSIA sponsors a White Paper Video Contest for undergraduate college students interested in expanding their surplus lines awareness and knowledge in a creative way. Students can either write an 8-10-page research paper exploring the issues and trends in depth, or create a 3-7-minute video, individually or as a group, presenting research and knowledge in a creative way.  Learn more here.

Four 1st place winners - $2,000 each | Four 2nd place winners - $1,000 each


Campus Presentations

WSIA schedules visits by industry professionals on college campuses where they present information about careers in the wholesale, specialty and surplus lines industry or industry cases studies to classes or GIS chapter meetings. To request a presenter, please complete the College Visit Request Form.

Surplus Lines Fundamentals Online Course

Students and faculty can access an online course to learn why the surplus lines market is needed, how its distribution system works, how surplus lines transactions are regulated and how the surplus lines market is able to successfully underwrite risks that the standard market has declined. Anyone interested in accessing the course should contact Lindsay Holland at [email protected].   

University Grant Program

The Foundation established a grant program to support the growth of both new and established risk management and insurance and actuarial science programs. Grants ranging from $250 - $5,000 are awarded each fall and spring semester to support fundraising events, the attendance at WSIA symposiums, and student events. Learn more here.


Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS) Involvement

WSIA and the WSIA Education Foundation participates in career fairs and educational sessions at the GIS Leadership Symposium, GIS Annual Conference and GIS Regional Conferences. Students can stop by the WSIA table or attend a presentation to receive information about programs and events and to ask questions of WSIA staff. For more information on Gamma Iota Sigma and to learn more about their events, click here.

     

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