Awards and Scholarships for Actuarial Science Undergraduates

Awards

Taylor Awards in Actuarial Analysis and Academic Performance: Mr. Robert H. Taylor wishes to encourage all students in the department (as well as students outside the department) to pursue scholarship in the actuarial profession. Accordingly, Mr. Taylor established this fund to support annual awards to be given to the University of Iowa students who demonstrate excellence in research and academic performance. Students win this award and are recognized at our annual Knowler-Taylor Awards Day in the Spring semester. These awards also include a financial gift.
View award recipients

Knowler Awards for Outstanding Achievement: Professor Lloyd A. Knowler came to the University of Iowa as an undergraduate student in the late 1920's. He completed his Ph.D. in Mathematics here in 1937, and was appointed to a faculty position in the Mathematics Department (Actuarial Science was taught in the Math Department until 1965). He retired in 1978, but remained active in our Department until his death in 1990 at the age of 82. In addition to his interest in Actuarial Science, he was a founding member of the American Society of Quality Control. Students win this award and are recognized at our annual Knowler-Taylor Awards Day in the Spring semester. 
View award recipients

Department-sponsored Exam Awards: The department has funds from numerous scholarships to give students awards for those who pass SOA Exam P, SOA Exam FM, SOA Exam MLC, SOA exam MFE and SOA Exam C.  Students can apply here.

Scholarships

All students admitted to the Actuarial Science program are considered eligible for the Lloyd Knowler Scholarship, Principal Financial Group Foundation Scholarship, Harold W. Schloss Memorial Scholarship, D. W. Simpson & Company Scholarship, Towers Watson Scholarship and the Transamerica Scholarship.  Each scholarship has recommended guidelines that the scholarship committee follows to make these awards. 

Lloyd A. Knowler Scholarship: Professor Lloyd A. Knowler came to the University of Iowa as an undergraduate student in the late 1920's. He completed his Ph.D. in Mathematics here in 1937, and was appointed to a faculty position in the Mathematics Department (Actuarial Science was taught in the Math Department until 1965). He retired in 1978, but remained active in our Department until his death in 1990 at the age of 82. In addition to his interest in Actuarial Science, he was a founding member of the American Society of Quality Control. The fund for this annual $2,500 scholarship was established through the UI Foundation by the American Society for Quality Control, State University of Iowa Section, in the name of Professor Knowler. It is awarded to students in Actuarial Science and Statististics based on academic merit and future promise, as nominated by the department.
View recipients

Richard D. Pearson Scholarship: This generous scholarship has been provided by Mr. Pearson (B.A., 1973).  His wish is that the scholarship be given to a midwestern student, defined as a graduate of a high school within Iowa or contiguous states.  It is awarded to a student in Actuarial Science and Statististics based on academic merit and future promise, as nominated by the department.
View recipients

Principal Financial Group Foundation Scholarship: The Principal Financial Group Foundation has generously provided a student scholarship to the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science for many years. For the fall, 2017 the student selected will receive a $5000 scholarship. Based upon current academic record and success on exams, the student recipient will be selected prior to each academic year by the department.
View recipients

Harold W. Schloss Memorial Scholarship: In November 1984, the Harold W. Schloss Scholarship was established by the Casualty Actuarial Society as a memorial to Mr. Schloss, a past president of the Society. The fund for this annual $500 scholarship stipend was initiated by Mr. Schloss' wife, Frances A. Schloss, and their children. The scholarship is being used to benefit deserving and academically outstanding students in the actuarial program of the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at the University of Iowa. The student recipient will be selected each spring by the Trustees of the CAS Trust, based upon the recommendation of the department.
View recipients

D.W. Simpson & Company Scholarship: D.W. Simpson & Company, Inc., has established a scholarship program to assist students who are majoring in Actuarial Science. Based upon current academic record and success on exams, the student recipient will be selected prior to each academic year by the department and receive $1000.
View recipients

Towers Watson Scholarship: To assist actuarial science students, Towers Watson has established a scholarship program, not only to represent their commitment to our department and our students, but also to signal their belief that our Actuarial Science Program is among the best in the nation.  Currently this scholarship has been pending and no awards have been designated.
View recipients

Transamerica Scholarship: Transamerica (formerly known as AEGON) has established a scholarship program to assist outstanding students who are majoring in Actuarial Science. Based upon current academic record and success on exams, the student recipient will be selected prior to each academic year by the department and receive $3000.

Charles E. and Eleanore G. Wilson Scholarship: This fund was established with numerous gifts from Charles E. and Eleanore G. Wilson.  Charles E. Wilson was born in 1921 in Ottumwa Iowa, and he graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1937.  He graduated from The University of Iowa with a B.A. degree in actuarial mathematics in 1941.  He served in the United States Army Air Corps from 1941 to 1946, served during the Korean Conflict and remained active in the Air Force Reserve.  He was employed by the Equitable Life Assurance Society for 15 years, and then he joined the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA-CREF), retiring in 1986.  He and his wife, Eleanore, moved to Florida and then to Air Force Village, San Antonio, Texas, in 1995.  Together they established the Charles E. and Eleanore G. Wilson Scholarship to make it possible for deserving undergraduates to attend the University.  Charles related that he was hitchhiking one day in 1937 and was picked up by a University of Iowa graduate.  Mr. Wilson told the driver his story:  that he could not attend college for lack of money, even though he had been the co-valedictorian of his graduating class.  The driver suggested they go to Iowa City and talk to the dean of students.  The outcome was that Mr. Wilson received a place to live in the co-op dorms, a $0.25 per hour job in the library, and a $100 tuition scholarship.  He never forgot that and wanted others to have the help he received.  We are very grateful he appreciated his opportunity for a higher education, and has extended that opportunity to others.  Charles Wilson died in December 2002.  Eleanore Wilson died in April 2010. 
View recipients

CIGNA Foundation Scholarship: CIGNA has established a scholarship program to assist outstanding students who are majoring in Actuarial Science. Currently this scholarship has been pending and no awards have been designated.

Casualty Actuarial Scociety Scholarship:   The objective of this scholarship is to further students' interest in the property/casualty actuarial profession and to encourage the pursuit of the CAS designations. Casualty Actuarial Society Scholarship:

Actuarial Foundation Scholarships

The Actuarial Foundation currently supports four scholarships, three of which our students are eligible for: The Actuarial Diversity Scholarship, the Actuary of Tomorrow Stuart A. Robertson Memorial Scholarship, and the Curtis E. Huntington Memorial Scholarship.

  • The Actuarial Diversity Scholarship: The Actuarial Diversity Scholarship was formed in 1977 as a joint effort by the Casualty Actuarial Society and the Society of Actuaries. The door to the actuarial profession has been opened to hundreds of minority students over the years. In 2008 this Scholarship program was transferred to The Actuarial Foundation to further strengthen, increase and to assure the continuation of a diverse, high quality actuarial candidate pool through awards of the Actuarial Diversity Scholarship. This Scholarship promotes diversity through an annual scholarship program for Black/African American, Hispanic and Native American Indian students recognizing and encouraging academic achievements by awarding scholarships to full time undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree that may lead to a career in the actuarial profession. The 2010 Scholarship Application and Guidelines will be available in the fall. For additional information contact The Actuarial Foundation at: Scholarships@ActFnd.org Application due date: 5/1/2015; Scholarship notification date: 8/3/2015.  See more at: http://www.actuarialfoundation.org/programs/actuarial/act-diversity.shtm...
  • Actuary of Tomorrow Stuart A. Robertson Memorial Scholarship: Stuart A. Robertson, FSA, MAAA, a distinguished actuary, passed away on November 4, 2005 at the age of 87. Mr. Robertson co-founded the actuarial and consulting firm Milliman & Robertson (now Milliman, Inc.) over 50 years ago, together with Wendell Milliman. Mr. Robertson served as CEO and Chairman of the firm for many years prior to his retirement in 1983. He was also active in the actuarial profession, serving on the Society of Actuaries Board of Governors and in other capacities. A scholarship fund was established in 2006 in Stuart Robertson's name at the Actuarial Foundation to honor his dedication to excellence and to recognize his tremendously positive influence on the professional lives of many colleagues. Funding is being provided by Milliman, Inc. and by several of Mr. Robertson's colleagues and friends. The Actuary of Tomorrow Scholarship recognizes and encourages the academic achievements of undergraduate students pursuing a career in actuarial science. Applicants must be a full-time undergraduate student entering as a sophomore, junior or senior, must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on 4.0 scale) and must have successfully completed two actuarial exams. The Actuarial Foundation provides an award of $7,500 for education expenses at any accredited U.S. educational institution. Application due date: 6/1/2015; Scholarship notification date: After 8/1/2015.  See more at: http://www.actuarialfoundation.org/programs/actuarial/robertson.shtml#st...
  • Curtis E. Huntington Memorial:  The Curtis E. Huntington Memorial Scholarship (formerly The John Culver Wooddy Scholarship) was established to recognize the remarkably positive impact Huntington had on his students and on the actuarial profession. - See more at: http://www.actuarialfoundation.org/programs/actuarial/curtis-huntington.... Application due date: 6/19/2015; Scholarship notification date: After 8/21/2015.