CICA Announces 2024–2025 Student Essay Contest Topics

The Captive Insurance Companies Association (CICA) has announced the topics for its 2024–2025 Student Essay Contest. The contest invites two-person student teams to address real-world challenges in the insurance market using captive insurance solutions. Winners will present at the 2025 CICA International Conference, to be held March 9–11, 2025, at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona. Sponsored by Hylant Global Captive Solutions, the contest offers cash prizes, and winning essays will be published.

CICA President Dan Towle said, "The captive industry continues to experience rapid growth, and we need top talent to help create the innovative and effective solutions organizations are looking for. Our CICA Essay Contest lets students see first-hand how captives work and learn about the diverse career opportunities our industry offers."

Students will select one of three case studies, each involving a unique set of risks. Participants are required to design a captive insurance structure to mitigate those risks. The case studies were developed by Hylant, which will also mentor the students throughout the contest.

Case Study Topics:

• Acadia Field: a stadium with a 100,000 seating capacity that is dealing with rising insurance premiums and limited coverage for key risks.
• Seagrass Lodges: a group of 15 oceanfront hotels facing premium increases across several key coverages.
• Choose Your Industry: participants select an industry (e.g., health care or renewable energy) and identify emerging risks for a specific type of organization.

The competition offers a $2,500 prize for the first-place winners, $1,500 for second place, and $1,000 for third. In addition to cash prizes, the winning teams receive free conference registration and publication of their essays.

Previous CICA Student Essay Contest winners include the following.

• 2024: Bailey Sims and Harrison White, Butler University
• 2023: Olivia Faulkner and Zane Smith, Saint Mary's University
• 2022: Matia Daskalos and Vincent Palmieri, Temple University
• 2021: Ashley Martin and Max Bernstein, Saint Joseph's University
• 2020: Megan Moore and Natalie Kojababian, University of Southern California
• 2019: Angel Song and Alana Vicale, Temple University

More information, including submission deadlines and entry requirements, can be found on the CICA website.