A Celebration of Academic Excellence in Risk Management and Insurance
The American Institute for CPCU and the Insurance Institute of America congratulate the top graduates of the Institutes’ CPCU and IIA educational programs for their outstanding academic achievement.
This website recognizes and celebrates the truly exceptional performance of these students.
The Distinguished Graduate Award is presented to the graduate with the highest cumulative grade averages on the examinations in each of our designation and certificate programs.
Awards for Academic Excellence are presented to the graduates with outstanding cumulative grade averages on the examinations in each of our designation and certificate programs.
Award winners receive a commemorative plaque and monetary award. The sponsors of the academic awards, leading national associations and professional societies affiliated with the property-casualty insurance and risk management industry, provide the monetary award to the winners.
Program in General Insurance (INS)
Distinguished Graduate Award
Abby Cave, INS
State Farm Insurance Company
Earth City, MO
Awards for Academic Excellence
Kathleen Coburn, INS
Surplus and Excess Lines Ltd.
Smyrna, DE
Jeffrey T. Peloquin, INS
Guilford Specialty Group
Hartford, CT
Accredited Adviser in Insurance (AAIŽ) Program
Distinguished Graduate Award
William Prentiss, AAI
IGT
Reno, NV
Awards for Academic Excellence
Andrew Rawls Golub, AAI
Onpoint Underwriting
Atlanta, GA
Christopher Franklyn Huber, AAI
Harden & Associates
Tampa, FL
Associate in Claims (AIC) Program
Distinguished Graduate Award
Vicki Green, AIC
Great American Custom Insurance Services
Cincinnati, OH
Awards for Academic Excellence
Susan P. Cornelius, AIC
State Accident Fund
Columbia, SC
Eric M. Demarest, AIC
Farmers Insurance
Olathe, KS
Associate in Commercial Underwriting (AU) Program
Distinguished Graduate Award
Chad C. Ogren, AU
Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange
Lenexa, KS
Awards for Academic Excellence
Kathleen M. O'Driscoll, AU
Harleysville Group
Hatfield, PA
Matthew J. McGraw, AU
Liberty Mutual
E Syracuse, NY
Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding (AFSB) Program
Distinguished Graduate Award
Kristopher D. Tinker, AFSB
Travelers Companies, Inc.
Fort Wayne, IN
Awards for Academic Excellence
Kenneth Parker Smith, AFSB
Gray Surety
Birmingham, AL
Associate in Information Technology (AIT) Program
Distinguished Graduate Award
Kenneth J. Krieg, AIT
Hortica
Edwardsville, IL
Awards for Academic Excellence
Mary A. Auberger, AIT
Great American Insurance Company
Cincinnati, OH
Associate in Insurance Accounting and Finance (AIAF) Program
Distinguished Graduate Award
John Hamilton Thompson, AIAF
Federated Mutual Insurance Company
Owatonna, MN
Awards for Academic Excellence
Andrew D. Schmidt, AIAF
Nationwide Insurance
Des Moines, IA
Associate in Insurance Services (AIS) Program
Distinguished Graduate Award
Debra A. Maddux, AIS
American National Property & Casualty
Springfield, MO
Awards for Academic Excellence
Maggie A. Schoenwandt, AIS
Foremost Insurance Company
Grand Rapids, MI
Sean Patrick Halladay, AIS
Associate in Management (AIM) Program
Distinguished Graduate Award
Michael A. Wykes, AIM
Auto-Owners Insurance Company
Lansing, MI
Awards for Academic Excellence
Tammy Konzem, AIM
State Farm Insurance Company
Greeley, CO
Associate in Marine Insurance Management (AMIMŽ) Program
Distinguished Graduate Award
Sheila A. Morris, AMIM
American Association of Insurance Services, Inc.
Wheaton, IL
Awards for Academic Excellence
Steven D. Olseen, AMIM
Cottingham & Butler Claims Services, Inc.
Dubuque, IA
Associate in Personal Insurance (API) Program
Distinguished Graduate Award
Nancy L. Quinn, API
Liberty Mutual
Fairfield, OH
Awards for Academic Excellence
Douglas V. Goldstone, API
Metlife Auto & Home
Dayton, OH
Lori Weismantel, API
Auto-Owners Insurance Company
Lansing, MI
Associate in Premium Auditing (APAŽ) Program
Distinguished Graduate Award
Monte Steven Blain, APA
Chandler (USA)
Chandler, OK
Awards for Academic Excellence
Margaret Penado, APA
SCF Arizona
Phoenix, AZ
Associate in Regulation and Compliance (ARC) Program
Distinguished Graduate Award
William C. Riedley, ARC
Farmers Group
Simi Valley, CA
Awards for Academic Excellence
Monte G. Richards, ARC
Cottingham & Butler Inc.
Dubuque, IA
Associate in Reinsurance (ARe) Program
Distinguished Graduate Award
Carolyn Y. Parker, ARe
AmWins Group, Inc.
Birmingham, AL
Awards for Academic Excellence
James R. Weiss, ARe
ISO
Jersey City, NJ
Mallory Jordan Straka, ARe
Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC
Atlanta, GA
Associate in Risk Management (ARM) Program
Distinguished Graduate Award
Steven M. Kappenman, ARM
Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company
West Des Moines, IA
Awards for Academic Excellence
Chad C. Nice, ARM
Zurich Direct Underwriters
Overland Park, KS
Julie A. Ekdom, ARM
Bartlett Actuarial Group Ltd.
Phoenix, AZ
Associate in Risk Management for Public Entities (ARM-P) Program
Distinguished Graduate Award
Cathryn J. Bernoskie, ARM-P
City of St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, FL
Excellence 2009 
