AM Best’s 2026 Student Challenge Finalists Deliver Innovative Ideas

March 17, 2026 at 11:30 AM EDT

Fresh insurance and risk management ideas created by finalists in AM Best’s 2026 Student Challenge are highlighted in video presentations online.

The finalists and their topics are:

Faiza Ahmed and Anushka Nagaraj, Temple University - Fox School of Business: Meeting the Needs of the Gig Economy
Samit Bin Alam, St. John’s University - Peter J. Tobin College of Business: Monitoring AI Risk and Claims
Mosharaf Khan and Molly Fitzpatrick, Rowan University - Rohrer College of Business: Meeting the Needs of the Gig Economy

“Each of the ideas we received in the 2026 Student Challenge highlighted students’ knowledge, research and new thinking about current issues in the insurance industry,” said Lee McDonald, AM Best’s senior vice president, publication & news services. “Having the finalists express their ideas in these video presentations helps advance our industry toward the future.”

AM Best’s 2026 Student Challenge is an insurance solution-based competition with the purpose of empowering undergraduate and graduate students. It challenges them beyond the classroom to promote thought leadership and innovation in the field of insurance and risk management. The Challenge provides students with valuable exposure to insurance professionals and gives them experience for their resume, while also introducing new insurance/risk management, accounting and finance talent to the insurance industry.

The finalists will receive:

Prizes ($5,000 for the first-place individual or team, $3,000 for the second-place recipient and $2,000 for the third-place recipient, with prizes divided equally among team members)
An interview with AM Best TV
A feature article in Best’s Review magazine
Recognition on AM Best social media channels
An academic medal and trophy
Coverage in an AM Best press release

AM Best Rating Services, Inc. staff will vote for their top choice of the three finalists, with the winner and runners-up to be announced in Best’s Review on June 1, 2026.

AM Best’s 2026 Student Challenge is one of the company’s ongoing initiatives to support the development of new talent in the insurance industry. AM Best also provides an analytical development program and summer internships.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.