October 2, 2019
Twenty-one students from St. John’s University’s School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science (SRM) earned a total of nine awards at the 48th Annual International Conference of Gamma Iota Sigma, including the Edison L. Bowers Award, the highest recognition bestowed by the organization.
Norean R. Sharpe, Ph.D., Dean of The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, Joseph H. and Maria C. Schwartz Distinguished Chair, and Professor of Decision Sciences, noted, “We are extremely proud of our business undergraduates and of David M. Pooser, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Risk Management and Insurance. This is an indication of the quality of both our students and faculty here at Tobin.” The SRM is part of the Tobin College.
Winning the Bowers Award was especially gratifying to Brandon W. Sweitzer, Dean of the SRM, who said that the award is typically presented to student chapters from much larger university programs.
“St. John’s students have reached the peak of the mountain with a much smaller cohort,” he said. “Kudos to them and to Dr. Pooser, who has patiently guided and enhanced the SRM Gamma endeavor.”
Established in 1972, the Edison L. Bowers Award is the oldest of the national awards conferred by the Grand Chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma. It recognizes the chapter that demonstrates an exceptional, well-rounded, and organized program over the past academic year. The award competition culminates with student presentations at the annual Gamma conference.
St. John’s chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma, Alpha Iota, also won the Bowers Award in 2016.
Alpha Iota was also recognized as a Superior Chapter—the highest tier of the organization’s rankings—making it one of only seven chapters to receive this designation. The Alpha Iota chapter was honored with two “Black and Gold” awards, which recognize innovative programs and events.
“Winning these awards, especially the Bowers Award, means the world to me,” said Katherine R. Ross, a senior majoring in Quantitative Risk and Insurance and President of the Alpha Iota chapter. “It means that our goal of preparing students to be their best selves personally and professionally is coming through.”