Rookie of the Year Scholarship deadline extended!

6th Annual Al Gross/Jim Long Rookie of the Year Scholarship nomination deadline has been extended to Feb. 28

The Insurance Regulatory Examiners Society (IRES) is sponsoring the 6th Annual Al Gross/Jim Long Rookie of the Year Scholarship for calendar year 2017.

This award is named after two long-serving Insurance Commissioners who passed away shortly after retiring from their positions; North Carolina Insurance Commissioner, Jim Long, and Virginia Commissioner of Insurance, Al Gross. Both of these Commissioners were dedicated to serving their constituents.  In reading about these men, the same attributes came up again and again – dedication, leadership, innovation, and mentorship – neither were afraid to get involved in difficult issues and find solutions by looking outside the box.  Both men were recognized and touted as exceptional leaders by their peers and those who worked for them.

The scholarship will be awarded to four (4) State Regulators (one in each zone) who have demonstrated exceptional promise and professionalism. Recipients will be reimbursed up to $1,000.00 in travel related expenses, as well as waived registration fees, at one of the following programs:

• IRES Foundation National School on Market Regulation: March 12-14, 2017, in St. Petersburg, FL
• IRES Career Development Seminar: August 13-16, in Providence, RI
• MCM (Market Conduct Management) Designation Program

The awardees must be current State Insurance Department Employees with less than 2 years of service as of January 1, 2017. They must demonstrate exceptional promise and professionalism in representing their states as regulators and seek to develop skills through completion of training programs provided by recognized insurance industry institutional programs including, but not limited to, those provided by The Institutes (formerly AICPCU), The American College, LOMA, and the NAIC.

The Society will be partnering with NAIC Zone Officers in the selection process. Each NAIC member may nominate one individual for this award. Nominees should complete the form here, https://go-ires.org/scholarship/al-gross-jim-long/application, with a letter of recommendation from their Commissioner, Director, or Superintendent no later than February 28, 2017.

Nominees and recipients are not required to be IRES members. Members, feel free to circulate this announcement to nonmembers!

We understand the ability to accept the scholarship may vary by state due to ethics consideration; as such, participation by states is voluntary. Should you have any questions please contact IRES Membership and Benefits Chair, Martha B. Long at 573-751-2303 or Martha.Long@insurance.mo.gov or Recognition and Awards Chair, Katie Dzurec-Dunton at 207-624-2666 or Katie.DzurecDunton@cms.hhs.gov.

Know a superstar who may not qualify for this award?
Know a superstar who may not qualify for this award, but deserves recognition?  IRES offers two other awards to recognize outstanding performance by seasoned IRES members–the Al Greer Award and The Chartrand Communications Award.

Sincerely,
IRES Awards and Recognition Subcommittee