Andrew is a May 2020 UNI graduate who majored in Statistics and Actuarial Science, with a minor in Finance. He started at UNI in the fall of 2018 and completed his degree two years later.

Andrew came to UNI as a traditional age student, although he wasn’t a typical student as he had already earned two associate degrees while in high school. At UNI, he continued to be a top honors student, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPA and with the distinction in peer education while working as a math tutor. Andrew completed an internship at Athene USA during the summer of 2019 and was offered a full-time position as an Actuary Associate upon graduation.

As an intern, he was part of the model validation team that worked on ensuring that annuity contracts were consistent with the models used to value the contracts and diagnose potential issues. He was also an active member of the UNI Actuarial Science Club, a math tutor and PLUS leader. Upon graduation, he will continue to work in Athene’s model validation department to ensure that the calculations in the models are accurate.

Andrew’s professional goal is to earn his ASA (Associate of the Society of Actuaries) before he turns 21 years old. At the time of graduation, he had already passed five actuarial exams (P, FM, IFM, LTAM, STAM) and sat for the sixth exam (SRM) a few days after graduation in May 2020.

Academically, he challenged himself knowing that he had the support of his friends, family, professors, and the entire math department. Furthermore, he received financial support while in college, which allowed him to manage his academic workload. He was the recipient of multiple scholarships, including: UNI Distinguished Scholars Award, UNI Science Symposium Award, Elks Legacy Award, Iowa Grocers F. William Beckwith Scholarship, John and Marie Carter Scholarship, and Prairie Meadows Scholarship. Andrew is grateful for the community support, which he intends to pay forward in the near future by creating an endowed scholarship for high school and college students.

In his free time, Andrew enjoys running long distance - he ran his first half marathon in November 2019.

Why did you decide to become an Actuary?

I always knew that I wanted a mathematics career, as early as elementary school, but it was not until near the end of high school that I decided to become an actuary, after consulting my uncle who works in a similar field and Professor Syed Kirmani. To reach my goal of becoming an actuary, I was determined to pass numerous actuarial exams at a rapid pace. In May 2018, during my senior year of high school, I passed my first actuarial science exam, exam P. When I started my college search, I knew that I wanted to attend a college or university that was a good fit. After visiting UNI, meeting with the math and statistics department faculty, and being familiar with the area, I was confident in my decision to go to UNI and continue to pursue my studies in Actuarial Science.

What are your thoughts about our actuarial program?

The UNI Actuarial Science program opened many doors for me. Each of my professors supported me by providing and recommending supplemental study materials in order to prepare for the actuarial exams. Furthermore, the staff assisted in the selection of courses that lined up with the Actuarial exam sequence and they provided me the opportunity to take additional math courses, aligning with my personal goals. The professors at UNI were instrumental, as they provided me individual support, promptly answered my questions, created projects with numerous learning opportunities, facilitated valuable career connections and challenged me to be a better student.

Who are the people who have made a major impact on your education?

I would not be here without the Statistics and Math departmental staff, as they were essential toward achieving the success that I have found over the past two years. I am extremely grateful for their support and guidance, especially Professor Syed Kirmani, who helped me to plan my program of study along the Actuarial exam process. In addition, I would not be where I am without the support of my friends and family, specifically my parents, who assisted me in the initial planning of courses and exams.

What are your favorite UNI experiences?

I had many UNI experiences that I will remember. My experiences in the Actuarial Science and Math clubs, as well as my work as a math tutor and PLUS leader allowed me to meet interesting people and engage in many fun activities. My favorite time of year was during the fall, specifically during homecoming, as it is the time of year that highlights most of what it is like to be a Panther in this supportive, family-like community.