AM Best has extended the deadline for the 2026 Student Challenge to Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. This provides even more undergraduate and graduate-level students with the opportunity to develop and showcase innovative solutions for risk management and insurance.

The Student Challenge, which offers a prize component this year for the first time, calls for participants to generate ideas in one of three areas: Monitoring AI Risk and Claims; Expanding Flood Coverage and Meeting the Needs of the Gig Economy.

Participants will be vying for:

• First prize of $5,000, second prize of $3,000 and third prize of $2,000
• A donation of $5,000 to the school of the first-place team
• An interview with insurance industry media network AM Best TV
• A feature article in Best’s Review magazine
• Recognition on AM Best’s social media channels
• An academic medal and trophy

Students can read further information in AM Best’s 2026 Student Challenge Handbook. First-round submissions are due Oct. 20, 2025, with final-round submissions due Jan. 22, 2026. Winners will be notified April 9, 2026.

Student submissions will be reviewed by AM Best Rating Services professionals, then narrowed down to three finalists. Submissions will be judged based on degree of innovation, feasibility, impact, implementation plan and more.

In addition to the 2026 Student Challenge, AM Best offers internships and an Analytical Development Program as ongoing initiatives to support the development of new talent in the insurance industry.

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.

Copyright © 2025 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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