To increase awareness of and interest in the wholesale, specialty and surplus lines industry, the WSIA Talent Advocacy and Engagement Foundation is providing financial support for undergraduate U.S. students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) to attend an Extreme Risk Takers Symposium. The symposiums include a career fair, networking opportunities, and educational sessions.

These grants provide free event registration with some food included, one night's shared hotel room, a maximum of $500 per student for travel (mileage reimbursement for personal car, van rental for a group of students and faculty, or flight booked via our WSIA travel agent). The 2025 - 2026 symposiums are:

ATLANTA, GA
Thursday, November 13 (starting at 1:30 p.m.) and Friday, November 14 (ending at 12:00 p.m.)
The Westin Buckhead Atlanta
Grant application deadline October 16, 2025.

LAS VEGAS, NV
Thursday, February 26 (starting at 1:30 p.m.) and Friday, February 27 (ending at 12:00 p.m.)
UNLV and the Embassy Suites Las Vegas
Grant application deadline January 29, 2026.

CHICAGO, IL
Thursday, March 26 (starting at 2:00 p.m.) and Friday, March 27 (ending at 12:00 p.m.)
The Westin River North
Grant application deadline: February 26, 2026

NOTE:
  • Complete and submit this form below to be considered for this grant. Students can submit an individual grant request or one for up to four students. One faculty member can also attend.
  • Students receiving grants must be in attendance for the full program.
  • Students must confirm that they are currently authorized to work in the U.S. and will not now, nor in the future, require sponsorship for an employment-based visa status.

For the latest information on the symposium schedules, click here to go to the symposium web page. If you have any questions, please contact Denise Marshall, denise@wsia.org.

Question Title

* College Name:

Question Title

* City Where Student(s) Will Be Traveling From:

Question Title

* Which symposium do you wish to attend?

If a college faculty member would like to accompany a group of students there is no registration fee and a single hotel room will be provided at no cost for the Thursday of the symposium. Leave this blank if a faculty member is not attending.

Question Title

* Faculty First and Last Name 

Question Title

* Faculty Email Address

Question Title

* Faculty Phone Number

Question Title

* How many students are requesting a grant?

T