2019 Modeling the Future Challenge Recap

The Actuarial Foundation is excited to share that the second annual Modeling the Future Challenge was a huge success. A total of 191 teams including 873 high school junior and senior students participated this year, with student teams working to develop mathematical models of how future cures or treatments for diseases may affect our lives. The teams embraced the challenge and prepared projects on renal denervation as a treatment for resistant hypertension, CAR-T cell therapy as an emerging treatment for blood cancers and how the bioartificial kidney could impact kidney disease.  Their work was tremendous, and we applaud all of our participants this year for their efforts.

The Challenge culminated in a Symposium in Chicago on April 11 and 12, where the nine semi-finalist teams presented their final papers to a panel of actuary judges. The winning team from Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California, was awarded a $25,000 scholarship for their work on Stem Cell Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes. The second, third and fourth place teams were awarded $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. Students from each winning team will share the scholarship awards, which will be sent to the colleges of their choice.

Other highlights of the Modeling the Future Challenge Symposium included the “Ask An Actuary” session on Thursday afternoon and a Friday morning presentation by Brock Reeve, MPhil, MBA, Executive Director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, on “Pricing the Priceless.” These opportunities to connect with and hear from business professionals about real-world work and math-related career options were invaluable to students.

The Modeling the Future Challenge was made possible with the generous support of Founding Sponsor Roy and Georgia Goldman, Executive Sponsor Lincoln Financial Group, Champion Sponsor RGA, Event Sponsor Rick and Bethany Jones and Educator Grants Sponsor John Hanson Family Foundation.

We are proud to support this national scholarship competition aimed at introducing the actuarial profession to high school students, and we look forward to our third annual Challenge next year!