College students will address real-world commercial insurance market challenges with captive insurance solutions.
MINNEAPOLIS ─ SEPT. 16, 2025 ─ The Captive Insurance Companies Association (CICA) has announced its case study topics for its 2025-2026 College Student Essay Contest, Captive Insurance Solutions for Today’s Risk Management Challenges. Finalists will receive cash prizes and present their winning papers at the 2026 CICA International Conference, March 8-10, at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, California. Additionally, all finalist teams will have their essays published in Captive Insurance Times. The contest is sponsored by Hylant Global Captive Solutions (Hylant GCS).
“The phenomenal growth of the industry has provided more opportunities than ever for young professionals to enter the captive industry. We need to continue to promote the industry and provide opportunities to develop incoming talent. Our CICA Essay Contest gives college students an exciting way to learn about the diverse career opportunities this rewarding and fast paced industry offers,” CICA President Dan Towle said.
Two-person student teams will select one of three case study topics for the competition. Students will analyze and design a captive insurance structure to address the case study’s prime insurance risks and explain the rationale behind their conclusions. The case studies were developed by the Hylant GCS team, who will also provide mentorship for the students.
Case Study Topics
- Diamond Cruise Line – The newest cruise line tours across the world with 10 ships, 15,000 employees, and the capacity to hold 3,000 guests on each. With increasing insurance premiums and limited coverage options from traditional insurers, Diamond Cruise Line is deciding to explore captive insurance to manage their risks related to safety, weather, operations, employees, technology and more.
- The Corner Basket – A regional grocery store chain is preparing to expand into two more states with 100 new locations. Undertaking a comprehensive review of its insurance program, The Corner Basket faces a range of challenges, including workplace safety concerns, supply chain disruptions, regulatory compliance requirements, and cybersecurity risks.
- Newbies Baseball League – The not-for-profit organization partners with schools throughout the Midwest with 7,200 players across four states and is growing. Newbies Baseball League would like to explore captives to manage property damage for each ballpark they use, general liability, theft, crime coverage, and auto liability for new transportation buses.
Anne Marie Towle, CEO of Hylant Global Risk and Captive Solutions, said, “It is so important to engage students with this wider exposure to captive insurance and help pique career interest right out of high school and college. That is one of our goals with supporting the CICA student essay contest, so they have opportunities to challenge themselves and see how much they can grow in this industry. Hylant is proud to help provide this experience.”
Contest details, full case study descriptions, entry requirements and award details are available on the CICA website.
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