2013 Diversity Essay Contest

The CPCU Society Diversity Committee is sponsoring our fifth annual Diversity Essay Contest.

For the first time in history, we have four generations in the workplace: silent, baby boomer, Generation X, and Generation Y/millennial. Over the next decade, the insurance industry will be faced with a challenging problem: millions of silent generation and baby boomers will reach retirement age and leave the industry, resulting in the loss of a substantial body of knowledge. While new employees from other generational groups are entering the industry, the pace of entry is not significant enough to fill the gap. We need to look for solutions to this problem to attract individuals with diverse perspectives while also retaining the knowledge of our seasoned professionals.

Considering this dilemma, please answer the following question:
How can we attract and leverage the diverse talents of four generations in the insurance industry and CPCU Society?

In its efforts to diversify CPCU Society membership, the CPCU Society Diversity Committee is seeking ideas and guidance from both members and nonmembers. Please participate in this essay contest and provide us with your thoughts on the above question. 

We appreciate the efforts of past essay contest winners who continue to submit entries each year. However, in an effort to encourage additional participation, individuals who have won a prize in the past two years are welcome to submit essays but are ineligible for prizes.

Deadline:   June 30, 2013

— Download Entry Form —

Submit Your Essay

Send emails only please to diversityessaycontest@cpcusociety.org and attach your essay and cover sheet in Microsoft Word format to your email. If you wish to verify receipt of your essay, please provide your email address. If you do not receive an email notification within seventy-two hours, please send us a follow-up email.

Prizes

FIRST PRIZE:
Fully paid registration for winning entrant and guest at the CPCU Society Annual Meeting and Seminars in New Orleans, LA, October 26 to 29, 2013, plus a $500 cash prize. Registration includes The Institutes' conferment ceremony, general sessions, seminars, receptions, CPCU Society Expo, and final night celebration.

SECOND PRIZE:
Fully paid registration for one at the CPCU Society Annual Meeting and Seminars in New Orleans, LA, October 26 to 29, 2013, plus a $300 cash prize.  Registration includes The Institutes' conferment ceremony, general sessions, seminars, receptions, CPCU Society Expo, and final night celebration.

THIRD PRIZE:
$300 cash prize.

Judging Criteria

Essays will be judged on both style and content. Judges will look for writing that is clear, articulate, and logically organized. The winning essays must demonstrate an outstanding grasp of the meaning of diversity and answer the question posed.

Essay submissions will be evaluated in a fair and unbiased three-round judging process. Judges will be individually selected by CPCU Society Diversity Committee members based on a demonstrated knowledge and understanding of diversity. To ensure the anonymity of our participants, essay cover sheets will be removed prior to judging, and each essay will be given a code for future identification. Authors’ names will not be disclosed to the judges until after the contest winners have been selected.

Rules

In concert with the CPCU Society’s support of ever-increasing professionalism throughout the property-casualty insurance industry, the Diversity Committee is opening the essay competition to all entrants: CPCU Society members and nonmembers.

• A cover sheet must be included with each essay; however, the author’s name may not appear anywhere in the essay. The cover sheet includes a permissions agreement related to the essay and to photos of essay winners. Ensure that you are willing to agree to that statement before submitting your essay.

• The essay must be solely the work of the entrant.

• The essay must be emailed no later than June 30, 2013.

• Decisions of the judges are final.

• Employees of the CPCU Society, The Institutes or its affiliates, and members of the CPCU Society Diversity Committee and Leadership Council and their immediate family members are not eligible for this contest.

• Winners will be notified in mid-August 2013.

View the 2012 Diversity Essay Contest Winners!