Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

A team of undergraduate students from St. John’s University’s Peter J. Tobin College of Business, Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science, achieved second place in the 2025 National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA) National Talent Development Competition. The event was held virtually from October 15 to 21.

The St. John’s team included Shaunte Boxil, Christopher St. Louis, Max Mason, and Precious Onuoha. They competed against other university teams across the United States and worked with an insurance employer partner, Amerisure. Their assignment involved creating a strategic business plan for launching insurance solutions tailored to the creator economy and presenting their recommendations to a panel of NAAIA industry judges.

The competition is in its ninth year and aims to encourage Black and African American students to pursue careers in insurance and risk management by connecting them with corporate partners and industry leaders. Judging criteria included analytical skills, creativity, professionalism, and the ability to present actionable business solutions.

Basil Thompson, Professor at Tobin’s Greenberg School of Risk Management and coach for the St John’s NAAIA Team said: “Our students demonstrated exceptional analytical thinking, collaborative teamwork, and professionalism. Their performance reflects the caliber of talent Tobin develops—students who can translate theory into practical, high-impact solutions for industry.”

St. John’s University highlighted that participation in this competition supports Tobin College's focus on experiential learning by providing opportunities for students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings while engaging with professionals in the field.