The Standard Awards First Actuarial Scholarship to Morgan Student Jeremiah Creasey

Scholarship Program Aims to Foster Diversity in the Actuarial Profession

In early 2023, Standard Insurance Company (The Standard), a leading provider of financial protection products and services, announced an exciting partnership with Morgan State University to support students pursuing degrees in actuarial science. This partnership led to the creation of a new scholarship program aimed at fostering greater diversity in the actuarial profession and providing meaningful opportunities for aspiring actuaries.

The first recipient of The Standard’s actuarial scholarship is Jeremiah Creasey, a first-year student at Morgan State University who aspires to build a successful career as an actuary in the insurance industry. Jeremiah was awarded a renewable, four-year scholarship valued at $5,000 annually, totaling $20,000 over his undergraduate career.

In addition to financial support, the scholarship program includes a paid internship at The Standard, enabling participants to gain hands-on industry experience. Interns earn income while working part-time during the school year or full-time over the summer, exploring how actuarial science is applied in real-world scenarios. They also gain insight into The Standard’s organizational culture and career opportunities. Jeremiah is set to intern at The Standard during the summer of 2025.

Over the past year, The Standard has strengthened its engagement with Morgan State University, thanks in part to the efforts of Carl Holland, a Second Vice President of Client Management in Employee Benefit Sales and a local resident near Morgan’s campus. Holland joined the School of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences’ Actuarial Scholarship Advisory Board, where he connected with Jeremiah and other actuarial science students. Through his efforts, Morgan students have gained access to additional resources, including networking opportunities through the National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA). Holland also facilitated visits from members of The Standard’s Actuarial Community of Practice (ACP), who served as guest lecturers at campus events, sharing their expertise and insights with students.

The idea for this scholarship emerged as part of The Standard’s broader Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategy to promote diversity within the actuarial field. Members of the ACP collaborated with the company’s Human Resources and Community Relations teams to establish the scholarship program, which seeks to reduce barriers to entry into the actuarial profession and raise awareness of The Standard as a potential employer for diverse talent.

Looking ahead, The Standard plans to award a second four-year actuarial scholarship to a Morgan State student in late 2025.

Morgan State is the only historically Black college or university in the nation to offer a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science. Launched in 2008, Morgan’s actuarial science program is housed within the School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences' Department of Mathematics and has produced more than 50 graduates since its inception.

Congratulations to Jeremiah Creasey for becoming the first recipient of this transformative scholarship and paving the way for future Morgan scholars!

*Pictured (left) is Carl J. Holland, second vice president of Client Management in Employee Benefit Sales, and (right) Jeremiah Creasey.