College of Business Students Utchhash and Donahue Named Finalists in AM Best’s Student Challenge Competition

Akron, Ohio – AM Best recently named Tausif Utchhash and Connor Donahue of The University of Akron College of Business as finalists in its 2025 Student Challenge competition. The nationwide competition challenges risk management and insurance students with creating innovative solutions for catastrophe risks.

Utchhash and Donahue earned their spot as finalists with their project, “Dynamic Inventory Management App for Homeowners,” developed to address major inefficiencies in the homeowners' insurance claims process, particularly those exacerbated by the increasing frequency of extreme weather events like hurricanes and wildfires.

“The app simplifies personal property management by enabling real-time property valuation and dynamic coverage adjustments,” shared Utchhash. “It also automates claims submission, reducing manual effort, speeding up claim resolutions and minimizing the risk of fraud.”

The AM Best Student Challenge encourages undergraduate and graduate students to think beyond the classroom, fostering thought leadership and innovation in insurance and risk management. The competition provides students with valuable exposure to industry professionals, enhances their résumés and introduces new talent to the field.

“(Professor Latoria Hamilton’s) classes provided deep insights into the challenges currently facing the insurance industry, including rising underwriting losses, prolonged claims processing times and the increasing threat of insurance fraud,” shared Utchhash. “The discussions around key industry metrics, such as the net combined ratio, helped us understand the financial pressures insurers are facing. This motivated us to develop a solution that not only streamlines the claims process for policyholders but also enhances operational efficiency and helps insurers mitigate underwriting losses.”

As one of three finalist teams, Utchhash and Donahue will compete against students from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business and Florida State University.

Finalists will receive an interview with AM Best TV, a feature in Best’s Review magazine, recognition on AM Best’s social media channels, access to an AM Best professional for feedback on their solution’s development, and an academic medal and trophy.

To view a video on the Student Challenge, please go to http://www.ambest.com/StudentChallenge.

The competition is sponsored by the AM Best Foundation, which supports educational initiatives and thought leadership in insurance and risk management.

Story by CoB Marketing.

Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-972-6476 or cboyd@uakron.edu.