Fanshawe students win National Insurance Competition

A team of students from Fanshawe’s Lawrence Kinlin School of Business won the 2026 NextGen Risk: Insurance Case Competition hosted by the Insurance Institute of Canada last week in Calgary.

Run by the IIC’s Insurance Career Connections division, the national competition challenged 14 teams from colleges and universities in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario to deliver a presentation focused on fire risk mitigation and coverage for a fictional client in Northern Alberta – a region where wildfire and remote infrastructure pose real-world concerns for the insurance industry.

The success of Fanshawe’s team— Jeff Bowden, Hollie Knott, Jaedyn Laanstra and Nate Williamson—reflects a powerful collaboration between the Insurance and Marketing programs, combining technical insurance expertise with strong marketing strategy and presentation skills.

The students invested countless hours learning about risk management and refining their recommendations, culminating in the presentation that earned them a $4,000 prize.  

Stacey Swartz, professor and coordinator of Fanshawe’s marketing programs, coached the team alongside Zan Vania who coordinates and teaches the College’s Insurance programs. Stacey says the team’s hard work paid off, impressing judges and industry professionals alike.

“This was a proud moment for our students,” she says. “Our marketing students stepped well outside their comfort zone, committed fully to the process and truly supported one another. The insurance students brought their wealth of knowledge to the event and wowed the judges. Together they were unstoppable!”

Following the awards ceremony, the team attracted significant attention from sponsors and employers, with several industry representatives eager to connect and discuss future opportunities.

“Zan and I had a great time coaching the team,” says Stacey. “We are so proud of them. They are truly ‘Falcon Awesome’!” 

Some of the students involved in the competition shared their thoughts:

"I wanted to express how grateful I am for the support of my teammates and the incredible coaches. I never thought of insurance as a topic I could compete in, but between the help of my teammates and the professors at Fanshawe putting in extra hours to help me learn, we brought home that first place win. This win belongs as much to me as it does my coaches and those professors. It was also pretty cool to outperform Ivey university students (like U of T) enrolled in masters programs!"
-Jeff Bowden, Business Marketing student

"Representing Fanshawe College in a national competition was a major highlight of my education. As a marketing student, the insurance sector felt like a foreign language to me, but my teammates were essential in helping me navigate the complexities of the industry, turning that challenge into a national victory. Our success proved that a fresh perspective and strong collaboration can lead to great results. The experience showed me that stepping outside of your comfort zone is exactly where you discover what you're truly capable of. I loved every second of it and would jump at the chance to do it all over again.”
-Jaedyn Laanstra, Business Administration Marketing student 

"I am incredibly honoured to have been a part of such an astronomical team. This experience would not have been the same without each and every one of my teammates. Working alongside such a dedicated and talented group of people made the journey even more meaningful. I am grateful for every one of my teammates especially everything I have learned from each of them, along with the challenges we overcame together and the support we had along the way from our coaches. This was truly an unforgettable experience, and I am so proud of what we accomplished as a team."
-Hollie Knott, Business Insurance student

"Representing Fanshawe College at the Insurance Institute Next Gen Risk Case Competition was an incredible experience. It pushed us to apply our knowledge to real-world challenges, and winning first place on a national stage alongside such a strong team, with the support of our coaches, is something I'm incredible proud of."
-Nate Williamson, Business Insurance student