ACE Bermuda has declared the first year of its Select Internship programme a “resounding success. The 12-week programme saw six Bermudian university students gain experience in the insurance industry and develop their leadership, teamwork and professional skills.The students gained experience in ACE Bermuda’s three main product lines - excess liability, professional lines, and property - and participated in professional development workshops, networking events and a community service project at WindReach.The students showcased what they learned during the 12-week internship in a presentation to management at a closing ceremony yesterday.“We are delighted to have offered an internship that prepares students to embark on careers in insurance,” Rees Fletcher, Division President, ACE Bermuda said.“I am proud of our interns who have worked extremely hard to build their understanding of ACE, the Bermuda market and the global insurance industry. The first ACE Select Internship has been a resounding success. We look forward to welcoming back to Bermuda members of the team, as full-time ACE or industry employees in the years to come.”The six students who participated in the 2013 ACE Select Internship are: Chelsea Lines (Bentley University), Nikki-Lynn Marshall (Boston University) Dominique Richardson (Barry University), Justin Sousa (University of Tampa), Richard Voaden (Birmingham University) and Seth Wilson (University College London). R“The ACE Select Internship has been an invaluable introduction to ACE and the Bermudian insurance industry. We’ve had access to many networking and professional development opportunities, alongside a great deal of knowledge about the process of underwriting,” Richard Voaden said.“At times the work was challenging, but the continued support and encouragement provided by ACE often led me to exceed the expectations I had of myself prior to the beginning of the internship. The information and contacts gained during our time with ACE provide us with a fantastic basis upon which to construct a career in insurance. However, many of the skills picked up during these 12 weeks resonate farbeyond this; and I’m sure will be drawn on again later in our careers. As our internship draws to a close, I look back on it with gratitude and pride for being given such an opportunity and for how far I’ve come.”Nikki-Lynn Marshall, student at Boston University said: “This internship has been one of the most rewarding experiences! As someone who loves to be challenged and hates to be bored, this internship offered a balanced mix of teaching and hands-on experience, providing me with a range of skills. I learned about policies, exposures, and risk appetites of the different underwriting lines, whilst on a practical level our mentors encouraged us to participate in meetings and work on individual accounts. The internship also helped me to sharpen my professional skills and understand the dynamics of a corporate environment.“In terms of personal challenges, working in a team was definitely the hardest aspect for me as I have always considered myself to be an independent worker. However, my development in this area is shown by the fact that I am most proud of our collaborative pieces of work.”