Bermudian Judy Tacklyn has been awarded an elite scholarship to attend the annual RIMS conference in New Orleans.

Mrs. Tacklyn, who is a Bermuda Foundation For Insurance Studies (BFIS) scholarship student, was selected as one of only 25 students from across North America for the Anita Benedetti scholarship, which is awarded by the Risk Insurance Management Society (RIMS).

The conference - which is hosted by the Society - is taking place this week and attracts thousands of insurance executives every year.

This year more than 8,000 people are attending the conference which this year focuses on "Managing Risk Worldwide".

Catherine Lapsley, BFIS executive director said that only the top students from colleges with insurance and finance programmes are eligible for the Bendetti scholarship. In addition to the opportunity to attend RIMS sessions and meet with a cross-section of people from the industry, Mrs. Tacklyn is also be honoured at the conference for her outstanding academic achievements.

Mrs. Lapsley told The Royal Gazette that Mrs. Tacklyn started her insurance education at the Bermuda College in the two year business administration programme, majoring in insurance.

After Bermuda College, Mrs. Tacklyn - who is in her early thirties, and the mother of two small children - went on to the University of Hartford doing a double major in insurance and finance. Mrs. Tacklyn is do to complete her degree in May and Mrs. Lapsley said she has maintained a 3.8 GPA.

The Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies was created in 1996 by a group of leaders from Bermuda's insurance industry. BFIS is a non-profit organisation, which provides insurance education opportunities for Bermudian students who wish to develop their careers in that sector.