Al Gross/Jim Long Rookie of the Year Scholarship
This award is named in honor of two distinguished Insurance Commissioners who passed away shortly after their retirement: Jim Long, former Insurance Commissioner of North Carolina, and Al Gross, former Commissioner of Insurance for Virginia. Both individuals demonstrated steadfast dedication to serving their respective communities. They exemplified commitment, leadership, innovation, and effective mentorship. Neither hesitated to address complex challenges and employed creative strategies to develop solutions. Both individuals earned recognition from colleagues and subordinates for their outstanding leadership qualities,
Applications are open until February 13, 2026; scholarships should be used within the same year they are awarded. IRES will collaborate with each award recipient to ensure the educational scholarship is used in accordance with state, local, and federal guidelines. Each recipient can receive up to $1,500 in reimbursement for travel expenses, and registration fees will be waived for one of the following programs. (held during the award year):
To be eligible, applicants must:
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Applicants must be current employees of a state insurance department with less than two (2) years of service in their present position as of January 1st of the award year.
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Candidates should demonstrate outstanding promise and professionalism in representing their respective states as regulators.
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Individuals must seek to enhance their skills by completing training programs offered by recognized insurance industry institutions, such as The Institutes, The American College, LOMA, and the NAIC
IRES membership is not required. (Please note: Membership in IRES is not included and scholarship funds cannot be used to pay IRES membership dues.)
Thomas L. Reents Memorial Scholarship
The Thomas L. Reents Memorial Scholarship was created to honor the first President of the Insurance Regulatory Examiners Society (IRES). Established in 2016 by IRES and the IRES Foundation, the scholarship was awarded for the first time in 2017.
Mr. Reents had a distinguished insurance career, mainly in regulation, serving with the Nebraska Department of Insurance from 1974 to 1997. He conducted market conduct exams, investigated consumer complaints, and created a senior counseling program. Before that, he worked in both personal and commercial lines in private insurance. After leaving the department, he became a compliance consultant and earned his Certified Insurance Examiner (CIE) designation in 1988.
Applications will be accepted until February 13, 2026. Recipients should utilize the scholarship within the calendar year it is awarded. IRES will assist the award recipient in using their educational scholarship while following all state, local, and federal guidelines. The recipient can receive up to $1,500 for travel expenses, and registration fees will be waived for one of the designated programs.
To be eligible, applicants must:
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Applicants must be current employees of a state insurance department with less than five (5) years of service in their present role as of January 1st of the award year.
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Candidates should demonstrate outstanding potential and professionalism in fulfilling their responsibilities as state regulators.
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Individuals are expected to actively pursue skill development by completing training programs offered by recognized institutional providers in the insurance industry, such as The Institutes, The American College, LOMA, and the NAIC.
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Applicants must also hold a current General membership with IRES.