Research and Development Center

SARAH

Year in School: Junior at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Major / Minor: Double major in mathematics (with a statistics concentration) and computer science

Extracurricular Activities @ U of I: Ultimate Frisbee

Hometown: Glenview, IL 

Is your hometown known for anything? Chicago’s North Shore is recognized for a variety of things. My high school- New Trier Township High School- is particularly well known. It is renowned for its excellence and competitiveness.

Favorite thing to do on campus: Study while sitting with friends. At Rose-Hulman, you do not have time to do much other than schoolwork, but studying with friends makes it seem more enjoyable.

What do you do in your spare time? I like to do jigsaw puzzles.

Favorite Holiday: Christmas. I love to see everyone sharing a cheerful day with one another.

Favorite Food: Summer fruits, such as strawberries and cantaloupe

Favorite Movie: Monster’s Inc., Lost in Translation, Love Actually, The Prestige

If you could have dinner with anyone from history or present day, who would it be and why? I would have dinner with an older teacher that I really respect. I know that I could get a lot of insight and advice. I appreciate talking to the more experienced people in my life, because I know I can learn from them. Their advice is based on years and years of experience, so it has a strong foundation.

How long have you been working at the RC? This summer was the first time I worked at the research center.

Why did you decide to work for the RC? I was very interested in the actuarial profession, and I knew State Farm would provide a wonderful opportunity to learn more about actuarial and develop some of the skills necessary to be successful in the insurance industry.

What is your project about? I am working on a tool that determines thresholds for large loss auto claims.

What is your favorite thing about working here? There are so many! First of all, the interns’ work is valued and often implemented in different ways throughout State Farm. Also, the internship offers many opportunities to develop different skills, such as public speaking and writing aptitude. I valued the discussions and presentations with State Farm employees from all different departments the most. There is so much to learn from people who have been here for years.