Candidate Campaigns

We highly encourage all candidates to email your campaign ideas and self-introductions to Sarah Bloemer (sbloemer@wisc.edu) to post on the Actuarial Club’s Website before April 28th. Click here and navigate to the Website Campaigns section to find a detailed list of what to include in your email.

Aidan Bandte

Hi everyone! My name is Aidan Bandte, and I’m running for President of the Actuarial Club.

Over the past three years, I’ve loved being actively involved in leading and organizing our club from behind the scenes. During my first two years, I had the chance to learn and develop under two strong VPs on the engagement committee. Along the way, I’ve also had a blast getting to know many of you and building strong connections that have made this club a meaningful part of my college experience.

This year, I’ve enjoyed stepping into the VP role and leading the engagement committee. As a VP, I worked to ensure our social events appealed to a wide range of interests, offering a unique variety that helped boost turnout and create more opportunities for people to get involved. I also built out our intramural process to make it easier for members to form teams and connect through the fun of competing together.

Working alongside officers across all parts of the club has given me a clear understanding of how each role functions and how everything fits together behind the scenes. Altogether, I believe my experiences have prepared me to make the jump to President next year!

As President, I want to tap into the amazing sense of community we’ve built in the lounge (RIP) and during our many events, and make sure it carries over into our classes and shared exam struggles. With our officer team, I’ll work to keep strengthening our unique balance of connecting with employers, giving back to the community, and having a good time.

Thanks for your support and consideration :)

AC Zylka

Hello! My name is AC Zylka and I’m running for President of the Actuarial Club.

Throughout my time in this club, I’ve come to realize just how much it has to offer. From participating in every intramural I can, to attending countless employer presentations, I’ve learned so much about all of the members of our club, including myself. I’ve spent hours in the ‘Actuarial Lounge’ studying with you, laughing with you, and — of course — playing games with you. This community has become incredibly important to me, and it’s pushed me to get more involved and give back in every way I can. Whether it’s helping to plan events, welcoming new members, or simply being a reliable presence in the lounge, I’ve truly enjoyed being part of what makes this club feel like home.

Last year, I was fortunate enough to serve on the volunteering committee, where I got a firsthand look at what goes into planning events and saw how the VP of Finance supports the club behind the scenes.My time on the committee, along with my growing passion to support the club inspired me to run for the position. Serving as VP of Finance this past year has given me the chance to collaborate closely with the other VPs, whether in officer meetings or through one-on-one conversations, and really understand what it takes to manage different parts of the club. With my diverse experiences, I am more than prepared to lead this club as your president.

As president I’ll focus on strengthening our connections with other clubs such as RMIS, which shares our industry and interests. I’ll stay focused on maintaining the amazing culture of community, friendship, and work ethic that embodies our Actuarial Club. With the support of our club members and the amazing VPs yet to be elected, we will introduce new, engaging events and continue the unmatched energy that makes our club so special.

Thank you for your time, and I will see you in the lounge!

Clarence Ma

Hi everyone! My name is Clarence Ma and I’m running for the Vice President of Finance of the Actuarial Club. I’m currently a freshman majoring in Finance, Investment and Banking, but I also want to declare a major in Actuarial Science next year.

I just joined the club this year, but I already have had a lot of good memories here. I love engaging with the weekly common thread gathering, as I’m impressed by how our current VPs can think of such unique topics for every event. I also enjoyed the fun volunteering activities we have here. Events like the “Letters for Love” were really fun for me not just for my personal interest in visual art, but also because they made me feel the positive emotional value we were creating for others.

I was on the finance team for the students’ government in high school for two years. I’ve had a lot of experience making budgets, negotiating with school leaders, and creating financial reports. There were a lot of challenges in organizing events in a small private school, since we had a limited number of students to attend and still had to manage to break even. Still, I always prioritized our students’ experience and made sure to consider different groups of people’s needs. I’m proud to say that I made the budget for our most costly and successful Halloween party, while still managed to secure a positive net income for the students’ government!

As VP of Finance, the first thing I will do is to set up new scholarships for our club members. My plan is to provide a scholarship of 300 for every member who gets an internship, to cover their travelling fees. Also, I want to create a more customized membership system. While the full membership remains $30, with all scholarship privileges included, another option of $15 partial membership will also be offered, for those who want to attend club events but do not take exams. To finance this project, I will utilize the financial talents of our members to make more profitable investments, as well as collaborate with other clubs to hold fund raiser events open to the whole campus. I promise we will all have a year of fun and financial well-being.

Thank you so much for your time!
Fun fact: I’m a practice of modern origami for 8 years :)

Aidan Zilge

Hello! My name is Aidan Zilge, and I am running for Vice President of Communications of the Actuarial Club. I am currently a freshman studying Actuarial Science and Risk Management & Insurance.

The actuarial club has become nothing short of home for me. Although I have only been on campus for two semesters, my involvement on the social media committee of the club and continuous participation in our events has not only taught me significant lessons in life and leadership (my favorite event), but it has also created amazing memories I hold very close. From watching Nate sprint to the bookstore before a 303 quiz, to a walk-off turkey at bowling, to learning sheepshead with AC and Chase, to laughing and sharing during our lunch discussions, it has been incredibly rewarding to be a part of this club both professionally and personally.

As previously mentioned, I was fortunate to be selected as a member of Ethan’s committee, the Social Media committee. My responsibilities consisted of writing the blurbs for our club LinkedIn page, primarily featuring our amazing employer presentations. This position required me to stay organized, attentive, and keep an incredible calendar of all of our events (thank you Sarah for your inspiration). Additionally, just this past semester I was able to gain some newsletter and website insight as a communications committee member of RMIS. I was able to understand the importance of creativity in newsletters and how I can hone my overall communication skills. As VP of Communications, I intend to bring my proficiencies from these valuable experiences and strengthen our amazing community by implementing a similar idea I really enjoyed from RMIS newsletters: a member spotlight. For our newsletters, I want to put a section on the bottom that highlights our talented members, their accomplishments, and anything they would be happy to share.

Thank you for reading and considering me for the role of Vice President of Communications!

Stephanie Hayd

My name is Stephanie Hayd, and I am excited to run for Vice President of Finance and Volunteering!

This year, I have had the privilege of serving as the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This role has given me a deeper understanding of how the Actuarial Club operates and reinforced my passion for improving the community around us—whether by hosting discussions on DEI topics or, next year, organizing impactful volunteer events.

With experience as the Treasurer of my high school’s National Honor Society and as a former bank teller, I have developed a strong attention to detail in managing funds. As VP of Finance, I will ensure that budgets are allocated appropriately to each committee, allowing the club to function smoothly and ensuring all initiatives have the financial resources needed to succeed. I will manage the club’s finances with precision, transparency, and timeliness. Thanks to support from the Career Development Fund, we’ve been able to offset some of the costs of employer presentations, and I anticipate that we will not need to raise dues. I also plan to explore additional fundraising opportunities, such as a club merch drop, to generate extra funds that can go toward supporting any new initiatives the club takes on.

Beyond financial management, I am deeply committed to community engagement. Volunteering has been a passion of mine since elementary school, and I am eager to expand the club’s outreach efforts. As VP of Finance and Volunteering, I hope to host more events in Grainger to make participation more convenient for members. I also plan to provide snacks at events to create a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere. I understand that volunteering can sometimes feel like just another task, but my goal is to make our events as fun and social as possible while still making a meaningful impact. Whether through supply drives or hands-on service projects with local organizations, I will work to create opportunities that not only benefit the community but also strengthen the bonds among our members. Volunteerism is essential to being an engaged member of the greater Madison community, and I look forward to building lasting connections with nonprofits throughout the area.

I would be honored to serve as your Vice President of Finance and Volunteering and would greatly appreciate your support!

Lincoln Sonntag

Hi everyone! I’m Lincoln Sonntag, and I’m running for Vice President of Social Media and Marketing for the Actuarial Club.

This club has been a meaningful part of my college experience, and I’d be excited for the opportunity to represent and grow our community online helping more students discover everything we have to offer. Currently, I serve on the social media committee managing our TikTok page, and through that, I’ve seen the potential of a strong online presence to reflect the energy, achievements, and personality of our members while reaching people who might not yet know what actuarial science or our club is all about.

As VP, I’d focus on continuing and building a strong and consistent presence across LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok—each with its own style. I’d keep our LinkedIn professional and polished, highlighting employer events and club updates. Meanwhile, I’d continue to keep our TikTok fun and engaging, showing off the personality of the club while starting to spotlight the incredible things our members do—whether it’s the number of companies who come to recruit us or the unique opportunities and resources we offer. I’d also prioritize increasing awareness of the platforms we already have—especially our alumni page, which has huge potential as a tool for networking, learning, and career exploration.

With the lounge space going away next year, I believe social media can help fill that gap by keeping our community connected, sharing resources, and maintaining the fun, supportive vibe we’ve built together. I plan on making Instagram and TikTok stories a very active part of these updates and channels of communication.

I’m committed to being organized, reliable, and collaborative—whether it’s leading a committee or supporting other officers to amplify their events and ideas. Thanks for your time and consideration! I’d be honored to help strengthen the club’s presence and community in this role.

Audrey Kaiser

My name is Audrey Kaiser, and I’m excited to be running for Vice President of Communications for next year. I’m currently a sophomore majoring in Actuarial Science and Risk Management & Insurance.

The Actuarial Club has truly become like a second family to me. This year, I’ve become even more involved and had the chance to connect with so many new members. I’m excited to continue my involvement and building even more friendships within the club.

Last semester I had the opportunity of serving as a class representative. That role gave me a behind-the-scenes look at how the officers and their committees work together to make each semester a success. It also laid a great foundation for my involvement in the club, and I’m excited about the possibility of taking it to the next level.

In addition to my involvement with the club, I’ve developed strong communication skills through my job, where I’ve learned the importance of professional email etiquette and effective communication techniques. Whether it's crafting clear and concise messages or anticipating future questions to make communications more efficient these experiences have helped me become a confident communicator—something I’d bring to the VP of Communications role.

If elected as VP of Communications, I plan to keep our members connected and informed about the current events surrounding the fast-changing world of insurance and actuarial science. As future actuaries, staying updated on industry trends isn’t just important, it’s essential.

Thanks so much for reading, and I hope to see you at elections!

Ethan Farr

Hello everyone! My name is Ethan Farr, and I’m excited to be running for VP of Educational Enrichment and VP of Member Relations and Engagement for the 2025–2026 academic year.

Over the past two years, the Actuarial Club has been a huge part of my college experience. Whether through the mentorship program, playing on intramural teams, attending Lessons in Life and Leadership, or attending employer presentations. I’ve had the chance to grow both professionally and personally. In my first year, I was on the volunteering committee, and I truly appreciated being able to plan and attend a variety of events. Currently, I serve as VP of Social Media and Marketing, where I’ve had a front row seat to all the passion, creativity, and potential our club has to offer.

This experience has given me a bird’s eye view of our club’s inner workings and I’m ready to dig even deeper into what makes this club special by strengthening our events, expanding opportunities, and continuing to make every member feel welcome and valued.

My Goals

As VP of Educational Enrichment

Develop Career Understanding: Strengthen our involvement with SOA and CAS events. Jodie has laid a great foundation, and as the incoming CAS ambassador, I’m ready to continue that momentum and offer new ideas from the inside.
Expand Exposure: Organize more experiences like career treks and guest speaker events to give members a closer look at the actuarial profession in action.
Practical Learning: Workshops and panels that will provide exposure to technical tools, exam prep strategies, and emerging industry trends.

As VP of Member Relations & Engagement

Creative Socials: I want to go beyond the basics and host creative, inclusive events.
Keep Sports Strong: Our sports events are already a hit, and I plan to continue that through events and strong intramural programs.
Community Focus: Build lasting connections not just within the club, but also with the broader business and actuarial community through joint events with clubs like RMIS.

At the heart of everything I do is a commitment to making this club even stronger, more inclusive, and more exciting for every member. I’d be honored to serve in a larger role and put these ideas into action.

Thank you for your support, and remember:
With Ethan, we will go Farr! 🚀

Jonathan Rust

Hey everyone! I’m Jonathan Rust, a sophomore studying Actuarial Science and Risk Management & Insurance. I’m excited to announce that I’m running for Vice President of Engagement and Vice President of Social Media for the upcoming year!

Since joining the Actuarial Club last year, I’ve loved spending time in the lounge and going to events that make this big campus feel smaller. Being on the engagement committee showed me how much thought goes into events that bring members together. As VP, I want to help strengthen those connections and give others the same experience I’ve had in this community.

Along with my time on the engagement committee, where I’ve helped plan and support social activities, I’ve also served as VP of Marketing for DECA this year. I created event reminders, photographed and edited photos, and posted recaps on Instagram and LinkedIn. Through that, I’ve learned how to balance officer responsibilities with listening to members to create inclusive experiences. These skills have prepared me to help grow the club into an even more welcoming space.

As VP of Engagement, I want to build on what’s worked this year by strengthening events with high participation and improving areas with potential. I’d also like to introduce more recurring opportunities for members to connect, similar to our March Madness tournament this spring, and create ways for members to vote on certain socials to feel more involved.

As VP of Social Media, I want to promote connections between first-years, actives, inactives, and alumni. With my experience in photography, digital design, and content creation, I believe we can highlight our community and encourage more involvement. From day of reminders, to recap posts, and to weekly calendars social media can boost participation among those new to the club and help alumni stay connected with the org.

Thanks for all the support so far and I’d love the opportunity to keep building something great with all of you!

Avery Tipps

Hey, my name is Avery Tipps, I am a freshman, and I am running for VP of Member Relations and Engagement!

This year, I have been active in the club as a member of the Engagement Committee. Throughout this year, we have planned many successful socials, such as the Pumpkin Carving Social and the Bowling Social, both of which I had the opportunity to lead. Being on the committee has not only been a great introduction to our welcoming club culture, but has allowed me to see behind the scenes on how such a strong culture is built and maintained.

My main goals as the VP of Member Relations and Engagement would be:

Expanding Outreach: Through the newsletter and our engaged members and professors, we have done a great job this year to advertise our socials for our members. However, by working with the Social Media Committee, and taking pictures or creating fun videos at our events, we can increase our engagement with our current members, and hopefully inspire those who might be considering joining by showing off our amazing club culture!
Member Feedback: As a growing club looking for more and more ways to bring our members together, feedback from our own members can help our committee plan events that will bring the most engagement. To gather this feedback, we would attach feedback forms to the attendance forms at socials to be completed after the event. Totally voluntary and anonymous, but a good way to learn more about our own members!
Address The Lounge (Or Lack Of): With the lounge under renovation for all of next year, many members are wondering where we’ll hang out and study. As VP, I’d be committed to advocating for a dedicated space. If a permanent spot isn’t possible, rotating weekly meeting spots — whether in Grainger or unique study spots around campus — could become a fun way to explore and stay connected!

As someone who values relationships and community in every aspect, I would be dedicated to continuing and expanding our welcoming club culture in every way possible. Thank you for your consideration!

Noah Kempf

Good afternoon,

I’m Noah Kempf, a junior running for VP of Educational Enrichment.

I’ve been around the club for quite some time and have seen a thing or two. I have a clear vision for the future of EE, and one that introduces new ways to engage students and help them prepare for their careers.

While the lounge, a staple of EE events, will unfortunately be gone, I see this as an opportunity. Rather than hanging our heads, we can explore new, informal ways of networking that not only fill the current gap, but could become a new tradition.

Looking ahead, I want to bring a new spin to some of our events to give students real-world preparation in a low-pressure, collaborative way. For example, an Actuarial Club Case Competition, even though done before through CCLB, could be brought about as a more casual, team-bonding experience. I also believe a Faculty Panel or event could be an awesome way to connect students with our incredible faculty, where they can offer advice we don’t always get in the classroom.

With my prior experience as a VP and my time serving on the EE committee, I’ve gained valuable insights into what makes an event impactful. I want to create more opportunities to leave a lasting impact on students, as they have already done for me.

Thank you for your time and consideration!

Arham Shahzad

Hello! My name is Arham Shahzad and I am running for the VP of Community and Belonging.

Well I transferred into UW Madison in the Fall of 2024 and its been a pleasure being part of the Actuarial Science Club since. Through out the past year, I have been working under Anthony as a member of the Communications Committe. I was solely responsible for creating the slides with the list of upcoming events that you all viewed and loved the past year. However, this year I decided to take on a more active role in the Actuarial Science Club and no position suits me better than the one I am running for.

As the VP of Community and Belonging I aim on taking a few initiatives this upcoming year. Some of these include but are not limited to helping underrepresented students achieve their goals by extensively researching into the opportunities and scholarships offered by organizations such as the OLA scholarship, Actuarial Diversity Scholarship and communicating them to the members of the club by creating a DEI Resource Hub with all the resources and potentially a list of deadlines. Moreover, I will also integrate DEI topics into events by incorporating short spotlights into General Club meetings . Lastly, I would organize events aiming to bridge the gap between students and companies who place importance on diversity within the Actuarial Force.

Overall, my goal is to make DEI feel less like an occasional focus and more like a continuous thread woven into everything the Actuarial Club does.