By Wangui Njau
(njaucatherine@gmail.com)
Thumbnail Photo Courtesy of Stacy Wangari.
Stacy Gichuhi Wangari, a third year Bachelor of Science in Acturial science major, has been appointed as the vice-chairperson of the Actuarial Students’ Society of Kenya (ASSK).
The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certificate holder and a member of the Daystar University Actuarial Science Association (DUASA) state that this will be an opportunity to fellow DUASA members, hence the urge to take it up.
“I knew the position will create more opportunities for me especially in the Actuarial market and also it would open doors for Actuarial students in Daystar especially when it came to things like internship so I decided to go for it,” says Stacy.
Her major tasks will be taking charge of the society in the absence of the chairperson and maintaining records on its membership. First on the list is overseeing a project where the ASSK in association with the corporate career academy has been looking into bridging the gap between students and the industry. This is to be achieved through a series of monthly meetings coupled up with various guests from all over the industry- including Safaricom’s George Odera.
Vincent Gitonga, the newly appointed Chairperson of the society is focused on creating opportunities for students under it through “exploring as many options as possible.” In his agenda also is to increase networking opportunities for members, despite the challenges due to the pandemic.
Stacy reckons that her main challenge is the coordination of students from the 18 member universities distributed across the country. However, having been a member of the society, her experience so far allows her to gain exposure as she interacts and connects with the giants in the industry in the hopes of giving back to her fellow actuaries.
Formed in 2013, the ASSK is a registered society with the registrar of societies under the office of the attorney general of Kenya. Its main objective has been providing a platform for Actuarial students to grow academically, professionally, and socially by networking with Actuarial professionals in the industry and fellow Actuarial students on all campuses in Kenya.