UT Austin Student Team Wins 2026 Spencer-RIMS Risk Management Challenge
The Risky Wranglers advanced from a global field of 53 university teams to earn the top honor at Riskworld 2026.
Risky Wranglers team members Khushi Patel, Shreya Karthikeyan, Aashna Kumar, and Sophia Fente-Damers won the 2026 Spencer-RIMS Student Risk Management Challenge.
A team of University of Texas at Austin students has won the 2026 Spencer-RIMS Student Risk Management Challenge, a global competition that asks university teams to analyze a real-world risk management case and present recommendations to industry judges.
The UT Austin team, Risky Wranglers, includes Sophia Fente-Damers, Shreya Karthikeyan, Aashna Kumar and Khushi Patel. The team advanced to the final round at RISKWORLD 2026 in Philadelphia after being selected from a field of 53 university teams representing 12 countries.
The Spencer-RIMS Student Risk Management Challenge gives students the opportunity to apply classroom learning to complex business scenarios, build comprehensive risk management reports, and present their recommendations to a panel of risk management professionals. The competition is presented by the Spencer Educational Foundation in partnership with RIMS, the risk management society, with support from FM.
This year’s case study was provided by Lakeshore Recycling Systems and focused on risk strategies for the waste industry amid growing fire risks caused by the improper disposal of lithium batteries. Teams were evaluated on their risk identification, analysis, reporting, strategy development, professionalism and innovation.
The Risky Wranglers presenting at Spencer-RIMS Risk Management Challenge.
“I am incredibly excited for the team,” said Prof. Alisa Walch, faculty advisor for the team. “They worked for months researching, preparing their report and presentation and practicing their delivery. By the end, they knew the material so well that they could have a 20-minute conversation about their solution and answer the judges’ questions with ease. It’s gratifying to see that hard work rewarded, especially as Sophia and Khushi graduate this month. It has been an honor to see these students grow and to be part of their journey.”
