Simon Conference Expands to Include High School Sports Analytics Research

The Simon Conference for Young Researchers in Risk Management and Insurance, hosted annually at Michigan State University, has long served as a premier platform for undergraduate, graduate, and early-career researchers to showcase their work. This year, the conference took an exciting step forward by expanding its scope to include sports analytics research from high school students and their mentors—a move that energized the event and set a new precedent for future speaker recruitment.

 

For the first time, students from the Sports Analytics Club Program (SACP) participated, with representatives from Nogales High School (Arizona) and Fordham Prep (New York) delivering high-quality research presentations. Their contributions marked an important milestone, proving that high school students can engage in advanced analytics and provide meaningful insights into the world of sports data. This first-of-its-kind participation is expected to pave the way for more SACP clubs to take part in future Simon Conferences.

The Simon Conference is committed to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for young researchers to exchange ideas, refine their work, and build valuable connections. Named in honor of Ronald H. and Mary Simon, dedicated supporters of actuarial science at Michigan State University, the conference continues to champion young minds in risk management, insurance, and now, sports analytics—helping them achieve their academic and professional goals in Michigan and beyond.

 

This year’s event highlighted the growing impact of data-driven research in sports and the importance of nurturing young talent in this expanding field. As SACP continues to empower students with real-world analytics experience, their presence at academic conferences like this one is only set to grow.

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