What is the Rick Weaver Award (RWA)?

Rick Weaver was a 1973 graduate of East Longmeadow High School, where he was an All American in the 100 meter breast stroke. A record he held for 30 years. He was a Toast Master, a boat builder, a sailor and most importantly, an underwriter…

For more than 30 years Rick served the underwriting profession. He was a member of Home Office Underwriters (AHOU) Executive Council and driving force behind development of AHOU.org. A website which continues to grow and provide educational content. He also volunteered his time for the Academy of Life Underwriting (ALU) where he designed exam questions and developed curriculum.

His underwriting peers remember him as an excellent communicator, an inspiring mentor, a good friend, great teacher, a consummate professional, a strong proponent of continuing education in the underwriting profession, and in possession of a fabulous sense of humor.

It is for all of these that we, the NEHOUA, created an award on his honor.


How to Apply for the Rick Weaver Award

The winner of the Rick Weaver Award will be sponsored by NEHOUA to attend the Annual AHOU Meeting held in Anaheim, CA, May 4th-7th 2025. The award includes coverage (up to $2,000 reimbursed) for the conference fee, three-night hotel accommodations, and airfare.

It is the NEHOUA Committee’s mission to promote education for underwriting talent, and we are pleased to offer the Rick Weaver Award to a deserving underwriter. We will start accepting applications June 17, 2024.

To be considered for the Rick Weaver Award, applicants must complete an essay not to exceed 1,500 words, double spaced, on any underwriting topic of their choice (non-medical, medical, financial, etc.). The essay must also provide a basis for why the topic was chosen and a recommendation for how to underwrite the topic selected.

For those of you who prefer a given topic, this year’s is “Use of psychedelic medications in the treatment of mental health.”

All essays must be submitted by September 1st 2024. Applicants must provide their full name, title, company, phone number and how long they have been an underwriter.

To qualify, the applicant must meet one of the following criteria:

  • Be an underwriter located in the Northeastern U.S.,
  • Be an employee working for any of our NEHOUA Sponsors,
  • Be a NEHOUA member,
  • Be involved in day-to-day underwriting production and NOT hold a management position.

Please direct submittals and any questions to: [email protected]

We look forward to reviewing your essay submissions!


NEHOUA’s Rick Weaver Award Committee:

  • Greg Carcione, Lincoln Financial
  • Cynthia Landry, Swiss Re
  • Janelle Millburg, John Hancock

Rick Weaver Award is sponsored by: