Slippery Rock Student to Receive PASSHE's Top Academic Honor

Abby Becker earns 2026 Ali-Zaidi Award

Harrisburg, PA - Slippery Rock University student Abby Becker, who will graduate at 19, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). The Board of Governors will honor Becker at its quarterly meeting April 16, 2026, and present her with a $2,500 award.

Becker is a student in SRU's Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, majoring in mathematics with minors in statistics and business administration. Her success highlights the State System's role in preparing highly skilled graduates for in-demand fields such as actuarial science, data analytics and finance.

PASSHE's 10 public universities serve more than 83,000 students.

"Abby's achievements show the power and promise of a PASSHE university education," said Cynthia Shapira, chair of the Board of Governors. "The Ali-Zaidi Award recognizes students who excel in the classroom and contribute to their communities, and Abby exemplifies both. Graduating at 19 while completing rigorous coursework and industry exams is an extraordinary accomplishment."

A member of SRU's Honors College, Becker has excelled in one of the university's most demanding academic pathways and will graduate this spring at age 19. She previously earned an Associate of Science in mathematics from Jamestown Community College while still in high school.

"Abby is a powerful example of our students' talent and determination," said Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino. "Across our universities, students are taking on big challenges and achieving at a high level. Abby's drive, paired with academic excellence and professional readiness, embodies the State System's value and impact."

At Slippery Rock, Becker's academic program combines advanced theoretical coursework with applied training in actuarial science, statistics, finance and data analytics.

Beyond the classroom, Becker passed two Society of Actuaries exams, Probability (P) and Financial Mathematics (FM), within six months, a rare achievement for an undergraduate student. Each exam typically requires hundreds of hours of preparation and serves as a key credential for entering the actuarial profession.

"Abby's selection as the Ali-Zaidi Award recipient is a remarkable achievement that reflects her exceptional dedication, intellect and impact," said SRU President Karen Riley. "On behalf of the SRU community, we are incredibly proud of Abby and congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition. This affirms her accomplishments as a student and sets an even higher standard of excellence for all we strive to reach here at The Rock."

In addition to her academic work, Becker holds leadership roles across campus. She is secretary of Gamma Iota Sigma, an actuarial fraternity, where she organizes professional development programming and supports peers preparing for actuarial exams, and is parliamentarian for the Statistics Club, assisting students with research planning and departmental engagement.

"Winning this award is really exciting, and it shows how great Slippery Rock University is," said Becker. "Yes, I put in the work, but I've benefited from so many amazing people and resources here at SRU. The math program is fantastic, and every professor has helped me in some form, whether it's getting an internship or networking and attending a conference, there's been a lot of participation by others that has set me up for success in the future."

Becker, who is the second SRU student to win the Ali-Zaidi Award and the first since 2014, has secured a full-time job as an actuarial analyst at Erie Insurance, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Erie. While working there, she plans to pursue a master's degree in actuarial science through an online program at Boston University.

The Ali-Zaidi Award is presented annually to one graduating senior from a State System university who demonstrates exceptional academic achievement and leadership. Established in 2001 by founding Board of Governors member Syed R. Ali-Zaidi, the award recognizes students who excel both in and beyond the classroom.

Other nominees for this year's award include Emma Wonsick, Commonwealth University; Caroline Hughes, East Stroudsburg University; Marisol Gonzalez Flores, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Skyler Jordan, Kutztown University; Timothy Lerch, a finalist from Millersville University; Jordan Wiedman, PennWest University; David Boatwright, a finalist from Shippensburg University; and Gianna Parrish, West Chester University.

About PASSHE
Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) is the public university system of the commonwealth with a mission to provide a high-quality education at the lowest possible cost to students. The State System annually confers more than 20,000 degrees and has more than 800,000 living alumni, most of whom live in Pennsylvania. The State System universities are Cheyney, Commonwealth (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield), East Stroudsburg, Indiana, Kutztown, Millersville, PennWest (California, Clarion and Edinboro), Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester universities of Pennsylvania.