Econ, actuarial math major wins Malm Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Writing on Japan

Robert Pobocik, an April 2022 graduate and honors economics and actuarial mathematics double major, has won the 2022 Malm Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Writing on Japan. Pobocik is the first UM-Flint student to achieve this honor, which is awarded by the Center for Japanese Studies at U-M Ann Arbor.

As part of Dr. Gregory Laurence's Special Topics on Japan course, Pobocik composed a research paper exploring the link between culture and economy in Japan, specifically relating to the country's economic bubble of the 1980s and 90s. In accordance with Malm Award requirements, Laurence submitted the paper for consideration. A $500 cash prize is granted with the recognition.

Pobocik plans to become an actuary after graduation, and praises UM-Flint for offering him challenging courses as well as the support to succeed in them. This combination has prepared him well to enter the professional world.

"I learned a lot here at UM-Flint and that means a lot to me," Pobocik explains. "I feel like I really improved my writing skills. I enjoyed my mathematics classes, and probability and statistics."

Pobocik chose UM-Flint thanks to the affordability that comes with a quality Michigan education. He was awarded a full-tuition honors scholarship after being admitted, which made UM-Flint a natural choice to continue his studies. All admitted students are automatically considered for merit scholarships.