FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois Honored with 2025 NCPERS Champions Award 

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois (TRS) has been named a 2025 NCPERS Champion by the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS), recognizing TRS’s exceptional commitment to trustee and staff education. The inaugural award was presented at the NCPERS Annual Conference & Exhibition in Denver, Colorado, and is part of a national initiative celebrating excellence in public pension governance and leadership development. 

TRS was recognized in the category for pension systems managing more than $50 billion in assets. 

“It’s a privilege to accept this award on behalf of the Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois,” said Stan Rupnik, Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer. “At TRS, we believe deeply in the power of education—not just for our members, but for those who serve them. Being named among the inaugural NCPERS Champions affirms our commitment to learning and knowledge-sharing.” 

TRS serves more than 456,000 Illinois educators and public-school personnel and oversees more than $74 billion in assets. Since its founding in 1939, the system has remained committed to strong fiduciary practices, transparency, and professional growth for both staff and trustees. 

“Strong pension governance takes more than smart investments—it takes informed, collaborative leaders committed to continuous improvement,” Rupnik said. “That’s why NCPERS’ programs are so valuable. They’ve helped our team grow, connect, and better serve our members.” 

NCPERS Executive Director and Counsel Hank Kim applauded TRS’s leadership, stating: 
“We are proud to honor the Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois with the 2025 NCPERS Champions Award. Their proactive approach to education reflects a deep understanding that informed fiduciaries are the bedrock of good governance.” 

Rupnik also recognized the work of TRS leadership and staff: 
“This award belongs to our entire team— the members of the TRS Board of Trustees, under the leadership of Board President Matthew Hunt and Vice President Andrew Hirshman, and all our incredible staff. Your dedication makes our mission possible.” 

TRS congratulates the other 2025 NCPERS Champions Award recipients: 

• American Samoa Government Employees’ Retirement Fund (< $1B) 

• Louisiana School Employees’ Retirement System and Houston Municipal Employees Pension System ($1B–$50B tie) 

ABOUT TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS 

The Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois is the 38th largest pension system in the United States, and provides retirement, disability and survivor benefits to teachers, administrators and other public-school personnel employed outside of Chicago. The System serves over 456,000 members and had assets of $74.37 billion as of April 30, 2025.