The Workers' Compensation Institute's 71st annual Workers'Compensation Educational Conference, held Aug. 21-24 at theOrlando World Center Marriott in Florida, once again saw recordattendance numbers.

The event opened Aug. 22 with its general session, during whichWCI General Chairman Jim McConnaughhay welcomed the crowd, andSteven A. Rissman, WCI's program chairman, gave openingremarks.

Scholarships were awarded to students whose families wereaffected by work-related injuries, and National UnderwriterProperty & Casualty honored its Excellence in Workers' Compensation RiskManagement winners for their stellar accomplishments.

Kimberly George, senior vice president of corporate development,mergers and acquisitions, and health care for award co-sponsorSedgwick, and Mark Wilhelm, CEO of award co-sponsor SafetyNational, were on hand to present the winners — Seaboard Foods, SMS HoldingsCorp. and Stater Bros. Markets — with their awardstatuettes.

Doug Clark, director of client services, special investigationunit for Sedgwick CMS, presented a donation of $50,000to Mayor Clayton of Give Kidsthe World, a storybook-themed resort in central Florida forseriously ill children.

(Checkout our video interview with the father of a Wish child whoseexperience at Give Kids the World changed his family's livesforever.)

Read more: The Gift: NU Editor-in-Chief Shawn Moynihan's GiveKids the World speech

Click through for pictures from the first day, and check backtomorrow for pictures from WCEC 2016's showroom floor:

Shawn Moynihan and Jim McConnaughhay at the WCEC 2016general session.

Doug Clark presents Mayor Clayton of Give Kids the Worldwith a $50,000 check of donations raised by this year's conferencevolunteers and attendees.

Mark Wilhelm and Kimberly George presented the NationalUnderwriter Property & Casualty Awards for Excellence inWorkers' Compensation Risk Management to Tamara Ulufanua-Ciraulo,director of insurance administration at Stater Brothers Markets;Greg Mangan, director of safety, employee health and benefitsat Seaboard Foods; and Greg Lorenzi, senior vice president at SMSHoldings Corp.

The industry keynote was delivered by Vincent T. Donnelly,president and CEO of PMA Cos.

The guest keynote was delivered by Steve Spurrier, thewinningest football coach in school history at both Florida andSouth Carolina.