The Illinois CPA Society and its charitable partner, the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois, have announced the latest group of young aspiring professionals to complete its award-winning and highly competitive Mary T. Washington Wylie Internship Preparation Program:
| Full Name | College | Hometown |
| Brighet Akinnuwesi | University of Illinois at Springfield | Springfield, Ill. |
| Blessing Arthur | Benedictine University | Woodridge, Ill. |
| Amanda Balaba | Illinois Wesleyan University | Lapu-Lapu, Philippines |
| Aisha Bawany | DePaul University | Morton Grove, Ill. |
| Kelly Benton | DePaul University | Chicago |
| Agustina Cortez | Lewis University | Orland Park, Ill. |
| Devin DeVry | University of Illinois | Aurora, Ill. |
| Natalia Echeverria | Roosevelt University | Chicago, Ill. |
| Janae Fleming | Kentucky State University | Richton Park, Ill. |
| Lauren Frye | Loyola University Chicago | Ypsilanti, Mich. |
| Aisha Garrett | College of DuPage | West Chicago, Ill. |
| Dominique Gay | Loyola University Chicago | Chicago |
| Kenyon Helm | Aurora University | Aurora, Ill. |
| Cedric Holmes | University of Illinois | Olympia Fields, Ill. |
| Elsie Kemigisha | Northern Illinois University | Schaumburg, Ill. |
| Tangela Norals | University of Illinois | Joliet, Ill. |
| Pedro Ocampo | University of St. Francis | Berwyn, Ill. |
| Odalys Ochoa | Lewis University | Summit, Ill. |
| Michael Opoku | Southern Illinois University | Carbondale, Ill. |
| Rebecca Owusu | University of Illinois at Chicago | Romeoville, Ill. |
| Angela Pan | University of Illinois | Naperville, Ill. |
| Aura Perez | Aurora University | Montgomery, Ill. |
| Adriana Quiroz | Saint Xavier University | South Holland, Ill. |
| Anna Ramberg | Augustana College | Cambridge, Minn. |
| Ja’Micah Sawyer | Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago | Chicago |
| Shamak Shah | College of DuPage | Westmont, Ill. |
| Jonathan Silva | DePaul University | Des Plaines, Ill. |
| Destini Simon | University of Illinois | Chicago |
| Helmut Soglohun | Illinois State University | East Moline, Ill. |
| Joi Strickland | Illinois State University | Bourbonnais, Ill. |
| Armani Tubbs | Illinois State University | Chicago |
| Ernest Walker | Governors State University | Lansing, Ill. |
| Jarmekia Walker | Southern Illinois University | Carbondale, Ill. |
| Tyrek Walker | Monmouth College | Chicago |
| Romerion Williams | University of Illinois | Country Club Hills, Ill. |
| Darius Wright | University of St. Francis | North Miami Beach, Fla. |
| Miguel Zavala | University of Illinois | Cicero, Ill. |
The three-day, virtual program took place Jan. 4-6, 2023, where these racial and ethnic minority students received customized training to arm them with the skills needed to obtain accounting internships or full-time positions and ultimately pursue the CPA credential. Program highlights included motivational speeches, insightful panel discussions, resume and LinkedIn profile advice, interview coaching, CPA exam information, and opportunities to network with other diverse accounting students and professionals.
The scholars engaged in various sessions and interviews with representatives from Abbott, Baker Tilly LLP, Crowe LLP, Deloitte LLP, Ernst & Young LLP, FORVIS LLP, Grant Thornton LLP, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, KPMG LLP, Northern Trust Corporation, PwC LLP, Sikich LLP, Topel Forman LLC, and Wipfli LLP. Participants also received $500 scholarships to help with their educational expenses. Additionally, through a unique partnership with the University of Illinois, participants had the opportunity to interview for a free tuition and stipend scholarship for the Master of Accounting Science program.
“As we strive to do more to advance diversity in the CPA profession, this class of 37 scholars represents the largest cohort in the program’s 11-year history,” says Kari L. Natale, CAE, senior director of the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois. “It was an honor to get to know them and witness them grow and develop the skills needed to succeed in this competitive profession, overcome personal barriers, and gain the courage to be the best versions of themselves.”
The program is funded by donations to the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois’ Mary T. Washington Wylie Opportunity Fund, which honors her legacy. Mary T. Washington Wylie, a Chicagoan and Northwestern University graduate, began her own accounting practice in her South Side Chicago basement in 1939 and became the first Black female CPA in the United States in 1943. She is widely regarded as a trailblazer who made it her life’s mission to hire and mentor aspiring Black CPAs by fostering their development and supporting their careers.
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Tags: Accounting
