The Illinois CPA Society and its charitable partner, the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois, have announced the 12th and largest group to date to complete its award-winning Mary T. Washington Wylie Internship Preparation Program. This competitive program is renowned for preparing promising Illinois-based racial and ethnic minority college students interested in pursuing careers in accounting with the skills needed to obtain their first accounting positions and ultimately pursue the certified public accountant (CPA) credential. Congratulations to the 41 scholars from this year’s class:
| Name | Academic Institution | City |
| Abigail Adjei | DePaul University | Willowbrook, Ill. |
| Kevin Akins | Augustana College | Maywood, Ill. |
| Anne Akpabio | Midwestern State University | Chicago |
| Taylor Bello | University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago |
| Nicholas Camacho | Augustana College | Chicago |
| Leslye Carrasco | University of Illinois Chicago | Cicero, Ill. |
| Cherrell Cobbins | DePaul University | Oak Lawn, Ill. |
| Gregory Collins | Governors State University | Monee, Ill. |
| Luis Corral | Richard J. Daley College | Chicago |
| Clarissa Cortina | Morton College | Lyons, Ill. |
| Alfred Dzakpasu | Southern Illinois University | Carbondale, Ill. |
| Dasjha Eguasa | Northern Illinois University | DeKalb, Ill. |
| Emma Fagla | Augustana College | East Moline, Ill. |
| Karen Fonseca Munoz | University of St. Francis | Harvey, Ill. |
| Bryan Grimaldo | Aurora University | Montgomery, Ill. |
| Richea Haygood | Olive Harvey College | Chicago |
| Andrea Hernandez | Lewis University | Plainfield, Ill. |
| Abdurrahman Ibrahim | DePaul University | Morton Grove, Ill. |
| Malak Jellouli | College of DuPage | Naperville, Ill. |
| Milca Jimenez | Lewis University | Crest Hill, Ill. |
| Maryam Khan | College of DuPage | Lombard, Ill. |
| Solyana Kifle | Augustana College | Rock Island, Ill. |
| Nadya Mahoney | University of Illinois Chicago | La Grange, Ill. |
| Bemnet Melesse | Augustana College | Rock Island, Ill. |
| Christopher Munoz | Loyola University Chicago | Cicero, Ill. |
| Jasmine Nevarez | Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago | Chicago |
| Ali Neziri | College of DuPage | Downers Grove, Ill. |
| Ethan Orange | Dominican University | Munster, Ind. |
| Erik Ortega | University of Illinois | Carpentersville, Ill. |
| Jerome Phillips | University of Illinois | Broadview, Ill. |
| Martha Pierre-Louis | Loyola University Chicago | Chicago |
| Sandra Pinzon Velazquez | Morton College | Berwyn, Ill. |
| Rafael Ramirez | Augustana College | Rock Island, Ill. |
| Desire Sebakara | University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago |
| Chakyra Space | Chicago State University | Chicago |
| Tiara Spikener | Aurora University | Aurora, Ill. |
| Isiah Talley | University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago |
| Delanee Telford | University of Illinois | Chicago |
| Jerrly Varughese | University of St. Francis | Joliet, Ill. |
| Guadalupe Viramontes | Saint Xavier University | Posen, Ill. |
| Atanda Williams | Governors State University | Naperville, Ill. |
The three-day, virtual program took place Jan. 3-5, 2024, where these diverse scholars and prospective CPAs received customized training, access to interviews, CPA exam guidance, and more. Some program highlights included motivational speeches and insightful panel discussions, resume and LinkedIn profile advice, interview coaching, 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 US LLP, Crowe LLP, Deloitte LLP, Ernst & Young LLP, FORVIS LLP, Grant Thornton LLP, Hyatt Hotels Corp., KPMG LLP, McDonald’s Corp., Northern Trust Corp., PwC LLP, Sikich LLP, Topel Forman LLC, and Wipfli LLP. All participants also received $500 scholarships to help with their educational expenses. Additionally, through a partnership with the University of Illinois, participants had the opportunity to interview for a free tuition and stipend scholarship for the university’s Master of Accounting Science program.
“We remain dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the CPA profession, and the ongoing expansion and enhancement of this crucial program continues to be a top priority,” says Kari L. Natale, CAE, vice president of the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois. “This impressive cohort represents the future of the CPA profession. It was a privilege to get to know them, observing as they conquered common barriers and gained the courage and skills necessary to become the best versions of themselves.”
The program, which now boasts 338 alumni, is funded by donations to the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois’ Mary T. Washington Wylie Opportunity Fund. This fund honors Washington Wylie’s legacy as a trailblazer in the accounting profession. Washington Wylie was a Chicagoan and Northwestern University graduate who founded her own accounting practice in a South Side Chicago basement in 1939 and became the first Black female CPA in the United States in 1943. She is widely and highly regarded for making it her life’s mission to hire and mentor aspiring Black CPAs.
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Tags: Accounting
