Illinois CPA Society Announces Mary T. Washington Wylie Internship Preparation Program Scholars

CHICAGO, Jan. 16, 2025 – The Illinois CPA Society and its charitable partner, the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois, are proud to recognize the 13th and largest cohort of the award-winning Mary T. Washington Wylie Internship Preparation Program. This highly competitive program is renowned for equipping Illinois-based students who identify as racial or ethnic minorities and are pursuing careers in accounting with the skills to secure successful internships. Congratulations to the 49 scholars in this year’s class:

Name

Academic Institution

Hometown

Kaylah Abraham

University of Illinois at Chicago

Lansing, Ill.

Kowsar Adam

Loyola University

Worcester, Mass.

Adu Afolabi

Illinois State University

Chicago

Grace Ahouissoussi

Governors State University

Calumet City, Ill.

Mustafa Aldiraji

Oakton College

Skokie, Ill.

Marley Aluyi

Augustana College

Tremont, Ill.

Domonique Bealer

Morton College

Chicago

Christian Bivian

Lewis University

Elk Grove Village, Ill.

Christiana Booker

University of Illinois

Chicago

Janyra Browley

Loyola University

Broadview, Ill.

Yasmeen Campbell

Oakton College

Atlanta, Ga.

Gilberto Ceja Jr.

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

Antonette Cole

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

Esmeralda Corona

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

Jayda Cruz

DePaul University

Rockford, Ill.

Naima Davis

Loyola University

Bartlett, Ill.

Estrella de la Rosa

University of St. Francis

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Insha Farooqui

DePaul University

Hyderabad, India

Jaylon Garner

Governors State University

Lynwood, Ill.

Jacqueline Gonzalez-Ruiz

Saint Xavier University

Chicago

Grace Griffin

University of Illinois

Romeoville, Ill.

Jose Guzman Jr.

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

Tongil Kalomba

Augustana College

Rock Island, Ill.

Karina Landeros

Elgin Community College

Streamwood, Ill.

Khamiya Langston

College of DuPage

Maywood, Ill.

Marcellus Lawson

Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

Jashon Macon

DePaul University

Chicago

Jimena Medina

Olivet Nazarene University

Kankakee, Ill.

Tahmidul Mahi

Augustana College

Rock Island, Ill.

Matthew Mercado

DePaul University

Chicago

Julissa Navarrete

Northern Illinois University

Streamwood, Ill.

Divine Nnadi

University of Illinois

Chicago

EJ Onyango

Loyola University

Dallas, Texas

Amya Perkins

Illinois State University

Chicago

Iscleiry Pujols

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

Alexandra Robledo

Harper College

Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Bryan Robles

Aurora University

Saint Charles, Ill.

Johnairys Rodriguez

Saint Xavier University

Cicero, Ill.

Litzy Roman-Reyes

DePaul University

Broadview, Ill.

Zuleika Sanchez

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

Dhvani Shah

DePaul University

Surat, Gujarat, India

Rahel Shibeshi

Augustana College

Chicago

Ivan Sierra

Wilbur Wright College

Chicago

Tsinat Tadesse

Augustana College

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Jalane Tsague

Northern Illinois University

Davenport, Iowa

Elizabeth Valle

Elgin Community College

Hampshire, Ill.

James Williams

Loyola University

Chicago

Chance Young

Governors State University

Crete, Ill.

Ashley Zamudio

DePaul University

Plainfield, Ill.

The three-day virtual program, held Jan. 7-9, 2025, provided these prospective certified public accountants (CPAs) with resume guidance, interview coaching, and advice on internships, the CPA exam, and more. Highlights included motivational speeches, insightful panel discussions, and networking opportunities with diverse accounting students and professionals.

Participants engaged in various sessions and interviews with representatives from leading organizations, including Abbott, Baker Tilly US LLP, Crowe LLP, Deloitte LLP, Ernst & Young LLP, Forvis Mazars LLP, Grant Thornton LLP, Hyatt Hotels Corp., KPMG LLP, Northern Trust Corp., PwC LLP, Topel Forman LLC, and Wipfli LLP. Each scholar also received a $500 scholarship to support their educational journey.

“This program reflects our commitment to investing in the growth of future accounting professionals and providing opportunities that pave the way for their success,” says Kari L. Natale, CAE, vice president of the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois. “The resilience, courage, and dedication of this year’s cohort are truly inspiring, and their achievements showcase a bright future for the CPA profession.”

The program, now with 387 alumni, is made possible 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 who founded her accounting practice in a South Side Chicago basement in 1939 and became the first Black female CPA in the U.S. in 1943. She is widely regarded for dedicating her life to hiring and mentoring aspiring Black CPAs. Generous contributions from donors, including the Dempsey J. Travis Foundation, further strengthen the fund’s mission to advance diversity in the accounting profession.

 

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Derrick Lilly
Asst. Director Communications & Publications | 312.517.7614