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.
