ALPFA students are credit to Florida International University.

Alfredo Cepero ( BACC '88; MACC '90) presents Manuel Munguia with his award.

Zameer Upadhya

Senior accounting major Vanessa Ball-llovera was named South Region Student of the Year, following an award in the spring as ALPFA Miami Student of the Year. Munguia (BACC '05) was named ALPFA South Region Member of the Year. And Upadhya (BACC '02) was named Most Promising Business Person of the Year.

And these prestigious individual awards aren't all. The Miami Chapter of ALPFA, with Upadhya at its helm, was recognized as the ALPFA South Miami Region Chapter of the Year.

"It gives me a lot of satisfaction to see how these three people continue to achieve," said Alfredo Cepero ( BACC '88; MACC '90), audit partner, BDO Seidman LLP, who has mentored all three. "I'm very proud of how they are taking their commitment to the next level. They embody what ALPFA is all about."

This is no small praise since Cepero founded the Miami chapter of ALPFA, served as its president, and is now the president of the national organization.

Repaying the student chapter for its help

Vanessa Ball-llovera

"The networking events in ALPFA were the biggest advantage to me," said Ball-llovera who worked at Johnson & Johnson for two summers, getting a taste of private accounting before deciding on a career path in public accounting. "I have very close friends in the field who have helped me understand the profession and who answer my questions."

Because she has gotten so much out of the organization, she has always been committed to recruiting new members and to giving back something tangible.

"When I was president of the chapter, I suggested to the board that we contribute half the funds we raised back to the organization," she said. One time her idea netted $1,000 for the group.

Paving the way for future accountants

In addition to the recognition he received at the convention, Manual Munguia, an auditor at BDO Seidman LLP, has been nominated to sit on the ALPFA national board as student director and will be the next president of the ALPFA Miami Chapter.

One of his most satisfying achievements has been the creation of the first—and only—high school chapter of ALPFA.

"I went to Braddock Senior High School and wanted to start a chapter there so that high school kids could learn about accounting careers and ALPFA at a young age," said Munguia. "At a firm night held by FIUAA, I met Alfredo Cepero, the Miami Chapter president at the time, and he got approval for my idea from the national organization."

Munguia lines up a speaker a month to address the 35 student members and has helped raise scholarship funds every year.

"The money, which has been as much as $1,500, can be used by the recipient toward tuition at any school where he or she is accepted," he said.

Growing the ALPFA Miami Chapter

Zameer Upadhya, staff auditor at BDO Seidman LLP, founded the FIU chapter of ALPFA in 2001, was the first student to sit on the national board, and is the current president of the ALPFA Miami Chapter. In 2002, he was named National Student of the Year for his achievements up to that point.

Since then, there have been many others. For example, upon becoming president of the ALPFA Miami Chapter, he grew it significantly—up to 430 members—and has helped raise $20,000 in scholarships. In May, the FIU student chapter recognized him as Most Supportive Professional.

Upadhya credits the accounting program in the College and the student chapter of ALPFA with contributing to his success.

"I chose the program in the School of Accounting because I knew it would be tough, so my knowledge base would be greater. That has helped me in every job," he said. "ALPFA helped me from a development perspective, opening doors to businesses because of my active involvement."

Kudos from School of Accounting members

"To have an organization outside the University say that one of our students is its best student member is very gratifying," Kenneth Henry, lecturer in the School of Accounting and the faculty advisor of FIUAA, said of Ball-llovera. "The awards are an external validation of the quality of one of our best students and of the program that we have here."

Dana Forgione, the School's director agreed.

"The achievements of these students bring great distinction to the School of Accounting. They would not be receiving these awards if they, and the School, were not well perceived by the profession," he said. "We are very proud of them, as we are of Alfredo Cepero, who has played such a large role in their lives."

Executive Dean Joyce J. Elam sits on ALPFA's national Board of Governors. The organization's mission is to be the leading professional association dedicated to enhancing opportunities for CPAs, accountants, finance and related professionals, and students, while expanding Latino leadership in the global workforce.

Taking center stage at national convention

In addition to the exciting awards ceremony honoring Ball-llovera, Munguia, and Upadhya, the entire convention showcased the College's accounting students and the University.

"As the host school, we were recognized with the highest billing and played a pivotal role in the success of the event," said Upadhya. "Our ALPFA chapter sent more than fifty students to attend the convention, including a group that participated in the KPMG/ALPFA National Case Competition and about twenty of whom participated in a choreographed dance at the welcoming reception."