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Diversity students sharpen abilities at Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop.

From left to right: Nuria Huillca, Martha Murillo, Elizabeth DeBragga, Carlos Canasi, Catalina Zorrilla, and Gabriela Manrique at the Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop		Attendees at the AICPA Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop

Carlos Canasi, Nuria Huillca, Gabriela Manrique, Martha Murillo, Krystel Ramos, Daniel Toribio, and Catalina Zorrilla—along with 81 other diverse undergraduate and graduate leaders from across the country, Canada, and Puerto Rico—took advantage of the resources and generosity of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) during the all-expense paid Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop in Peachtree, Georgia, from May 31-June 2, 2007.

During the event, they formed ad hoc teams to develop presentations on financial literacy, learned networking techniques, and got valuable insights from academics and practitioners.

Meet three of the participants, all members of the Florida International University Accounting Association (FIU-AA), and read what they had to say about their experiences. 

Florida International University’s Daniel Toribio flanked by Maria Fernandez (University of California) and Yuvia Maldonado (University of Texas) at the AICPA Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop		Florida International University’s Daniel Toribio flanked by Na’Shon Mitchell (Webster University) and Amber White (University of South Carolina) at the AICPA Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop

Carlos Canasi
Major: accounting
Memberships: FIU-AA, ALPFA Miami Student Chapter
Office: FIU-AA president
Reason to attend: to meet with other minority leaders across the nation
Best aspect of experience: learning from other minority students how they've made it through college and why
Most valuable lesson: it’s okay to share your achievements as long as you do it in a humble way and you’re willing to share how you achieved what you achieved
Practical implication: I'm there for those who want help and guidance.
Future plans: a master’s degree in accounting, an MBA, be a CPA and certified fraud examiner (CFE)
How the conference will help you get there: “The conference emphasized that where there is a will, there is a way. I've been willing thus far and I'm slowly but surely achieving all my dreams and goals.”

Krystel Ramos
Degree: Bachelor of Accounting (BACC ’07)
Memberships: FIU-AA, ALPFA Honor Society, Beta Gamma Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi, Finance Honors Society, Golden Key Honor Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the Honors College
Offices: consulting officer of FIU-AA/ALPFA Honor Society
Reasons to attend: great opportunity to network with other student leaders from across the country, and to learn more about the AICPA and the value of having the CPA license
Best aspects of experience: motivational speakers; networking with other students
Most valuable lessons: teamwork through teambuilding activities, how to be patient and accepting toward other points of view, the importance of my degree in the business world today and how to better enhance/complement it through involvement in the AICPA and getting my CPA license
Practical implications: studying for my CPA; great inspiration drawn from the different student leaders, professionals, and professors at the conference
Future plans: be a high-performing leader within a public accounting firm
How the conference will help you get there: “I will be able to use the skills I learned and the contacts I made during the conference.”

Catalina Zorrilla
Major: accounting
Membership: FIU-AA
Office: webmaster
Reason to attend: great opportunity
Best aspects of experience: met a lot of people from all over the country and heard awesome speakers
Most valuable lessons: learned a lot about my career and why I need to get the CPA license
Practical implications: importance of listening rather than speaking
Future plans: pursue a master’s degree in taxation, then go for the CPA license and hope to work for a company in the tax department

Learn more.

AICPA Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop: http://www.aicpa.org/members/div/career/mini/aslw.htm.