2009 NJCPA College Scholarship Recipient

Receiving the NJCPA scholarship was a major stepping stone in my professional career. It provided me with added financial security, professional networking tools and an opportunity to work at one of the largest accounting firms in the world.

Financial security was always a concern for me, primarily because I was raised by my grandmother, now 90 years old, who had no financial means of her own. The scholarship allowed me to focus on my education, rather than the amount of student debt I was accruing.

Through the NJCPA Scholarship Fund, I met various members of the professional community, including inspiring entrepreneurs and members of both mid-size and large firms. I built strong relationships that provided me with added confidence and a robust network during my post-college job search. Additionally, just having "NJCPA Scholarship Recipient" on my resume served as a great talking point during my interviews. Almost every interviewer would ask me about the scholarship and my experiences with the NJCPA. This connection provided me with the opportunity to work at KPMG LLP, one of the biggest accounting firms in the world.

The NJCPA scholarship gave me a strong foundation and opened up doors to the opportunities that led me to where I am today, a senior audit associate with KPMG LLP. This position gives me the privilege of interacting with CFOs, CEOs and other business leaders on an almost daily basis. Moreover, it enables me to live near my grandmother and look out for her in her golden years the same way she cared for me in my formative years.