1985 NJCPA High School Scholarship Recipient

My high school accounting course not only taught me that I thoroughly enjoyed the subject, but it also opened my eyes to the varied career opportunities available to accountants. As I approached graduation, I knew that I wanted to major in accounting at college, but I also knew that I would need financial assistance in order to do so.

My father passed away when I was eight years old and my mom worked hard to support our family, but was unable to fund a college education. A guidance counselor suggested that I apply for an NJCPA scholarship. Back then, the awards weren’t as large as they are today, but every dollar helped. More importantly, participating in the scholarship application process educated me about what it meant to be a certified public accountant. I knew then and there that I didn’t just want to be an accountant; I wanted to be a CPA.

Receiving the scholarship helped drive me to my ultimate goal. As the first child in my family to attend college, I certainly didn’t want to let my mom down, but I also didn’t want to disappoint the NJCPA members who had helped lead me through the scholarship process. I knew from the outset that once I achieved my goal, I wanted to give back to an organization that cared for aspiring CPAs and the profession.

As partner-in-charge of the New Jersey practice of WeiserMazars LLP, I am committed to getting our staff more involved with the Society. We aren’t just looking for our CPAs to be members of the NJCPA; we want a connection between the firm and the Society. Whether they join committees, interest groups, chapters, speak to high school students about the opportunities within the profession or write articles, our staff is encouraged to be active volunteers.