The Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS) and its charitable partner, the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois, are proud to recognize the 14th cohort of the annual Mary T. Washington Wylie Internship Preparation Program. This award-winning program equips Illinois-based college students pursuing accounting careers with training, resources, and mentorship designed to prepare them for successful internships.
The program expands access and preparedness for students who are historically underrepresented in the profession, including those from racial or ethnic minority backgrounds, first-generation college students, and others who have faced systemic barriers.
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Congratulations to the 39 scholars in this year’s class:
Name | Academic Institution | Hometown
Tiana Adebisi | Waubonsee Community College | Lagos, Nigeria
Tyshawn Allison | Northern Illinois University | Chicago
Steffany Arriaga | Arizona State University | Bolingbrook, Ill.
BJ Bello | University of Illinois Chicago | Urbana, Ill.
Emily Brissett-Josephs | University of Illinois | Morton Grove, Ill.
Rodolfo Colin Alvarado | University of Illinois | Aurora, Ill.
Jazmyne Douglas | Northern Illinois University | Albert Lea, Minn.
Philip Esparza | University of Illinois | Chicago
Kevin Estrada | Saint Xavier University | Chicago
Mahnoor Fatani | Benedictine University | Villa Park, Ill.
Kayla Franch | Northern Illinois University | Lake in the Hills, Ill.
Bethel Girma | Augustana College | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Victor Gonzalez-Morales | Lewis University | Romeoville, Ill.
Lilliana Gutierrez | University of St. Francis | Plainfield, Ill.
Oscar Gutierrez Jr. | Harold Washington College | Chicago
Kristan Howell | Northern Illinois University | Urbana, Ill.
Celestial Kay-Oladimeji | University of Illinois | Dolton, Ill.
Iyanu Kehinde | University of Illinois | Chicago
Ryan Lau | University of Illinois | Chicago
Stephanie Lazaro | DePaul University | Wheeling, Ill.
Deborah Legesse | Augustana College | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Daniela Marroquin Ruiz | University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago
Emiliano Medellin | Triton College | Brookfield, Ill.
Sinniyah Parks | Governors State University | Chicago
Iveth Perez | Loyola University Chicago | Altona, Ill.
Jose Luis Pina Gutierrez | Olivet Nazarene University | Kankakee, Ill.
Jose Reyes | Benedictine University | Romeoville, Ill.
Alyssa Richard | Northern Illinois University | Chicago
Natalia Richelieu | Loyola University Chicago | Washington, D.C.
David Roa | Illinois Wesleyan University | Berwyn, Ill.
Maricus Shannon | Governors State University | Park Forest, Ill.
Spencer Shi | University of Illinois | Gurnee, Ill.
Tavariana Simmons | University of Illinois | Chicago
Cristina Tejeda | University of Illinois | Bolingbrook, Ill.
Junia Tran | University of Illinois Chicago | Long An, Vietnam
Jovan Truss | Southern Illinois University | Oak Park, Ill.
Yonathan Wakie | Augustana College | Rock Island, Ill.
Aeyana Worku | Augustana College | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Yuma Yoshioka | Harold Washington College | Chicago
The three-day virtual program, held Jan. 6-8, 2026, offered scholars practical preparation and exposure to the accounting profession through resume and interview coaching, guidance on internships and the certified public accountant (CPA) exam, and direct engagement with professionals. Highlights included motivational speeches, insightful panel discussions, and structured networking opportunities designed to build confidence and career readiness.
Participants also took part in interactive sessions and interviews with representatives from leading organizations, including Abbott, Baker Tilly US LLP, Crowe LLP, Ernst & Young LLP, Forvis Mazars LLP, Grant Thornton LLP, Hyatt Hotels Corp., Miller Cooper & Co. Ltd., Northern Trust Corp., PwC LLP, Topel Forman LLC, and Wipfli LLP. Each scholar received a $500 scholarship to support their educational journey.
Additionally, 15 program participants were selected to receive laptop scholarships to help ensure they have the tools needed to fully participate and succeed. New this year, the program expanded its reach by awarding 52 additional $500 scholarships to applicants outside the class who demonstrated strong potential and financial need.
“This program reflects our commitment to stewarding the next generation workforce by supporting the development of accounting students and creating pathways to opportunity,” says Geoffrey Brown, CAE, president and CEO of ICPAS. “This year’s cohort brings remarkable talent, perspective, and drive. They belong in this profession, and their future is bright.”
The program, now with 426 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 United States 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.
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