footnotes
MY REDBIRD STORY
Stephen Thate
| ’88 LETTER FROM THE CHAIR
Dear Alumni, Students, Faculty, and Staff,
We are already in the Spring semester! Time flies when so much is happening, and 2025 was full of exciting accomplishments and milestones for our department and our university.
This July, I had the honor of stepping into the role of Interim Department Chair for the Department of Accounting and Business Information Systems. Following Dr. Johnston’s outstanding leadership is no small task; he left me some very large shoes to fill. But I am deeply grateful for the trust my colleagues have placed in me, and proud to serve our department in this new role.
Coming from the BIS side of the house, I see my role as adding a new voice while continuing our strong accounting traditions. Together, Accounting and BIS form a powerful partnership, equipping students not only for today’s challenges but also for tomorrow’s opportunities.
I see my role as one of service and support to our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the department. What inspires me most are the way our community works together, faculty and staff who give so much of themselves, students who rise to every challenge, and alumni and supporters who share their time, wisdom, and generosity to make those student successes possible. The excellence we celebrate is truly a shared achievement for which we should all be very proud.
Like every department, we encounter our share of challenges, but our story is really one of partnership and progress. Our students continue to accomplish remarkable things, supported by dedicated faculty and staff, strengthened by the encouragement and backing of our alumni, donors, and friends. That connection between current students and the community of supporters who believe in them is what helps us not only move forward but grow stronger together.
I am excited about what lies ahead. With continued engagement, encouragement, and support, I know we will build on our proud legacy
Growing up in Hampshire, Illinois – a rural town of just 1,700 people – I never imagined the global career that lay ahead of me. With a graduating high school class of only 335 students, my move to Illinois State University in the fall of 1984 marked the beginning of a journey that would open doors far beyond the Midwest.
Finding
a Home at Illinois State
I only visited one university: Illinois State. I was drawn by the reputation of its accounting program, particularly its CPA exam pass rate and strong placement record. But it was more than academics that convinced me.
I fell in love with the campus’s look and size immediately. The quad was beautiful, the campus felt personal, and everyone I met was friendly and encouraging. It didn’t feel too big or intimidating –it felt like home.
I moved into Watterson Towers on Van Buren 1, where our floor quickly became its own community. We played intramurals, entered lip sync contests, attended concerts and sporting events, and ate countless meals together. Those friendships shaped my ISU experience and remain strong today. Many of us still meet up, often at ISU basketball games, where we cheer on the Redbirds with the same enthusiasm we had as students.
A Program that Opened Doors
A good friend, Rodney Christo (’87), encouraged me to join the Student Accounting Society (SAS) – a decision that became pivotal in my life. Under the leadership of the legendary Professor Max Rexroad, I served as publicity chair, which gave me opportunities to connect with professors, classmates, and Big Eight recruiters. Yes, it was the Big Eight back then. Those early experiences helped me build confidence and professional relationships that proved invaluable when I began my career.
The most important thing SAS gave me, however, was the chance to meet my wife, Lynn Kelly (’88). We had shared a few accounting classes before, but working together in SAS deepened our friendship, and eventually, we began dating. Ironically, we were both matched
on page 3 continued on next page
and take our department to even greater heights.
To our faculty, staff, students, alumni, friends, and donors, thank you for being the heart of our department. Your passion, hard work, generosity, and support make everything we do possible. Because of you, our community doesn’t just succeed; it thrives. Here’s to celebrating all that we have accomplished together this year and to the even brighter future we will create side by side.
With gratitude and optimism,
Bahae Samhan
Interim Chair, Department of Accounting and BIS Illinois State University
Dr. Madeline Trimble now serves as the Associate Dean for Accreditation and Operations (ADAO). When asked about her new role, she had a few words to share:
“I’m incredibly grateful for everything I’ve learned from the last nine years in ISU’s accounting department through my projects and interactions with colleagues, support from our chairs, networking with the advisory board, and teaching our amazing students. It has been a privilege to grow in such a thoughtful and caring environment.
I really enjoy working with people and building relationships, and this new role as Associate Dean for Accreditation and Operations gives me the opportunity to do that on a broader scale. I’m excited to continue partnering with the accounting department on strategic initiatives that support the college and to find new ways to give back to our students.
As a lifelong learner, this has already been a valuable experience, especially in areas like budgeting, building management, and accreditation. I feel fortunate to work alongside Dr. Samhan, Dr. Nowland, and Dr. Sankara on the administrative side, which also gives me a chance to stay connected with the Accounting Department. However, I miss the students already!”
BILL CRAMPTON RETIRES
Bill Crampton ended his teaching career as a BIS faculty member in the Department of Accounting in May of 2025. Bill joined the Department of Accounting in the fall of 1989. Prior to joining the Department, he taught at both Kent State University and Cleveland State University while pursuing his Ph.D. in Information Systems from Kent State University.
Bill’s primary teaching responsibilities were in information systems for both business information systems and accounting majors within the Department. He taught courses primarily at the undergraduate level including: Introduction to Information Systems, COBOL programming, Accounting Information Systems, and Integrated Business Processes in an Enterprise System.
Believing it to be of great potential benefit to our students, Bill, with the support and encouragement of then Department of Accounting Chair, Dr. Gerry McKean, completely redesigned the Accounting Information Systems course to focus on both advanced Excel as well as an introduction to enterprise systems.
In addition, Bill, with the support and encouragement of then Department of Accounting Chair, Dr. Debrorah Seifert, proposed, designed and received approval for two new courses on enterprise systems – one at the undergraduate level and one at graduate level – focusing on the SAP enterprise system and entitled Integrated Business Processes in an Enterprise System. To partially defray the SAP course material cost for students, Bill and his wife, Vaneetha, established the Department of Accounting SAP Impact Fund.
Bill loved teaching and interacting with his students and won numerous teaching awards including from the BIS Club, the Department of Accounting and the Student Education Association. Bill published in both practitioner and academic journals in both the information systems and accounting areas. He presented in numerous conferences (regional and national) and published in their conference proceedings. He served on numerous committees at the Department, College, and University level.
Bill and his wife, Vaneetha, are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this November and have recently moved to North Carolina. They plan to continue their passion for traveling and volunteering. Their daughter, Tara, who graduated with both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in accounting from our department, plans to pursue her Ph.D. in Education.
to Coopers & Lybrand for our internships, which we worried might complicate things – but we soon learned that many colleagues had met their spouses at Coopers. Lynn and I married in 1989, a year after graduation, and built our life together in the western suburbs of Chicago.
Looking back, I realize how well ISU’s program prepared me. Our internships took place during the busy season, which gave us a realistic look at public accounting. The CPA review course, built into our schedule, was also critical – I passed the exam on my first attempt in 1988, something I appreciated especially watching others try to study during the busy season or amongst growing personal commitments such as marriage and children. ISU didn’t just provide technical knowledge; it helped me develop broader business acumen that shaped my entire career. I soon came to realize that most of my peers didn’t have the breadth of business and accounting courses that we had at ISU. I walked away with a minor in Business Administration which many would have deemed as inconsequential but actually was a differentiator at the start of my career.
A Career Built on Growth and Global Experiences
After two years in public accounting, I realized my true passion was for companies that made products. I think this stemmed from my grandfather, who worked as a plant superintendent at Borg Warner in Rockford, Illinois and occasionally was able to take me through the factory. Watching products come to life always fascinated me.
My early career included internal time at a holding company of five manufacturing companies and eventually working at their subsidiary Clear Shield National (CSN). CSN was a small but growing manufacturer in the foodservice industry, where I gained experience in ERP implementation and west coast site selection, before the company was acquired by Solo Cup. From there, I joined Prairie Packaging, where I helped lead growth initiatives including WMS and ERP system implementations, product line and geographical expansion, and was eventually promoted to lead the entire finance and accounting organization. When Pactiv acquired Prairie, I stayed on for seven years and gained new experiences in acquisitions, integrations, leading pricing within the global marketing team, and leading transformation projects at a $3.5 billion publicly traded company.
Aligning your working Community
I think early in my career I recognized that what I did was important to me. I leaned into smaller companies to get broader experience and to work with individuals across all functions. I was always the finance person, out in the plant or tagging along on a sales call. I consistently sought work that would make an impact on the company and volunteered to be on those teams whenever they emerged. Those projects and stretch assignments were priceless and helped me develop and shape my professional career.
I knew the importance of networking from my SAS days at ISU and deployed that throughout my career. I can’t even begin to count the number of times a simple investment in a relationship has paid huge dividends from being selected for a project, closing a deal, getting additional services from consultants, and even employment opportunities.
As my career progressed, it also became pretty evident that how we did things and who I was doing them with was incredibly important. Surrounding myself with colleagues who inspire and challenge you and working for organizations that share values has been very rewarding.
No matter the role or the industry, the work we do matters – whether it’s serving customers, developing people, or building products that make a difference in daily life. When you combine strong collaboration and values with purposeful work, the impact can be extraordinary.
Giving Back to Community
My experiences at ISU also inspired a lifelong commitment to service. Lynn and I volunteered with the Darien Youth Club for more than a decade, and I served nearly ten years as president of the Dynamo Soccer Club. We’ve supported fundraising initiatives for local schools and community organizations as well.
Being part of SAS helped me understand early on that leadership isn’t just about professional success –it’s about contributing to the communities we’re part of. That lesson has stayed with me ever since.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
In 2013, I joined HAVI Global Solutions, a longtime customer, through my career at CSN, Prairie, and Pactiv. Although I relied heavily on my manufacturing and supply chain background, HAVI took me into international service operations and gave me the chance to travel extensively throughout Europe and Asia. Working with colleagues around the world was both professionally rewarding and personally enriching.
In 2021, HAVI acquired PMI, the parent company of Stanley. Two years later, I became CFO of Stanley. This has been an incredible ride – Stanley is one of the fastestgrowing consumer brands in the world, and it’s especially meaningful to me because of its heritage. My grandfather carried a Stanley green bottle to work every day, and now I have the privilege of helping lead a company that not only honors its past but is also making a real impact on sustainability, hydration, wellness, and daily life.
When I reflect on my journey – from a small farming town in Illinois to boardrooms across the globe, I know Illinois State was one of the catalysts. Before ISU, I had never been outside the Midwest. My education and experiences there gave me opportunities I could never have dreamed of happening. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that networking, collaboration, and values are at the heart of every success. The relationships I built at Illinois State gave me confidence and opened doors, and the colleagues I’ve had the privilege to work with have challenged me, inspired me, and made me better.
One of my favorite quotes, attributed to A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh, captures how I feel about the path I’ve taken: “Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you know.”
Illinois State gave me the courage to take on challenges, the knowledge to build a meaningful career, and the relationships that continue to enrich my life today.
Stephen Thate - continued from cover
The Department of Accounting has a successful internship program designed to encourage closer ties among employers, students, and faculty. Rachel Birkey is the new Internship Coordinator for the Accounting Department, preceded by Ron Guidry. During Summer 2025, 42 students completed internships for course credit.
If you are interested in participating in the internship program, please contact the internship coordinator, Dr. Rachel Birkey at rnbirke@ilstu.edu.
• ADM: 3
• Apex Fintech Solutions: 1
• BDO: 1
• Caterpillar: 3
• City of Bloomington: 1
• Clifton Larson Allen (CLA): 1
• Core Solutions Group: 1
• Core Spaces LLC: 1
• Don Brown Chevrolet: 1
• Enterprise Fleet Management: 1
• Enterprise Mobility: 1
• Ernst & Young: 1
• Global Cargo Trucking Inc: 1
• Growmark Inc: 1
• ITW Automotive - Deltar Fasteners: 1
• Kerber, Eck & Braeckel LLP: 1
• KPMG: 1
• LanzaTech: 1
• Legacy Professionals LLP: 1
• MCK CPAs & ADVISORS: 1
• Miller Cooper: 1
• Plante Moran: 4
• RSM: 2
• Sikich: 3
• SKAPS INDUSTRIES: 1
• State Farm: 5
• Tsoutsias, Balabanos & Associates, Ltd: 1
• Wheels, Inc: 1
accounting INTERNSHIPS
Liesel Mitchell Receives Marsha Perry Spark Award
In 2024, the College of Business created the Marsha Perry Spark Award, a new recognition honoring individuals within the college who exemplify the dedication and service that Marsha Perry embodied. This award celebrates those who ignite a spark in others and go above and beyond in their roles. Liesel Mitchell is the first faculty member in the department to receive this honor. Congratulations, Liesel!
the marsha perr y
SPARK AWARD
National Association of Black Accountants
The NABA chapter held several meetings and events in the spring of 2025 including the NABA informational on February 17. NABA organized a ‘Grab a Rose’ activity for Valentine’s Day. The Make Covers with NABA activity on February 3 involved NABA members making quilt covers to donate to charity (the Salvation Army). Other events in spring included the NABA network and resume workshop and a NABA CPA and CMA prep event. As usual, NABA ended the semester with the NABA Crunch Time event.
In the summer and despite some budgetary constraints, 14 ISU students and the NABA faculty advisor went to the NABA national convention in Las Vegas with financial support from the accounting department, the MBA office, and the NABA national organization. Nine accounting students and five MBA students, ranging from freshmen to graduate students, attended the event which happened over four days.
Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance
Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance had another exciting semester, actively organizing and participating in a variety of events. Last spring, the main event AFWA hosted was a Financial Literacy event with Dr. Conner, who gave students a crash course on understanding offer letters, building credit scores, and investing. AFWA had about 20 students in attendance for this and offered headshot pictures after the event. AFWA also hosted a collab event with BAP, SAS, and NABA. The event was on how to stand out with KPMG. There were around 40 students in attendance at this event.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW ADM FACULTY FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENT:
The department is delighted to announce that Dr. Jomo Sankara, one of our esteemed faculty members, has been selected as the newest recipient of the ADM Faculty Fellowship. This fellowship program reflects ADM’s commitment to fostering industry-academic collaboration and supporting the next generation of leaders. The ADM Faculty Fellowship is designed to provide selected faculty members with resources to
DR. JOMO
SANKARA
pursue high-impact research, develop educational initiatives, and deepen engagement with industry. The program currently supports two fellows in total in the accounting department, Dr. Madeline Trimble and Dr. Jomo Sankara.
Over the past year, our growing relationship with ADM has also created exceptional experiential learning opportunities for students. Through coordinated site visits to ADM’s North American headquarters, students participated in rotating job shadows across the accounting department, gaining firsthand insight into day-to-day professional practice. As a result of these interactions, many students secured internships, further strengthening the bridge between academic learning and real-world application. ADM
continues to be a phenomenal partner to our accounting department, and we are deeply grateful for their ongoing commitment to student and faculty success. Enjoy a quote from Dr. Jomo Sankara as he reflects on the impact of this partnership:
“I am extremely grateful for the ADM fellowship, which has enabled me to take advantage of countless opportunities and helped me to have a greater impact at ISU. These opportunities, such as attending ESG conferences, have been transformative, empowering me to make meaningful contributions to pedagogy, research and COB strategy in the sustainability reporting field for example.”
Accounting Hosts 3rd Annual High School Competition
The Accounting Department welcomed nearly 300 accounting students from Central Illinois high schools for the 3rd annual High School Accounting Challenge on April 4, 2025. The competition was broken down into two categories based on school enrollment, determined by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) for academic competitions. This allowed the department to double the number of individual scholarships that were awarded. The top three performing individuals in each category took home $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000 scholarships for first, second, and third places, respectively.
The decision was also important to level the playing field for smaller schools. Smaller schools send fewer teams and therefore have fewer chances to win the team competition. Also, larger schools are more likely to have faculty dedicated to teaching accounting than smaller schools who have faculty who teach other classes alongside accounting, like general business, economics, or non-business subjects. Larger schools are more likely to have extra-curricular activities such as accounting clubs than their smaller counterparts. Additionally, smaller schools are more likely to have only one or two semester accounting courses, whereas some larger schools have four semester accounting curriculums.
We hope to see these talented students return to campus as College of Business students where some will be able to put their newly earned scholarships to good use.
BIS Advisory Board Event
The semi-Annual BIS Advisory Board meeting was held on April 18, 2025. The BIS Advisory Board is now led by the new BIS Internship Coordinator Professor, Rosie Hauck. As always, thank you, Rosie, for your leadership! The meeting included student group presentations, discussion panels with the professional BIS board members and students, as well as small group breakout sessions between BIS students and professional board members. The day was packed with excellent insights regarding recent job trends, interviewing techniques, and industry trends. Thank you to all of the BIS Advisory Board Members for participating, as well as to the BIS Professors and the BIS students. It was a remarkable day.
Congratulations to the university’s 2025 Impact Award recipients Sabine Khalil and Liesel Mitchell. The Impact Award recognizes faculty members who exemplify exceptional care and support for student success. This honor celebrates not only their dedication to teaching, but also the mentorship and guidance they provide in and beyond the classroom.
university college 2025 IMPACT AWARD
Be curious about what you are learning, even when it’s not your favorite class. Be willing to put in the time and effort to truly learn, not just get by and get a grade. Use the resources available to you.
- Liesel Mitchell
I’m deeply grateful and honored to have been nominated by one of my students and have received the Impact Award. This recognition truly means a lot to me. As professors, we have the incredible privilege of shaping our students’ journeys, and I strive to make a positive difference in their growth and confidence. Seeing them succeed and believe in themselves is the most rewarding part of what I do.
- Sabine Khalil
three accounting students awarded SCHOLARSHIPS FROM PCAOB
Three students were awarded scholarships from the Public Companies Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) in 2025: Miguel Ayala, Tanaya Cummings, and Adrian Garcia.
The PCAOB Scholars Program started in 2011. Students in accredited undergraduate and graduate accounting programs are eligible to apply. Applicants are nominated by these institutions. The goals of the program are to benefit outstanding students who are likely to become auditors and make a difference to eligible students who might otherwise pursue a different career path without the scholarship.
The scholarship was mandated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The scholarships are funded by monetary penalties collected as part of PCAOB enforcement actions. In 2025, 685 students from across the United States were awarded a total of $10,275,000.
According to the PCAOB, the 2025 group was the largest in the history of the program to date. The PCAOB started a mentor program in 2023, pairing scholarship recipients with PCAOB staff.
The mentor and the mentee have one meeting of one hour or so per quarter.
Kristen Bernas wins Civil Service Distinguised Service Award
Illinois State University recognized exemplary service from Civil Service and Administrative Professional staff during the Founding Celebration on February 20, 2025. Kristen Bernas received The Civil Service Distinguished Service Award, which acknowledges outstanding contributions by Civil Service staff. It is the highest non-faculty award presented to Civil Service staff members by the University, and well deserved!
Kristen Bernas has held various roles during her seven years at Illinois State, from her start as a housing representative to an office manager in Special Education and University Advancement, to her current role as an office administrator in the Department of Accounting. In each position she obtained at the University, she became more versatile and well-rounded. Bernas considers the relationships she has built across campus to be one of the most valuable assets in her role. Bernas isn’t afraid to take on more than is required as an office administrator. Recently, she created an onboarding process for tenure-track employees in the College of Business. She saw the need and the importance of giving new faculty a quality onboarding experience.
Bernas’ dedication and enthusiasm to create a meaningful experience for faculty and students reflects in her work at the University. Bernas’ long-term goal is to create an onboarding program for all classifications/job titles in the College of Business, in hopes that it can someday be used across campus.
*Portion of article written by University Staff
FRIDAY • OCTOBER 2, 2026
in sponsoring a hole?
ANNUAL ACCOUNTING AND BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEMS AWARDS
The following awards were presented at the 41st annual Accounting and Business Information Systems Awards Ceremony on April 24, 2025. 131 awards totaling $260,000 were given to 86 students. We are very proud of our students and their accomplishments, and we thank the organizations that provided financial support for these awards.
1st Annual AFNI, Inc., Award
• Quynh Bailey
• Adrian Garcia
• Michael Koczwara
• Lucas Kozak
• Andrea Rivera
43rd annual CliftonLarsonAllen LLP Award
• Mirabella Biage
19th annual COUNTRY Financial Award
• Anthony Decker
• Ethan Rubin
• Abby Schniederjan
• Paul Schwantz
45th annual Dunbar, Breitweiser & Co., LLP Award
• Treyton Graham
19th annual Enterprise Rent-A-Car Award
• Ava Carlson
24th annual FORVIS Award
• Evan Capps
24th annual MCK Mary Ann Webb Scholarship
• Jacob Lundstrom
16th annual Miller Cooper & Company Award
• Nina Carey
• Emily Hoang
26th annual PricewaterhouseCoopers Award
• Francis Annin
19th annual RSM Award
• Michael Cassidy
• Madison Fowler
• Anirudh Krishnakumar
• Joe McLaughlin
• Olivia Mummey
4th annual Sikich LLP Accounting and BIS Diversity Scholarship
• Matthew Mendoza
• Jake Schierer
• Donesha Watson
18th annual State Farm Award
• Landon Brown
• Rachel Lechtenberg
• Andy Nguyen
• Lincoln Steidinger
• Mackenzie Wand
2025 Department of Accounting Scholarship
• Olivia Acheampong
• Daniel Asante
• Eric Ati
• Jacob Austin
• Mirabella Biage
• Ava Carlson
• Andrew Conforti
• Lexi Deluna
• Emma Gregory
• Grace Johnson
• Malik Krech
• Olivia Mummey
• Mahataz Nipa
• Hannah O’Brien
• Ariel Pomierski
• Jade Schierer
9th annual Bradley Benson Memorial ISACA-Illini Chapter BIS Scholarship
• Donesha Watson
5th annual Business Information Systems Scholarship
• Donesha Watson
13th annual Caroline Kern Craig Endowed Fund Scholarship
• Miguel Ayala
• Subash Chaudhary
17th annual David Currie CPA Scholarship
• Olivia Acheampong
5th annual Brad Dawson Memorial Fund Scholarship
• Cobi Blair
9th annual Duane and Diana Debs Scholarship
• Emily Hoang
14th annual Eovaldi Family Accounting Scholarship
• Madison Fowler
• Morgan Jones
• Kirsten Kindred
• Shuolin Kong
• Katie Krahn
• Erin Patton
9th annual Mike and Karen Essington BIS Scholarship
• Katherine Coffman
7th annual Jacalyn Ferree Endowed Scholarship in Accounting
• Tanaya Cummings
1st annual Gary L. Fish Accounting Scholarship
• Treyton Graham
14th annual Flessner Family Endowed Scholarship Honoring
Dr. Gerry McKean
• Joseph Brune
• Jeffrey Hannemann
5th annual Foltz Family Scholarship
• Cobi Blair
• Kyleah Darnell
• Emma Gregory
• Emily Hoang
4th annual Mary Graffy Memorial Scholarship
• Hannah O’Brien
36th annual Accounting Alumni Association James A. Hallam Scholarship
• Sam Kahovec
8th annual Jim & Jeanette Hallam CPA Candidate Scholarship
• Jacob Austin
4th annual Douglas W. Hart Accounting Scholarship
• Katie Krahn
3rd annual Howley Family Accounting Scholarship
• Carter Andrews
5th annual Industrial Accounting Scholarship
• Abby Schniederjan
11th annual LaFrence Family Accounting Scholarship
• Olivia Acheampong
• Quynh Bailey
1st annual Deborah L. Lindberg Accounting Scholarship
• Brittney Oakley
8th annual McMullen Family First Generation Student Scholarship
• Miguel Ayala
6th annual Eric Mickel Scholarship for Accounting
• Landon Cook
28th annual W. Max Rexroad Scholarship
• Cobi Blair
• Landon Cook
• Mackenzie Cotner
• Payton Dundas
• Christian Gomolchak
• Jack Priller
17th annual James H. Schlesser Endowed Scholarship
• Rachel Lechtenberg
• Jacob Lundstrom
• Lincoln Steidinger
• Mackenzie Wand
21st annual Herbert C. Sieg Endowed Scholarship
• Carter Andrews
• Jelal Hossain
• Morgan Jones
• Sam Kahovec
4th annual Kelley and James Smith Accounting Scholarship
• Naomi Aalsma
27th annual Nims Associates Bill Spaniol Memorial Scholarship
• Sean Hopkins
• Darwin Salvatierra
2025 William Townes Memorial Scholarship
• Kyleah Darnell
4th annual Vandermyde Family Scholarship
• Andrew Conforti
MULTI-YEAR AWARDS
Gary and Helen Anetsberger Scholarship
• Nina Carey
• Ava Carlson
• Andrian Garcia
William A. Fortsch Accounting Scholarship
• Miguel Ayala
• Allyson Ford
• Zofia Marusarz
• Colin Wasserman
Sears Accounting Scholarship
• Steel Martin
18th annual Kate King Wu & Horace C. Wu Scholarship
• Naomi Aalsma
• Paige Bolen
• Brittney Oakley
9th annual Zarcone Family Scholarship
• Daniel Asante
• Eric Ati
• Mahataz Nipa
• Hannah O’Brien
• Ariel Pomierski
• Jade Schierer
22nd annual Becker Professional Education Scholarship
• Mavis Bediaku
• Adrian Nieves
• Mahataz Nipa
3rd annual Dr. Thomas Secoy CPA Exam Scholarship
• Matthew Varland
12th annual Steve Michels CPA Review Course Scholarship
• Amara Howell
2024 Institute of Management Accountants CMA Program Scholarship
• Jelal Hossain
• Issac Keck
• Anne Elise McCree
• Oluwatosin Anthony Monehin
• Nicky Nepos, Sr.
• Salvatore Roti
2025 Business Information Systems Alumni Outstanding Undergraduate BIS Student Award
• Joshua Clark
• Lillian Hogan
2025 Marcotte Family Outstanding Undergraduate Accounting Student Award
• Hannah O’Brien
2025 Marcotte Family Outstanding Master of Professional Accountancy Award
• Landon Cook
2025 Marcotte Family Outstanding Master of Science in Accountancy Award
• Shuolin Kong
ACCOUNTING & BIS PROGRAM
Meet the Firms Career Fair & Banquet
On February 27, 2025, the Student Accounting Society hosted its annual Meet the Firms event, bringing together students and professionals for an evening of connection and opportunity. The evening began with a banquet honoring firm representatives, faculty, and SAS members, followed by a Career Fair held in the Prairie Room of the Bone Student Center from 7–9 p.m. The fair welcomed 101 accounting and business information systems students eager to engage with 40 representatives from 16 distinguished firms. The event fostered meaningful conversations, professional networking, and a strong sense of community between students and industry leaders.
Bone Student Center Old M i R om
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS:
Caterpillar
Cherry Bekaert
Citrin Cooperman
CliftonLarsonAllen
Country Financial
Fates Bodily & Parker
Forvis Mazars
Legacy Professionals
Martin Hood
Miller Cooper
Mowery & Schoenfeld
Plante Moran
RSM
Selden Fox
Sikich
State of California Franchise Tax Board
Help a fellow redbird.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIVING
Alumni support of Illinois State University is tremendously important for many reasons. Gifts received from alumni provide the “margin of excellence” in our programs. It is interesting to note that less than 10 percent of the University’s operating funds actually come from the state of Illinois in recent years. Additionally, outside organizations view alumni giving as a measure of “customer satisfaction.” For example, the percentage of alumni who give to Illinois State University factors into the US News and World Report’s “Best Colleges” rankings. While the number is only a small factor in the overall ranking, Illinois State University stands well behind the institutions we strive to emulate. For these reasons, your annual gift is extremely important. Your gift, no matter the size, can make a real difference to Illinois State University students.
The students, faculty, and staff of the Department of Accounting thank all those who have supported the department and the university. This significant support is testimony to the enhanced sense of mutual responsibility to ensure quality education in accounting and business information systems. Last year, the Department of Accounting had 224 individual donors and corporate donors totaling $485,335.90. Many of the recent donations have been used to create endowments for scholarships. This year, the department gave over $260,000 at the spring scholarship banquet. Thank you to all of you for your support!
You can help the department reach its goal!
You can help the department reach its goal!
Please scan the QR code to the right or visit TinyUrl.com/38p9wmph, and select the Accounting tab to make a donation online.
Once again, the students, faculty, and staff of the Department of Accounting
THANK YOU for your past and future support.
Donations can also be made by mailing a check payable to:
Illinois State University Foundation Office Campus Box 8000 • Normal, Illinois 61790
Please write “Department of Accounting” on the memo line of your check, and your entire contribution will go to support the department.
The Brad Dawson MEMORIAL FUND
The Brad Dawson Memorial Fund was established to help students who have lost a parent or who have a parent who has received a negative medical diagnosis during their time at Illinois State University.
The scholarship honors Brad Dawson, Rachel Birkey’s late father, who lost his battle with cancer while Rachel was in school. Brad was a loving father and husband, and he lived a life serving others as a pastor, coach, and educator.
The QR code below will take you to the site that you can use to support this fund, or you can visit Giving.IllinoisState.edu/fund/brad-dawson-memorial-fund/ THANK YOU FOR GIVING!
Alumni Updates
• Matthew Nelson DID WE MISS SOMEONE’S ACCOMPLISHMENT?
We are proud of the accomplishments of our alumni. If you have professional accomplishments you would like to share with us, please report them to: Dr. Kristie Young at kmyou13@ilstu.edu. | @BusinessISU
Department of Accounting Newsletter Editors:
• Kristie Young
• Harlan Fuller
• Hansol Yoon