Biography: Claire Ding is a third-year undergraduate student from China pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics with a minor in Accounting. As the first in her family to study abroad, Claire is highly driven in her academic and personal pursuits. She maintains a strong GPA while staying active in student organizations such as Beta Alpha Psi and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. Her involvement with VITA, where she assisted residents and international students with tax preparation, sparked her interest in public accounting, particularly in the area of tax. Beyond academics, Claire is passionate about music. She performs classical voice and currently serves as co-music director for a UCLA a cappella group. She is also committed to educational equity and social impact, working as a learning assistant to support fellow students in their academic success.
Future Plans: In the upcoming summer, Claire will be interning at Ernst & Young (EY) in their Los Angeles office as a Tax Intern in the Diversified Staff Group. Upon graduation, she hopes to return to EY in a full-time role, pursue CPA licensure within the first few years, and eventually specialize in tax, likely international tax, given her global background. Claire is also exploring opportunities in consulting and intends to connect with professionals in different areas during her internship to broaden her perspective. She is especially excited to engage with EY’s community service initiatives, particularly those aimed at empowering youth through financial literacy and education.
What this scholarship means to me: I’m incredibly honored to receive the Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting. This support means so much to me not just financially, but also recognizes my hard work in maintaining an outstanding academic record while actively engaging in school activities, which motivates me to keep moving forward in my goals. I hope to pay it forward someday by giving back to the UCLA community and supporting others the way I’ve been supported.
