Biography: Lisa Wang is a second-year student at UCLA majoring in Business Economics and minoring in Accounting. Born in Shantou, China, she immigrated to the United States in her early teens — a transition that involved more than just overcoming a language barrier. It meant rebuilding her sense of identity while balancing cultural expectations, academic pressures, and the occasional sting of being treated as an outsider. With the unwavering support of her mother, Lisa learned to adapt, transforming obstacles into motivation.
At UCLA, Lisa wears many hats. She serves as the dance lead, finance chair, and editor for KBM Dance, where she has grown to lead with confidence, foster open communication among members, and finally pursue her passion for dance that began in middle school. Beyond the studio rooms at the John Wooden Center, she mentors international students in an after-school program, paying forward the guidance she once needed herself. Her volunteer work with VITA combines her passion for helping others with her strength in numbers, assisting underserved communities in navigating the complex tax system.
Future Plans: After graduation, Lisa plans to obtain her CPA license and pursue a career in public accounting. She will be interning at Moss Adams as a GPS intern in the summer of 2025 and at EY as an audit intern in the summer of 2026. With a passion for helping others and a strong foundation in data analysis, Lisa looks forward to building a meaningful career that creates a positive impact on people’s lives in the business world.
What this scholarship means to me: I am truly honored to receive the Edward Bragg & Diane Sims Bragg Scholarship. As an only child, I carry a deep sense of responsibility for my family’s well-being. Since the pandemic, financial hardships have taken a toll on my family. To help alleviate this burden, I have dedicated much of my time and energy to part-time jobs and to securing internships early in my college journey. However, this often left me with limited time for academic and extracurricular involvement. This scholarship lifts a significant weight off my shoulders, allowing me to focus more fully on my studies, leadership roles, and community service. With this recognition, I am even more motivated to give back to the UCLA community and continue striving to be the best version of myself.
