Biography: Since high school, Aaron has shown an interest in economics. He enjoyed the critical thinking and analysis of business decisions and strategy, how different components of both individual and international businesses interacted and how it was this one big complicated system. The theories he learned gave him a new way of thinking and allowed him to really consider factors that no one ever really did. Although initially deciding on becoming an accountant, he quickly switched aspirations to become an analyst on the business side. To help support that, he chose to minor in Data Science Engineering and to learn more about tech and computer science. His journey in tech and computer science was faced with struggles as he never coded before in his life but after a few classes and YouTube videos on python, R studio, C++, and SQL, he quickly built a portfolio of projects. He applies what he’s learned with Foundations Choreography, a dance organization on campus examining data of members, financial health of the organization, and managing data of audition processes and deliberations. Aaron’s current goal is to further enrich his knowledge in tech by obtaining a master’s in CS and hopefully become a data scientist or engineer.

 

Future Plans: Although initially wanting to become an accountant, Aaron has long since steered away from that career goal as he feels more fulfilled doing analytical work for companies instead. Wishing to pivot into the field of data science and computer science, he has taken courses in C++, R studio, data science, and self-taught himself python, SQL, HTML/CSS, and JavaScript. Currently, his aspirations are to become a data scientist or engineer, working around data and analyzing data to create models predicting trends, analyzing behavior, or discovering new patterns. After undergrad, he intends to be working as an analyst for a company whilst taking courses in computer science at a community college. Hopefully, he will also take the GRE and apply for grad school and obtain a MBA/MCS.

 

What this scholarship means to me? Coming to UCLA, I knew that college would be expensive, and living in LA would be more expensive and realistically, I couldn’t just stay in my apartment, attend class, eat at home and sleep or else the college experience would’ve been one with regrets and misery. I believe that no college experience should solely just be for educational purposes, part of the implicit monetary value in going to college is the unique experiences and people you will meet. Memories are part of the college experience one could say. I am in a very privileged position in which my parents and family are able to fund my entire college journey with the help of some financial aid and grants of course, but I can see how this is creating a toll. Recently, my family accumulated costs as my family down-sized and moved back into our small house in Rowland Heights and needed to pay for renovations. My sister is also starting grad school soon and family members overseas are facing health issues which requires us to send money over there. With me still going to college, I wanted to be able to help my family so I applied for this scholarship. I am forever grateful to receive the Patricia and Harry L Bruce scholarship to help afford my tuition and lessen the burden on my parents. Furthermore, this would help me with my goals as I took this summer to take classes in order to prepare for grad school as I realized towards the end of my junior year I wanted to enrich my skills and knowledge and take my academic and professional career to the next level by obtaining a MBA or a MCS. I realized the opportunity cost of working would’ve given me money to help my parents, but they are so proud of me for wanting to go to grad school and assured me that there is no financial issue with me choosing to go to grad school. This is why I am very thankful to receive this scholarship, It will significantly help me achieve my own goals while simultaneously helping my family.

 

Biography: Haig Simitian is a fourth-year student at the University of California, Los Angeles, majoring in Business Economics with a minor in Accounting. Born and raised in Glendale, California, Haig enjoys spending his time playing pickleball, going to the gym, and trying new restaurants. His coursework has provided him with a well-rounded breadth of econ knowledge from a variety of subtopics, while each accounting class continued to add additional complexity and intuition to his understanding of fundamental accounting principles and their application in the business world as a whole. During his time at UCLA, he served on the executive boards of the Business-Law and Investing Society, Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Honor Society, the Bruin Stock Group, and the Armenian Pre-Law Student Association.

 

Future Plans: After graduating from UCLA, Haig will start his full-time job at Deloitte in their Business Tax Services practice as a Tax Consultant. He intends to pursue a CPA license within his first year working there. Haig also plans to attend law school in the near future to further his education and enhance his career opportunities.

 

What this scholarship means to me? I am profoundly grateful for the honor of being selected as a recipient of the Gumbiner Savett Inc. Endowed Undergraduate Prize. As I reflect on my journey, I am reminded of the transformative impact education has had on my career goals and aspirations. The generosity of this award will allow me to make further use of the endless learning opportunities at UCLA and is an inspiration to keep working hard to make my career goals come to fruition.

 

Biography: Lydia Sun was born in China to a family of local farmers. She grew up in a small village and learned the value of hard work and kindness. She left her village in order to get higher education. In 2018 Lydia moved to America, and she attended community college as well as worked full time. Lydia was accepted to UCLA for the 2022 academic year. Lydia Sun, an enthusiastic and dedicated individual, embarked on her academic journey at UCLA with an unwavering passion to excel in the fields of business and accounting. Her diverse work experiences in both domestic and international e-commerce reflect her leadership prowess and her ability to implement efficient business strategies. Beyond her academic pursuits, Lydia’s proactive stance, complemented by her versatile skill set, positions her as an invaluable asset in any professional setting. Rooted in a dedication to perpetual advancement, Lydia’s aspiration to achieve CPA licensure underscores her unwavering commitment to pursuing excellence and embracing ongoing growth.

 

Future Plans: Lydia Sun, a dedicated student, envisions a future that marries her passion for accounting and her drive to excel. As she progresses through her studies at UCLA, Lydia’s determination is evident in her decision to postpone graduation from after the completion of the 2023 winter quarter to spring 2024 in order to undertake additional accounting coursework in preparation for her CPA licensure. After completing her studies, Lydia aims to secure internships in prestigious firms like one of the big 4 companies and to gain practical experience and expand her skill set. With a keen interest in data analysis, marketing, and customer service, Lydia aspires to bring a holistic approach to her career, focusing on optimizing business strategies and financial practices. Her commitment to professional growth is evident in her dedication to achieving CPA certification 225 units and courses by September 2024.

 

What this scholarship means to you? Receiving the Prof. Harry Simons Endowed Undergrad. Scholarship for the Study of Accounting is an incredible honor and privilege for me. This scholarship means not only financial assistance but also a recognition of my dedication to pursuing a career in accounting. As a Business Economics major student with a minor in Accounting at UCLA, this scholarship will alleviate some of the financial burden associated with pursuing higher education. It will enable me to focus more on my studies and extracurricular activities that contribute to my professional growth. I am truly grateful for this opportunity, and it motivates me to excel in my studies and future career as a CPA.

 

 

Biography: Sasha Zhang is a rising third-year majoring in Business Economics with a minor in Data Science Engineering. On campus, she is a member of 180 Degrees Consulting, the world’s largest volunteer consultancy for nonprofits and social enterprises, where she currently serves as the Director of Consulting Connect. Consulting Connect is a subgroup of 180DC dedicated to improving the accessibility and visibility of consulting within the UCLA student body through skill-building workshops, disseminating professional development resources, and in the coming Fall 2023 quarter, launching a client-facing consulting project initiative open to all UCLA students.

 

Future Plans: In the future, Sasha plans to pursue consulting which will expose her to a wide range of industries and expertise, and allow her to continue building her business acumen and technical skills. She believes consulting is the prime learning ground for her to gain a multifaceted worldview, where she will ultimately discover her niche purpose and be able to create a broader
impact. In the past summer, she was a Private Equity Intern at a real estate investment firm where she worked on underwriting a multifamily property deal, as well as working on the asset
management side conducting financial analysis on existing portfolio properties. She was also a UCLA Economics Teaching Assistant teaching two summer courses on economics, finance, and
data science concepts to high school and college students.

 

What this scholarship means to me? I want to sincerely thank Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence and Joan E. Anderson for the incredible honor of choosing me as the recipient of the Lawrence and Joan E. Anderson Fund Scholarship. Your generosity has immensely eased my financial burden with tuition and educational expenses, and your extraordinary kindness and support towards my academic goals truly means so much. This award will forever serve as a reminder to always approach learning with intellectual curiosity and integrity, to continue working hard and striving to use my skills to make a tangible impact, and to pay forward to the UCLA community all the privileges, lessons, and advice I’ve been fortunate enough to receive. I’ll continue striving for excellence in all facets of my life. With the deepest gratitude, thank you.

 

Biography: Iris is an uprising third-year Economics major also pursuing a second major in Linguistics & Computer Science. She has held a wide variety of policy and legal writing experiences, from writing for the Daily Bruin and BLIS law review, holding board positions on two pre-law societies, to interning at a law firm. She is currently involved in a multitude of research projects and labs, both independent and professor-led, where she explores the economic and social impact of communication and language technologies. Much of her research projects involve social data collection and database creation, and she is grateful for the guidance of the involved professors and mentors. In addition, Iris is an active member of student government (USAC), serving on the Finance Committee, CSC, and chairing funds, where she is passionate about allocating funds to support students’ academic ambitions and service efforts. Outside of her school activities, Iris is a singer, enjoys reading/collecting classical Western literature, goes on late-night runs, and loves baking with her mother.

 

Future Plans: As she has a deep love for school and learning, following her graduation from UCLA, Iris plans to attend grad school or law school and further pursue her educational interests. She hopes to research and further develop her knowledge about the intersection of behavioral economics, language policies, and law. She also strives to develop her communication and technical skills so that she can one day educate policymakers on emerging technologies that lack regulations and develop applications that improve technology-human intercommunication, labor conditions, immigrant education/welfare, and economic productivity. Iris sees herself traveling often and living in many places in the future, where she looks forward to immersing herself in new cultures, learning new languages, and expanding her global and political perspective.

 

What this scholarship means to me? I am eternally grateful for the generosity of the Wark Family, and no words can truly express how honored I am to be a recipient of the Robert D. & Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship. Not only will this scholarship provide financial support so I may dedicate more of my time towards my academic endeavors, but this scholarship also provides great motivation for such academic endeavors. I am happy that the UCLA Economics Department and the Wark Family have awarded me and recognized my professional ambitions, and I will do all I can to honor their recognition, strive for success, and serve my community.