Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Scholarship Recipient

Biography: João Pedro Queiroga Zancanaro is a fourth year Business Economics major who is minoring in Accounting and Mathematics. He was raised in Brasília, Brazil, and is the first of his family to pursue an undergraduate education abroad. He first became interested in Economics during a History class that discussed Schumpeter’s “creative destruction”, and first became interested in Accounting after reading financial statements while taking introductory classes at UCLA. João Pedro has a passion for soccer and traveling, enjoys martial arts and singing for the UCC Music Ministry, and is always looking for new topics of interest to learn.

Future Plans: After graduating, João Pedro intends to work in an M&A firm while studying for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam and other finance and accounting-related certificates. If he goes back to Brazil, he also intends to validate his degree in either Accounting or Economics. In the long term, João Pedro hopes to have a business of his own, and to create a philanthropic organization to help fight poverty and illiteracy in South America.

What does this scholarship mean to me?: I am unbelievably grateful for being selected as the recipient of the Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting. This scholarship not only provides me with financial relief, but also motivates me to pursue my dreams and to give something back to my family and to my community. As I know that my grades and past experiences have contributed greatly to my application, this scholarship also gives me a concrete example of how dedication yields fantastic results. I would like to thank my family for giving me strength and for inspiring me to be a better person, and I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all who made this award possible.

2018 Donald Edward Bragg & Diane Sims Bragg Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Jennifer Ma is a third year Business Economics and International Development Studies double major. Hailing from Massachusetts, she decided to attend UCLA to experience and learn in a new environment on the other side of the country. Through her double major, she has been able to explore her interest in global development from a financial and economic standpoint and in applying theories to real world cases of development. Since coming into UCLA, Jennifer has also taken on leadership positions in student organizations such as Bruin Asset Management, Undergraduate Business Society, and Synthesis Dance Theatre.

Future plans: This upcoming summer, Jennifer will be interning in the Investment Banking division at Credit Suisse in New York. From this internship, she hopes to hone her technical skills, financial knowledge, and general business acumen. Upon graduating, she plans on pursuing a career in investment banking in New York for the opportunity to advise blue chip companies and work on some of the largest transactions in today’s markets. After gaining some experience in the field, Jennifer plans to transition to the buy-side, specifically to venture capital to invest in start-ups and ultimately transform the future business landscape. Eventually, she hopes to ascend to an executive or partner level of a firm and champion female representation in the boardrooms of financial institutions.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am incredible honored to have been chosen for the Donald Edward Bragg & Diane Sims Bragg Scholarship award and would like to thank Mr. Bragg and his family for the generous contribution that made this award possible. Their support alleviates the financial burden of a college education and allows me to focus on my academic and career goals. In addition, this scholarship acts as a recognition of my hard work in the past few years and my dedication to not only my studies and professional goals, but also my commitment to the UCLA community. I am very grateful for the Bragg family’s support and am motivated to strive to uphold the standards of this award.

2018 Lawrence and Joan E. Anderson Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Zuhao Li is a Business Economics Student in his Junior Year. Originally from Australia, he came to study in the States with the intention of learning more about American businesses and how they operate in the world’s most advanced financial economy. With a passion for Economics and investing, Zuhao has taken leadership positions in prestigious campus organizations such as Bruin Value Investing and the Undergraduate Investment Society.

Future Plans: Zuhao will have a Summer internship at Bridge Investment Group this Summer and hopes to learn more about real-estate investing from experienced industry professionals. He will attempt to begin a full-time position at a buyside investment firm post-graduation. The ultimate goal is to accumulate enough knowledge so that he feels comfortable enough start his own fund to invest his and clients’ money.

What does this scholarship mean to me?: I am extremely grateful and humbled to receive this scholarship. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson and their family for providing this financial support. With the raising tuition costs, this award will go a long way in reducing the financial obligations I must meet and will allow me to better focus on my academic and professional career. I also appreciate the fact that this scholarship recognizes my academic achievement, something that is often glossed over by the career focused people in Economics pursuing finance. Finally, I am grateful to the UCLA economics department for both providing scholarship opportunities to students and for selecting me to receive this honor out of other qualified applicants.

2018 Patricia and Harry L. Bruce Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Nadiya Komzyuk is a third-year Business Economics student, who is passionate about applying economic theory and data analysis to strategy improvement. Her high academic achievement, business acumen, charisma, and sharp analytical mindset have earned her recognition as one of the top students in the UCLA Economics Department.

She is also very active in the UCLA community. In addition to being involved with several student organizations, she is currently the Vice Chair of the Finance Committee for the UCLA Undergraduate Student Association Council. In her free time, she enjoys taking road trips, spending time with her friends and family, and being a part of her local church.

Future Plans: This summer, Nadiya will be interning for a public-sector consulting firm in Sacramento where she will work on analyzing the economic and social impacts of various state projects and providing consultation regarding strategy, efficiency, and business process improvement. (She is also planning a back-packing trip to Asia!) Upon graduation, she hopes to expose herself to experience in different industries before potentially pursuing an MBA or law school.

What does the scholarship mean to me?:  I would like to sincerely thank the donors of the Patricia and Harry L. Bruce scholarship for their generosity and investment into my future. I am extremely grateful. For me personally, this scholarship could not have come at a better time, as this year has been very financially challenging for me and my family. This scholarship has given me the opportunity to take a leave from work to focus on the recruitment season, as well as to take advantage of the many opportunities for personal and professional growth offered by UCLA. Thank you, again, for your tremendous impact on my career and my future.

2018 Harold R. Mortenson Endowed Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Zhidong Guo is a senior student at UCLA majoring in Business Economics and Mathematics. Also, he is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Economics at the same time through the Departmental Scholar Program. Born in China, he’s a transfer student from East LA Community College. During his study at UCLA, he developed a passion for game theory, especially in adaptation. With his strong background in mathematics and physics, he wishes he can contribute to the field of game theory in a nontraditional way. Outside of school, he loves photography, astronomy, and geology. In particular, he’s an enthusiast in (deep-sky) astrophotography.

Future Plans: Zhidong Guo is seeking a career in researching about game theory. After graduation, he plans to apply for a Ph.D. on game theory. Specifically, he looks forward to understanding more about large-scale interacting systems.

What does this scholarship mean to me?: First of all, I want to thank the donors of Harold R. Mortenson Scholarship Fund and the Econ department. I am honored to be selected as the recipient and grateful for the support of my academic path. This scholarship reduced my financial stress and helped me to focus more on my study, especially as an international student. What’s more, it inspired me to be more confident with my research goals. The feeling of being trusted and qualified for a True Bruin deeply motivated me to work harder to approach my goals and gave me a strong desire to give back to the community. I hope one day I am able to inspire others just as how you inspired me. I can’t thank you enough for the memorable college experience that you brought me.