David Tracy

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2012 Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Recipient

Biography: David Tracy is a fifth-year undergraduate student studying Business Economics and Architecture, with a Minor in Accounting. David assists Professor Gordon Klein in teaching his advanced accounting and taxation classes at UCLA. He has interned with the internal audit group at Edwards Lifesciences and with Navigant Consulting’s litigation consulting practice. He is currently interning with UBS private wealth management. David has combined his interest in product design with technical and design skills from his architecture courses to design furniture from cardboard and LEGO bricks, which he sells through stores and interior decorators in Los Angeles and Sacramento. His website is www.bricklamps.com. David thinks it is important to give back to the community. He served as a Fellow with the UCLA Volunteer Center and helped organize WOMP and Volunteer Day. During his free time, David likes to camp and ride his bike by the ocean on Highway 1.

Future Plans: After graduating this June, David plans to work full time with UBS while pursuing a CFA certification. He will continue developing his furniture business while preparing to pursue an MBA degree.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I want to express my gratitude to the donors of the Professor Harry Simons Endowed Scholarship for the Study of Accounting. I am grateful for the recognition and am honored to have been chosen for this award. The scholarship will allow me to focus on my academic achievements in my final year with fewer financial complications and will help me to cover the cost of CFA exam preparations.

Alain Olavarietta

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2012 Robert D. & Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Alain Olavarrieta, a transfer student from Rio Hondo Community College, is currently a senior majoring in Business Economics at UCLA. Born in Mexico, Alain immigrated to the States at the age of eight for the chance of a better life and an education. Coming from a hard, working class background, he lived in a small trailer located in Compton, California. After working odd jobs from construction, car washing to selling knives, Alain now works as a private mathematics tutor. He is an active member of IDEAS at UCLA, an AB540 student support group whose efforts goes towards passing the DREAM Act.

Future Plans: During his senior year, he plans to gain research experience to aid him in his pursuit of higher education. After graduating in Business Economics, Alain aspires to obtain a Ph.D. in Economics with an emphasis in Game Theory. His top choices for his Ph.D. in Economics are MIT, Caltech or UCLA. After attaining a PhD, he hopes to start his own consulting firm and eventually become a faculty member at UCLA.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: Being the recipient of a Robert D. & Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship has been an honor. This award changed my life by relieving me of financial burden, allowing me to focus on school and eliminating the need to work. During prior school years, I allocated over fifty hours per week to non–education activities such as work and transportation. I skipped multiple quarters due to a lack of funds. This economic stress transpired due to my social political status, which made me ineligible for any financial aid and most lucrative work opportunities. In addition to this, my family was unable to help me. Ultimately, the rising cost of tuition made graduating from UCLA a dream that was slipping away. The Wark Scholarship brought that dream closer to reality and I am humbled and extremely thankful by the generosity of the Wark family.

April Misa

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2012 Jeffrey W. Baus ’59 Scholarship Recipient \

Biography: April Misa is a fourth-year student pursuing a major in Economics while also taking accounting courses. April was born and raised in Los Angeles, which made UCLA her dream school. Despite being active on campus as the president of Bruin Business Review and a student volunteer for Project Literacy, April is also involved in activities outside of campus. She was a UCLA Travel Study participant, spending a summer abroad to study the Spanish language and culture in Spain and travel Europe with friends. Working alongside the Philippine-American Society of CPAs, April manages the youth involvement of Philippine-American students interested in accounting. April has had previous internship experience in accounting and wealth management. During her spare time, she enjoys traveling, trying new food, and spending time with family and friends.

Future Plans: Upon April’s graduation in spring 2013, she plans to take the UCLA Accounting Summer Institute to complete her remaining units/courses required for the CPA exam. She is planning to start with PwC as an Assurance Associate in Los Angeles and is hoping to receive her CPA license not long after.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am extremely thankful to be the recipient of the Jeffrey W. Baus ’59 Scholarship for the 2012-2013 school year. This scholarship will allow me to focus solely on academics and extracurricular activities during my final year at UCLA. I will be able to enjoy my last year at UCLA without having to be as concerned with the financial aspect of my education. This scholarship encourages me to work hard and stay committed to my future professional goals. I am honored to receive the Jeffrey W. Baus ’59 Scholarship and I want to sincerely thank the donor, Mr. Jeffrey Baus, for allowing me this opportunity.

Edward McLaughlin

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2012 The Donald Edward Bragg & Diane Sims Bragg Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Edward McLaughlin is a third-year student majoring in Business Economics. He grew up in Torrance, CA, with his parents and two siblings. In high school, he enjoyed playing baseball and wished to continue his athletic career in college; however, a torn triceps tendon effectively ended his hopes of continuing to play at the highest level. He acknowledged his comparative advantage in academic pursuits and decided to enroll at UCLA, where his increased emphasis on academics has allowed him to excel. He chose to major in Business Economics because of its relevance in the world today and the variety of practical applications for which the degree will provide a useful background. He enjoys reading, going to the beach, and playing sports.

Future Plans: Edward will work in the investment research division of a large investment bank upon graduation in June 2013. From there, he intends to rise within the bank but also has an interest in moving to the buy-side. Edward also has a strong interest in entrepreneurship. While he is currently working on several ventures, he has a special interest in eventually managing his own hedge fund.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I want to thank the Bragg family for awarding me the Donald Edward Bragg and Diane Sims Bragg Scholarship. Their generosity exemplifies their commitment to undergraduate education in the Economics Department at UCLA. This scholarship will ease my financial burden and allow me to focus on my education and lessen the worry of the rising cost of tuition and extortionist textbook costs. I am proud that the Bragg family can now share in my future success.

Chengappa Kodira

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2012 John J. Peterson Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Chengappa Kodira is a fourth-year Business-Economics student from Davis, California. At UCLA, Chengappa has gained experience working at the Anderson School of Management and also interning for Senator Barbara Boxer, Merrill Lynch, and most recently Deloitte & Touche. Chengappa has also been actively involved in several student groups from the Undergraduate Mock Trial Program, to the student-led consulting group Bruin Consulting, and the Undergraduate Business Society.

Future Plans: After graduating with a B.A. in Business-Economics, Chengappa plans to begin as a Consultant for Hitachi Consulting. Before he begins, though, he would like to explore his interests in entrepreneurship further. He would like to learn how to program and code, and work with other entrepreneurs in Southern California. Chengappa also hopes to earn an MBA in the near future, but in the long run, he wishes to run a consumer products firm that affects the lives of people around the world.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am truly honored to receive the John J. Peterson Scholarship for the 2012-2013 school year. I am thankful for this scholarship for recognizing both my dedication to extracurricular activities and entrepreneurial pursuits. Through such generous contributions, I am better able to pursue my career goals. I would like to sincerely thank Mr. Peterson for his financial assistance and support of my future endeavors.

Dennis Drent

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2012 Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Recipient

Biography: Dennis Drent Jr. is a fourth-year student pursuing a Business Economics major with minors in Accounting and Mathematics. He serves as one of two Directors of Training for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, where he greatly enjoys teaching new volunteers how to file individual income taxes. Dennis also loves working on campus part time for the UCLA Anderson School’s Executive MBA Program. When he can, Dennis relaxes by going on runs, spending time with family and friends, and watching SportsCenter.

Future Plans: Dennis is very excited to use the accounting skills he learned at UCLA to work full time as an investment analyst for a capital group shortly after graduating. After the company’s analyst program, he plans to enroll in a top MBA program and focus on entrepreneurial studies. Dennis’ ultimate career goal is to find his niche in the global business world and start a successful company as founder and CEO.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I receive the Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting award with extreme gratitude and appreciation. I feel very fortunate to be recognized for my hard work. This award greatly alleviates the financial burden of getting an education at such a renowned university. I hope to one day be able to affect the lives of future economics students by contributing a similar gift to UCLA’s Economics Department. Once again, I thank the donors of the Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting for their generosity.

Yuanyuan Cai

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2012 Patricia and Harry L. Bruce Endowed Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Yuanyuan Cai is a fourth-year UCLA student pursuing a Business-Economics degree. Born and raised in China, Yuanyuan moved to the United States for college and transferred to UCLA in 2011. At UCLA, she has achieved outstanding academic success and has received A+’s from ten classes in four quarters. Driven by her interest in finance and economics, she has held numerous internship positions at China Construction Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, and Zhongjian United CPA Firm. She also worked as a tax preparer in the UCLA Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) in 2012. Yuanyuan has great passion for economics research. As a student in the Department Honors Program, she is currently working on her honors thesis, studying the effect of Malawi’s fertilizer subsidy policy on its economic growth. She is also a participant in the College Honors Program

Future Plans: Yuanyuan will complete her B.A. in Business Economics at UCLA this year. After graduation, Yuanyuan hopes to continue her studies and research in graduate school and pursue a career in finance and economics. She plans to take the CFA exam in December to prepare herself for her future career. Yuanyuan’s long-term goal is to hold a research position in investment banking.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am sincerely honored and grateful to receive the Patricia and Harry L. Bruce Endowed Scholarship for the 2012-2013 academic year. I want to thank both Mrs. Patricia Bruce and Mr. Harry L. Bruce for their generosity, which assists students like me to pursue their academic and career goals. This scholarship recognizes my hard work and accomplishments, and strengthens my determination to achieve my future goals. The award greatly alleviates the financial burden of myself and my family and allows me to fully concentrate on studies to prepare for a higher degree in economics. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Mrs. Patricia Bruce and Mr. Harry L. Bruce for their support.

Kareem Aly

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2012 Robert D. & Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Kareem grew up in Downey, California. He played basketball and football in high school but ultimately decided to pursue an education at the prestigious UCLA. He initially started out as a pre-med student but eventually switched to Business Economics. Kareem has completed a private equity real estate internship at Bruin Capital, an investment banking internship at Imperial Capital, LLC, and a wealth management internship at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. He enjoys playing basketball, working out, and rooting for the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Lakers.

Future Plans: Kareem plans to pursue an investment banking internship this summer, where he will hope to secure a job offer. After two years in banking, he may decide to move on to private equity, a hedge fund, corporate development, or venture capital, with the option of simply staying in investment banking, as well, if he likes it enough. A long-term goal of his is to eventually start his own restaurant later in life when he has the time and capital necessary for it to succeed. He also plans to undoubtedly pursue investment opportunities in real estate on the side.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: The way this scholarship helps me is two-fold. First, it allows me to not have to work as many hours during the school year so that I can focus on my studies. Keeping my GPA high is important to me for securing a banking internship this summer as well as for possibly getting into a top MBA program down the road. Secondly, it allows me to not be burned out for my summer internship. This scholarship allows me to go into the summer internship well-rested, stress-free, and ready to absolutely kill it and secure that job offer. I would like to thank the Wark family from the bottom of my heart for their extreme generosity and dedication to my success. Their kindness is truly appreciated.

Zhihao Zhao

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2013 The Boeing Company Scholarship in Economics Recipient

Biography: Zhihao Zhao is a second year Business Economics and Psychology double-major and Mathematics Minor from Beijing, China. At UCLA, Zhihao has developed a strong passion for entrepreneurship and education. He plans to bring his knowledge of developmental psychology to Chinese parents through a future start-up business. In addition, Zhihao is currently the External Vice President of Building Engineers and Mentors (BEAM) at UCLA and a circle docent for the Los Angeles Math Circle (LAMC) in the Department of Mathematics at UCLA. He is also an undergraduate research assistant at the W.M. Keck Center for Neurophysics, studying the formation of spatial consciousness. Zhihao has previously served at the Beijing Friendship Hospital as an assistant and he was an accounting intern with the Shougang Group in Beijing. He enjoys skating and swimming in his spare time.

Future Plans: Zhihao is currently looking for internship opportunities in consulting industries to gain more experience in business. He plans to obtain a MBA and a doctorate in education within the next ten years. After finishing those degrees, he plans to go back to China, start up his own consulting business, and establish his own schools to provide high-quality education to younger generations. The business will seek to establish schools that better encourage students’ psychological development and help remedy the widespread problem of psychologically inappropriate educational methods in China.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am very grateful and honored to be a recipient of the 2013-14 Boeing Company Scholarship in Economics. I appreciate Boeing’s dedication to supporting higher education. To me, this scholarship represents much more than the wonderful financial benefit it provides to me and my family. I also regard this scholarship as an encouraging validation of my previous work and a mandate to pursue my career goal in entrepreneurship and education. I expect to bring the benefits of this scholarship to bear on schoolchildren and parents in China, which should ultimately make a positive impact beyond China as well.

Quanyi Zhao

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2013 Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Recipient

Biography: Qianyi Zhao is a junior pursuing a Business Economics and Statistics double major with a Minor in Accounting. Born and raised in Beijing, China, Qianyi had been proudly nurtured by the traditional Chinese culture until she came to UCLA for college at the age of eighteen. During her time at UCLA, meeting new friends and taking inspiring classes have greatly opened her mind. In addition to her strong academic achievements, she also volunteers at VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) and Project Literacy. Her internships in the past two years at China EverBright Bank, The Veloz Group, and AXA Advisors have also given her hands-on experience in the business world. In her spare time, Qianyi likes to swim, long-distance run, play the piano, and sing in the UCLA University Chorus.

Future Plans: Qianyi feels fortunate to have learned accounting, which has opened a window to the business world. Along with her skills with numbers and background in statistics, Qianyi is looking for an internship for the coming summer as a transition into her final year at UCLA. Eventually, she hopes to work as a financial data analyst in corporate finance after she graduates with College Honors in Spring Quarter 2015.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am truly appreciative and grateful to be selected as a recipient of the Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the 2013-2014 academic year. This award greatly relieves the financial burden from my family so that I am able to take more challenging courses in college and focus on my studies rather than working extended hours. This honor also convinces me that I have made a right choice to study accounting and finance, and enhances my confidence to work in the field that I am interested in. I hope to give back to UCLA as an instructor after my dream comes true. Again, I would like to thank the Professor Simons Scholarship donors for their generous support.