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Masuma Tewari

2005 Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Recipient

Biography: Masuma is an international student from New Delhi, India. Hailing from a middle class family it was always her desire to pursue her higher education in the United States. Being the only child it was tough for her parents to send me so far away from home. It was her dream come true when she was able to secure admission at UCLA. She came here with the high goals and ambitions. Although she has not been able to achieve all that she had sought, nonetheless she is happy with her achievements. It was her desire to pursue an honors program in economics but her already rigorous coursework has left her with no time to pursue this dream. Currently she is a senior doing a double majoring in Business Economics and Mathematics/Applied Sciences with a minor in Accounting. Had she concentrated only on academics she would have been perhaps successful in attaining a GPA of 3.9 which was her initial target but she is a firm believer in the all round development. She has enjoyed participating in numerous extra curricular activities that UCLA offers. Interning at Aids Project Los Angeles, working at protein expression lab under Dr. Jeanne Perry, performing duties of an internal vice president of Saxon suites and being a dance team member of the Indian Students Union are some of most the enriching experiences she has had at UCLA.

Future Plans: After interning with Merrill Lynch in Global Markets and Investment Banking this past summer at Palo Alto she is extremely interested to pursue a career in investment banking. Having interned at a private equity firm and Merrill in healthcare industry group has further enhanced her interest in biotechnology. She is also keen towards the fields of strategic consulting and auditing. She plans to work for two to three years and procure a valuable skill set that will help her for masters. She plans to do Masters of Business Administration after this essential work experience. Eventually, she plans to go back to India and work there in the finance industry.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: To put it truly and simply this scholarship means the world to me. Not only it is an honor for me to be chosen for the Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting, but it is also recognition of the hard work that I have put in the past three years. This award is a motivation for me in order to strive for more and achieve further academic excellence. The scholarship has come at a time when financially I really needed the support. As everyone is aware that tuition fee for international students has increased beyond normal expectations and my parents are under tremendous pressure financially. In fact it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to cope up. Thus, any amount of financial help is a major relief. Thanks to everyone for making this opportunity possible!

Rikin Raj Patel

2005 Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Recipient

Biography: Raj Patel is a fourth-year student at UCLA with majors in Business Economics and Political Science and a minor in Accounting. Raj is president of Beta Alpha Psi professional honors society and is an officer of the Student Accounting Society, two of UCLA’s top undergraduate business organizations. Raj is also planning to pursue departmental honors in Economics.

Future Plans: Raj wants to pursue a career in public accounting and obtain an MBA in the future. He has had an internship in KPMG, LLP’s Federal Taxation practice and will be starting full-time with KPMG as a Federal Tax Associate in Fall 2006. Raj would also like to obtain a CPA license and a Masters in Business Taxation degree.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I have been awarded the Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting. This scholarship is helping pay my tuition during my final year at UCLA, allowing me to focus on my departmental honors thesis without having to work during the academic year for monetary support.

Megan Moen

2005 Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Recipient

Biography: Megan Moen will graduate from UCLA in June 2006. With her remaining time at UCLA she plans to write a thesis and complete the departmental honors program for Economics. After working for Deloitte as an Audit Intern during the summer, Megan signed with the public accounting firm and will start full time next fall. She intends to fulfill all of the requirements necessary to take the CPA exam by graduation, and obtain her license soon after. Megan is also considering attending graduate school for an MBA after a few years of working.

Future Plans: Megan Moen will graduate from UCLA in June 2006. With her remaining time at UCLA she plans to write a thesis and complete the departmental honors program for Economics. After working for Deloitte as an Audit Intern during the summer, Megan signed with the public accounting firm and will start full time next fall. She intends to fulfill all of the requirements necessary to take the CPA exam by graduation, and obtain her license soon after. Megan is also considering attending graduate school for an MBA after a few years of working.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am sincerely grateful for the generosity of Mr. Paul C. Sung and the Harry Simons Scholarship Donors. This scholarship is an immense help to both myself and my family—a significant supporter of my college career. While I continue to work in addition to attending UCLA, the scholarship has unloaded a great deal of financial stress which will enable me to concentrate on and excel in academics, as well as enjoy my final year at UCLA. I have worked very hard in school and the reward is truly cherished. I will continue to show my appreciation for the benevolence of the donors through success in my education at UCLA, and future in Accounting.

Trang Le

2005 Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Recipient

Biography: Trang Le was born and raised in Da Nang, a small province of Central Vietnam. She is the youngest of seven children. Trang studied and received her high school diploma at the most prestigious High School in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Le Hong Phong High School. During her studies in Vietnam, she received many National Academic awards, including an award in the National Gifted Student Competition. In 2000, she decided to move to the United States with the hope to find further opportunities for higher education and to reunite with her brothers and sisters. She came to UCLA in 2004 majoring in business economics and a minor in accounting. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, go to movies, and volunteer in community work.

Future Plans: Although she was raised in a family where both of her parents and a brother are doctors, she never found medicine appealing to her. Instead, she was captivated by the business aspect of her parents’ clinic. Her current goals are to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics with a minor in Accounting and to work for an accounting firm like KPMG, where she did her internship during the summer of 2005. Trang’s long term academic goal is to pursue an MBA degree at the UCLA Anderson School of Business. Ultimately, she hopes to open her own accounting firm in the future.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am very fortunate to be the recipient of this wonderful scholarship. Having the scholarship reduces my financial burden and affords me more time to focus on my studies, rather than having to find work. More importantly, the scholarship reinforces my decision to pursue a career in business economics and also serves an encouragement for me to strive harder in my academic endeavors.

Shaun Marc Yosslowitz

2006 Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Recipient

Biography: Shaun Marc Yosslowitz was born in Los Angeles in May, 1986. Having graduated from Milken Community High School , Shaun started UCLA in the fall of 2004. Shaun plans to graduate in 2008 from UCLA with a BA in Business Economics and an emphasis on financial accounting. He is a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and works at the UCLA Store in between classes, and enjoys racquetball and ping pong. Shaun currently lives in Westwood and loves his UCLA experience.

Future Plans: Shaun has a passion for Management classes at UCLA. , He plans to look for an internship with an auditing firm over the summer in order to learn about the field of accounting. His immediate career goals after graduating from UCLA in 2008 are to take the CPA exam and become an accountant, probably a financial auditor. After working as an accountant for a couple of years and gaining some real world experience, Shaun hopes to attend business school and earn an MBA.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: The Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting affords me the opportunity to be more self-sufficient in paying for my UCLA education. The award will go far in helping me to achieve my degree and will put me closer to taking the CPA exam and my dream profession in accounting. The fact that this scholarship comes from the UCLA Economics Department makes it even more meaningful; to be chosen from qualified UCLA candidates was gratifying. I’m honored that I was allotted this scholarship based on my core values and life aspirations. Thanks again to UCLA and to the Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship Donors.

Lillian Hecht

2006 Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Recipient

Biography: Lillian Hecht is a third-year Business Economics student, with a Minor in Accounting. She has interned with Smith Barney and PricewaterhouseCoopers. She is currently a Resident Assistant in Hedrick Summit, and she loves to watch UCLA sports in her spare time, work on her car, and eat frozen yogurt.

Future Plans: Lilly hopes to graduate from UCLA this year. She would like to study and travel abroad in Europe over the summer. After that, she plans on working for PricewaterhouseCoopers as an auditor and eventually earn her CPA. Future ambitions may include earning her MBA or a law degree.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: Thank you so much for the Simons scholarship! It means so much to me that I will not have to worry about my finances this year. I am thankful to be able to attend UCLA, one of the greatest schools in the nation. This scholarship will help me reach my goals for the future.

Lauren Beale

2007 Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Recipient

Biography: Lauren Beale is a third-year Business Economics major and Accounting minor student. She has been fortunate to work under several of the distinguished accounting faculty at the Anderson Graduate School of Management, including work on a directed research project. Lauren also works as a peer counselor for the Undergraduate Accounting Program and is an officer of the Student Accounting Society. This year, she will be pursuing a summer internship with a public accounting firm, alongside her peers in the Class of 2009. Her hobbies include reading classic literature, traveling, and playing classical piano.

Future Plans: In the next two years, Lauren intends to finish the College Honors program and complete a thesis project for the Economics Departmental Honors program. After graduation, she plans to earn her CPA license, gain work experience with a public accounting firm, and pursue a Masters of Business Administration. She also hopes to spend time traveling to broaden her cultural horizons.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I would like to take this opportunity to thank the donors of the Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for understanding that their contributions not only ease financial burdens but renew in students the faith that their achievements, academic integrity, and determination can be rewarded. Personally, the most gratifying aspect of receiving this award is the knowledge that someone has confidence enough in me to see me through the remainder of my college career. With the stress of paying bills alleviated, I am motivated to take on new academic and extracurricular pursuits that will cultivate the skills I need to accomplish my goals. I would also like to thank the UCLA Department of Economics for making such opportunities available and maintaining a standard of excellence that primes UCLA graduates to be successful and respected members of their communities.

Paul Wong

2007 Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Recipient

Biography: Born in on August 24th, 1986, Paul Evan Wong spent his formative years growing up in Alameda, California. In 2004, Paul moved to Los Angeles upon successful matriculation to the University of California at Los Angeles. Now entering his fourth year, Paul is currently pursuing a major in Business Economics and a minor in Accounting. In addition to his primary major, Paul is also seeking a second major in History as a means of broadening his education. Considering universal academic pursuit a life-long interest and goal, Paul enjoys many other academic disciplines, including Political Science, Psychology, and Astronomy among others. Prior to attending UCLA, Paul completed high school, graduating cum laude, at the Head-Royce School in Oakland, California.

Future Plans: This fall, Paul will begin his fourth year at UCLA. Academically, Paul hopes to begin an honors thesis in economics and complete the necessary courses in accounting in order to be eligible for a CPA upon graduation. Through his remaining course work, he hopes to gain an international perspective on business and economics. In June 2008, Paul intends to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from UCLA. During the year, Paul will also continue his search for a job upon graduation. He hopes to gain a few years of valuable work experience to begin his career before attending business school. Completing business school, he aspires to work as a financial consultant within the hi-tech industry. Ultimately, Paul’s hope is someday run his own computer company, which provides affordable products to low-to-middle income households in a progressive eco-friendly manner.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: The Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship means very much to me, and it shall provide me with numerous opportunities that are invaluable to my growth, both as an academician and as a person. Without such a scholarship, I would be hard pressed to participate in the Economic Departmental Honors Program. The aid that the scholarship provides, has allowed me to go to focus on my studies much more intensively. Also, such assistance will allow me to search for an ideal place to being my career upon graduation from UCLA. Lastly, this scholarship will allow me to participate as a student-athlete during the winter on the UCLA Ski Team. All in all, the generosity of the benefactors of the Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship has made these invaluable experiences possible. To them, and the Department of Economics at UCLA, I am grateful.

Tim Najera

2008 Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Recipient

Biography: Tim Najera is a third year, majoring in Business Economics while pursuing a minor in Accounting. He is currently on pace to graduate in three years with College Honors. Tim was born in Southern California to two UCLA alumni. At Reseda Math Science Magnet High School located in the San Fernando Valley he was class valedictorian graduating first overall in his class. In high school, he was captain of the Swim Team, captain of Science Bowl, and president of Alcuins Honor Society. During his time at UCLA, he was the head coach of Cleveland High School’s Varsity Water Polo Team and worked as an Open Water Lifeguard. He just completed a summer internship as a Federal Tax Intern for KPMG. During his free time Tim enjoys swimming, running, working out at the gym and spending time with his girlfriend.

Future Plans: After completing an internship in taxation, Tim plans to continue to his interest and work full time. Within the next year Tim plans to earn his CPA license. In the future Tim hopes to be able to continue his education and earn a degree in either law and or a Master’s in Business Administration.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am honored to have been a recipient of the Harry Simon Scholarship for the 2008-2009 academic year. The money will help ease the financial burden for myself and allow me to fully focus on my studies, pursue other academic interests and sit down and plan my future. The scholarship has reinforced my belief that hard work and effort will pay off in the long run.

Sa-Pyung Shin

2008 Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Recipient

Biography: Sa-Pyung Shin is a senior at UCLA majoring in Business Economics and minoring in Accounting. Born in Seoul, Korea on June 2nd, 1984, Sa-Pyung grew up in Korea. His father named him Sa-Pyung, which means “Think Peace.” He came to the United States to study abroad in his junior year of high school and entered UCLA in 2003. He left school for two and a half years to serve military duty in Korea Air Force after his sophomore year and came back in 2008. He is a finance officer of the Korean Student Union. He did an internship at Deloitte in Seoul, Korea this past summer.

Future Plans: In his last year at UCLA, Sa-Pyung wants to broaden and deepen his knowledge in finance and accounting. He is also considering a thesis project for the Departmental Honors Program. He plans to earn a CPA license after graduation and build work experience before pursuing an advanced degree in Business Administration. He is especially interested in efficient allocation of capital and it is his ultimate dream to contribute his knowledge to developing an economic policy or a financial system which will bring about peace and prosperity in the global society.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: It is a great honor to be selected as a Professor Harry Simon Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship recipient. This scholarship will lessen the financial burdens as an international student and allow me to focus more on my studies at UCLA. It also has given me great pride and confidence that would aid me in my development of specific avenues to fulfill my ambitious dream. Most of all, I realized that hard-work would always be rewarded. In return for this grateful favor, I will do my best to live up to the expectations of the scholarship donors and the people around me.