2017 Outstanding Graduates
The Accounting Department awarded the 2017 Outstanding Graduates at the 17th Annual Accounting Awards Banquet on Thursday, May 25th in Locatelli Hall at Santa Clara University.
This year’s recipient of the O. Robert Anderson Award is Arun Coumar. The award was established in memory of accounting Professor O. Robert Anderson in 1973 and is presented to the accounting major judged outstanding in scholarship by the faculty of the department. Arun Coumar is an accounting major, Leavey Scholar, and Accounting Association officer from Seattle who graduated in spring 2017. As a sophomore, Arun joined Presidio Bank as a credit analyst who assessed complex client financials for credit covenant maintenance. Presidio Bank was so impressed with Arun that they established a new internship program with SCU that would continue the position that they created for him. Arun has since joined PwC as an Associate in Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services.
Awarded to Thomas Deal, the Jerry Kasner Memorial Award is given annually to an outstanding accounting student at SCU selected by the Silicon Valley Chapter of the California Society of CPAs. The award is named for Professor Jerry Kasner, CPA and professor emeritus of law at Santa Clara University School of Law. Tom is an accounting major from Lake Oswego, Oregon who minors in economics and is a member of the university honors and Leavey Scholarships programs. In his spare time, Tom enjoys watching or playing just about any sport (though his favorites are basketball and football) and likes to travel and experience new cities and cultures. Tom has since started as an Audit Associate in KPMG's Portland office.
The Accounting Department along with Accounting & Information Systems awarded Walter Yu with the Outstanding Accounting & Information Systems Student Award. Walter Yu is an A&IS major, ACE student, Accounting Association officer, and member of the leadership honors program. His personal interests include photography, cars, technology, and playing (and watching) tennis and basketball. He also likes to go on hikes and traveling to new places. Walter has left his mark on many people; it is difficult to find any professor or accounting/A&IS student who has not interacted with him. Walter has since joined PwC as an Associate in Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services.