For the fourth time, and for the second consecutive year, ALPFA named a Florida International University (FIU) student “National Student of the Year.” Christopher Houseman (BACC ’10) joins Daniel Zamora, Krystel Ramos (MACC ’08, BACC ’07) and Zameer Upadhya (BACC ’02) as the winner of the highest student award given by the organization. In addition, a team of five students competed in the KPMG case competition, advancing to the final six from a field of 25.

More than 40 students from ALPFA at FIU—the largest student chapter in the country—attended the ALPFA National Convention, held July 31-August 4, 2010 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Winner focused on helping ALPFA at FIU members prepare for their careers.

Houseman began the Master of Accounting (MACC) program in the School of Accounting immediately after graduating, completed an internship with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and is working as a graduate advisor for the MACC and Executive Master of Science in Taxation while he completes his masters. He has accepted a full-time job at PwC in their assurance practice.

Among his many achievements as president of ALPFA at FIU, he organized programs to “show the members the range of opportunities in the field” and networking events with the Miami chapter of ALPFA.

KPMG case competition tests students’ research and presentation skills.

“I am a shy person and wanted to step out of my comfort zone,” said Teresa Hernandez, captain of the case competition team, who also participated in the Johnson & Johnson and the PwC xTax competitions.

Describing the preparation for the KPMG competition as “very challenging,” Hernandez and her four teammates, “all very self-motivated,” researched the case for four months.

“Members of ALPFA at FIU have once again made us very proud,” said Ruth Ann McEwen, the school’s director. “They continue to demonstrate their knowledge and initiative, both in their ongoing work for the organization on campus and at each year’s national convention.”