Each school year, a group of standout student leaders are selected to represent INCPAS and the accounting profession on their campuses. As ambassadors, they’re the go-to person for helping their classmates discover resources, opportunities and events that can jumpstart their accounting careers.
This year’s cohort spans schools across Indiana, and each ambassador brings their own drive, curiosity and leadership to the role. We asked them a few questions to get to know them better and here’s what they had to say.
Laura Alarcon
Junior – Purdue University
What organizations are you involved with?
PAA (Purdue Accounting Association) & ALPFA
What word would your friends would use to describe you?
Determined
What’s one goal you’re working toward this year?
I aim to get to know more students within the business school while allowing myself to have plenty of time for myself and to study.
What’s the best takeaway you’ve learned from a professor?
No one is perfect. And that’s okay. Just because you are struggling in a class related to your major, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t for you. Trust in the process, work hard and learn.
What can employers do to help you feel a sense of belonging at your first job?
Make the environment comfortable enough to ask questions, make mistakes and grow.
Erica Cardinal
Sophomore – Kelley School of Business at IU Indianapolis
What organizations are you involved with?
Kelley Indianapolis Accounting Association & Women in Business
What word would your friends would use to describe you?
Witty
What’s one goal you’re working toward this year?
To develop my leadership skills through my ambassadorship with INCPAS and my role on the executive board with Kelley Accounting Association.
What’s the best takeaway you’ve learned from a professor?
You have to advocate for yourself. No one else will do it for you!
What can employers do to help you feel a sense of belonging at your first job?
I enjoy team building exercises, games, and of course, team lunches. I’d also like to be connected with a peer mentor within the organization who has had a similar path as me.
Emily Cripe
Sophomore – Ball State University
What organizations are you involved with?
Accounting Club & Women in Business Club
What word would your friends would use to describe you?
Honest
What’s one goal you’re working toward this year?
Building the Women in Business Club from the ground up!
What’s the best takeaway you’ve learned from a professor?
It is never too early to cultivate professional relationships. Ideally, networking should begin long before you need it.
What can employers do to help you feel a sense of belonging at your first job?
Provide strong onboarding, assign mentors, encourage open communication and create opportunities to build relationships with coworkers. When employees feel welcomed, supported and recognized for their contributions, they’re more likely to feel connected to their team and community.
Citlaly Duran-Caballero
Sophomore – Butler University
What organizations are you involved with?
International Business Organization, Lacy Business Scholars & the Indiana CPA Society
What word would your friends would use to describe you?
Curious
What’s one goal you’re working toward this year?
Growing professionally as I learn and do the things I love!
What’s the best takeaway you’ve learned from a professor?
Ask questions. Don’t be afraid of being wrong. Learning comes with curiosity and it always leads you to great places!
What can employers do to help you feel a sense of belonging at your first job?
Provide resources but also make sure they connect with their employees! Everyone has different experiences and stories to share that are worth listening to. Forming these relationships can go a long way to form a functional work environment.
Adrian Gayhart
Sophomore – Marian University
What organizations are you involved with?
UBI (Union for Black Identity) & 100 Black Men
What word would your friends would use to describe you?
Fun
What’s one goal you’re working toward this year?
Getting connected with students and promoting them and their drive for learning!
What’s the best takeaway you’ve learned from a professor?
You can know everything and still know nothing. Keep learning and pursuing knowledge.
What can employers do to help you feel a sense of belonging at your first job?
Making a connection so people feel seen and heard!
Jalen Malone
Sophomore – Indiana University Kokomo
What organizations are you involved with?
IU Kokomo men’s basketball team
What word would your friends would use to describe you?
Direct
What’s one goal you’re working toward this year?
Getting A’s in all of my classes.
What’s the best takeaway you’ve learned from a professor?
Start now, not when you’re “ready.” You’ll never feel ready.
What can employers do to help you feel a sense of belonging at your first job?
Assign a mentor or someone to help guide me through my first assignments and projects.
Andrew Tolentino
Junior – Indiana University Bloomington
What organizations are you involved with?
Greek life, Student Accounting Society & Asset Management Club
What word would your friends would use to describe you?
Reliable
What’s one goal you’re working toward this year?
I am working towards balancing my schedule with a tough semester: Balancing recruiting with tough ICORE classes, with the goal of landing an internship next summer!
What’s the best takeaway you’ve learned from a professor?
Time management is mandatory in college and is a key trait that successful students possess.
What can employers do to help you feel a sense of belonging at your first job?
Employers can build a welcoming culture by turning a work environment into a family, creating connections that last outside the office.
Peyton Ward
Senior – University of Southern Indiana
What organizations are you involved with?
Beta Alpha Psi, Prelaw Club, Tabletop Club & study abroad
What word would your friends would use to describe you?
Perceiving
What’s one goal you’re working toward this year?
To finish all my credits to graduate.
What’s the best takeaway you’ve learned from a professor?
Always manage your time correctly so you don’t fall behind on your classes and fail them.
What can employers do to help you feel a sense of belonging at your first job?
I would like to see more interactions with the team I will be working with, like a day to meet the team, so I could break the ice easier and be more familiar with them as I start on my first day.
Carli Wolf
Junior – Indiana Wesleyan University
What organizations are you involved with?
VP of the Indiana Wesleyan University Community of Accountants & social media and outreach lead and small group leader with Delight Ministries
What word would your friends would use to describe you?
Genuine
What’s one goal you’re working toward this year?
I want to help revive the accounting club at my school by hosting monthly events and advocating for a higher budget from the student government on campus.
What’s the best takeaway you’ve learned from a professor?
The people I surround myself with will either “double” or “half” my ability to reach my goals and to minister to others. That is so important to keep in mind when I am choosing who I allow to have the loudest voices in my life.
What can employers do to help you feel a sense of belonging at your first job?
It’s so helpful when people make themselves available and are receptive to questions. I always feel bad bothering the people who know what’s going on because I don’t want to slow them down, but knowing that my voice is valuable goes so far.
Congratulations to this year’s ambassadors! Follow along with their experiences throughout the year on the INCPAS LinkedIn page and the @incpas_students on Instagram.
