Olin undergraduate alumna honored for excellence on CPA exam

An Olin BSBA graduate earned a prestigious accounting award for her outstanding performance on the 2025 CPA exam.

Sylvia Yu, who graduated in 2025 with a BSBA in accounting, was among six winners of the Elijah Watt Sells Award — out of more than 87,000 aspiring CPAs who took the exam in 2025. The winners were announced in June.

The award recognizes candidates who earn a cumulative average score above 95.50 across four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination and pass all four sections on their first attempt. Yu was one of three undergraduate award winners. 

It’s a singular achievement, said Jeffrey Plunkett, an Olin professor of practice in accounting. 

“Sylvia's accomplishment reflects an exceptional level of dedication, mastery of the profession's body of knowledge, and commitment to excellence,” he said. “It is one of the highest honors in the accounting profession.” 

Plunkett said there have been two previous Olin winners of the Elijah Watt Sells Award: Bridget Han, MACC 2013, and Rebecca Kernodle, BSBA 2014/MACC 2014. 

Since Yu’s graduation, she has joined KPMG, where she works in financial due diligence. She told us about Olin’s role in her career and her performance on the CPA exam:  

Why did you choose Olin for your bachelor's degree? 

I was drawn to Olin because of its strong business program and the flexibility it offered. When I started college, I wasn't completely sure which area of business I wanted to pursue, so I appreciated the opportunity to explore different business disciplines before deciding on accounting. 

I really appreciated how easy it was to take classes outside the business school, in other areas that interested me. I ended up earning a minor in psychology. I also appreciated the resources that Olin provided, such as individual academic and career advising.

What stands out about your Olin experience?  

One thing that really stands out is Olin's emphasis on experiential learning. During my junior year, I participated in the VITA program through an accounting course, where I volunteered to prepare tax returns for low-income taxpayers. It was rewarding to apply what I had learned in the classroom to real situations while also giving back to the local community.  

How did your education prepare you for the CPA exam? 

I think the accounting courses at Olin provided me with a strong foundation for the CPA exam, so preparing was more about reinforcing concepts I had already learned, rather than learning new material. That was especially true for areas where I don't have direct work experience, such as auditing and tax, where my coursework prepared me well for the exam.  

Many of my accounting classes covered topics in greater depth than what was tested on the CPA exam, which made parts of the exams more manageable.  

When you took the exam, were you confident that you’d do well?  

I had studied a lot for the exams, so while I wasn't necessarily expecting especially high scores, I felt confident that I had given myself a good chance to pass. I knew about the Elijah Watt Sells Award beforehand, but I also knew it was difficult to earn. It wasn't something I was expecting to achieve, but I was honored to receive it. 

What are you doing now at KPMG? How did Olin help you prepare for your career?

I currently work in financial due diligence at KPMG. Beyond the accounting courses, I think Olin's overall business curriculum has been really valuable to help me understand how businesses work as a whole while also helping me develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 

Olin prepared me well for my career and beyond by combining strong academics with hands-on learning in a supportive community.