The American Institute of CPAs and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy have named the latest winners of the Elijah Watts Sells Award, who passed all four sections of the CPA Exam on their first attempt and completed testing in 2025.
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Of the more than 87,000 people who sat for the exam in 2025, only six candidates met the criteria.
“The Elijah Watt Sells Award represents one of the highest honors in the CPA profession, and this year’s recipients have demonstrated extraordinary commitment, intellect and discipline,” said Susan Coffey, CEO of public accounting at the AICPA, said in a statement. “These individuals exemplify the highest standards of achievement and are well positioned to help shape the future of the profession with integrity, innovation and a strong sense of purpose.”
The six winners for 2025 are:
- William Baker, a graduate of The University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Analytics, now with Wendling Noe Nelson & Johnson in Topeka, Kansas.
- Lauren Dever, a graduate of Dickinson College with a Bachelor of Arts in International Business and Management and a Master of Accounting from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, now with HealthEdge in Boston.
- Stephanie Guei, a graduate of the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a Master of Science in Accountancy, now with Weaver and Tidwell in Houston.
- Allison Hinaman, a graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Accounting, now with the Financial Accounting Standards Board in Norwalk, Connecticut.
- Sophie Kapler, a graduate of Oakland University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, now with Ally in Detroit.
- Xin Jie Yu, a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in accounting, now with KPMG in Santa Clara, California.
“The Elijah Watt Sells Award recognizes not only technical excellence but also a deep commitment to the accounting profession’s highest standards,” said NASBA President and CEO Daniel Dustin, in a statement. “On behalf of NASBA and our member boards of accountancy, we congratulate this year’s recipients on their outstanding accomplishment. Their performance on the CPA exam places them among the top candidates nationwide and reflects both their dedication to personal achievement and their future contributions to the profession.”
The award program was established in 1923, and named in honor of one of the country’s first CPAs, a founding member of what is now Deloitte.
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