At Lander University, a single classroom visit can turn into a lot more.
For senior Elizabeth Bradley, the scholarships and internships she has had as a student in Lander University’s College of Business helped her build her network and develop critical skills she can take into her career at a global accounting firm after graduation.
During her sophomore year, the CEO of South Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants spoke to a class Bradley was in about the association’s scholarships being a great opportunity for aspiring CPAs. Drawn in by the idea of expanding her network and receiving financial support, Bradley applied and has won the scholarship twice.
“These scholarships have really helped me during my college career not only because of the aid in my tuition fees but also helped me build my network and develop critical skills,” Bradley said.
She has attended the SCACPA convention every year since, which includes a scholarship recognition lunch. There, she has been able to learn the stories of CPAs and about the accounting profession. The convention also includes an etiquette dinner for students, which has been beneficial, since business meetings often happen over meals.
Bradley has also spent two summers as an intern with Deloitte, where she will start full-time in October. Her first summer was spent in Minneapolis, where she learned the art of networking.
“This internship wasn't so much about the work I was doing but more so figuring out how to put myself out there and create connections within the company,” she said.
“I met so many people in the Minneapolis office in the seven weeks I worked there, but I also gained so many connections across the entirety of the Deloitte practice when I went to their conference center in Dallas, Texas. This internship pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I learned a lot about myself as a person, and as an employee.”
The second summer was more about the work itself and determining if the job was right for her.
“There are so many directions you can go within the firm so they want you to figure out where you fit best so they can, hopefully, offer you a full-time position there,” Bradley said.
“I learned so much about the work I was doing this summer and built up my Excel skills, as well as, I really learned the importance of asking questions. Before this summer I worried about whether my questions were stupid and that I should just know how to do it, but this summer taught me that no questions are stupid if it helps you do your work better. I am so thankful for both of these internships and all that I learned from them.”
Dr. Gail Moore, assistant dean in Lander’s College of Business and professor of accounting, noted that the SCACPA scholarships are a recognition of Bradley’s commitment to excellence.
“Elizabeth Bradley is an outstanding student who has fully embraced the opportunities available at the Lander College of Business,” Moore said.
“She secured a multi-semester internship at a Big Four accounting firm, which has since led to a full-time position. In addition to completing all coursework required for her accounting emphasis, she pursued additional classes in financial services to further strengthen her expertise in the field.”