Kelly Bender
- New London, Wis.
- BBA (bachelor of business administration) in accounting
- What's next: Staff auditor for Virchow Krause, Appleton
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UW-Eau Claire photo by Rick Mickelson |
Just because she's graduating and will begin working this summer at financial services firm Virchow Krause, don't assume Kelly Bender is done hitting the books.
"This summer I will spend quite a bit of time studying for the CPA (certified public accountant) exam and hope to have all four parts passed and completed by the end of the year," said the May UW-Eau Claire accounting graduate, recently selected by faculty and staff as the 2006 Outstanding College of Business Senior.
While at UW-Eau Claire, Bender competed for four years with the university's forensics team and worked for the past year as an assistant coach. She won the 2004 national championship in persuasive speaking and made the All-American Team in 2005.
More on Kelly Bender
Future plans: As far as long-term plans, a lot of that is still undecided. Hopefully I will enjoy my career as a public accountant. Obviously, I hope to be able to advance and find an area of expertise that incorporates both my accounting and information technology knowledge. If my accounting professors get their wish, I will return to graduate school and earn a Ph.D. in accounting and become a professor. However, only time will tell if that happens.
What she liked most about her time at UW-Eau Claire: I enjoyed the small classes and the ability to work directly with professors. I got to know quite a few of my professors, and have been able to go to my professors for advise in my education and my career. In addition, I enjoyed the atmosphere of Eau Claire itself: the city is a nice size and set in a very beautiful setting.
UW-Eau Claire career highlights: I competed on UW-Eau Claire's forensics team for four years and spent the last year as an assistant coach. Being on the forensics team allowed me to travel all across the country - from Long Beach, Calif., to Boston, Mass. I also participated in the Student Accounting Society and the campus chapter of Beta Alpha Psi (the national accounting and finance honor society) to help create networks for my accounting career. Through these organizations I volunteered as an accounting tutor, and as part of VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program), I found internship opportunities at American Express, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Ecolab and learned a lot from each experience.
Proudest college accomplishments: In 2004, I won a national championship in persuasive speaking at the National Forensics Association tournament at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. That speech, "The Race for a Cure: Rethinking the Course of AIDS Research," is soon to be published as a teaching tool in a textbook published by Thomson Wadsworth entitled "Human Communication: Motivation, Knowledge and Skills." In 2005, I was named a member of the American Forensics Association's All-American Team. In addition, I was selected as the 2006 UW-Eau Claire College of Business Outstanding Senior.
Advice for incoming students: Get involved and discover what the university has to offer. Being involved in activities allows you to get know your professors and expand your knowledge beyond what is taught in the classroom. Also, it is a great way to meet people and make great friends. In addition, remember to take time off and relax. While college requires a lot of work, the college experience incorporates more than classes. A big part of college is meeting new people and gaining new experiences.
Learn about other featured May 2006 graduates
