Date: February 15, 2011
Contact: Eric Matanyi
Governors State University
Phone: (708) 534-4044
Fax: (708) 534-8399
Email: ematanyi@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
GSU Accounting Grad Receives National Recognition
University Park, IL, February 15, 2011 – The Elijah Watt Sells Award is presented annually by the American Association of Certified Public Accountants to candidates who have obtained the 10 highest cumulative scores on all four sections of the computerized Uniform CPA Examination.
The 2009 award is unique since multiple candidates received identical cumulative scores, resulting in a tie and increasing the total number of winners to 15. Winning candidates must have completed testing during the previous calendar year and passed each exam section on their first attempt.
Ryan Williamson, a 2008 Governors State University accounting program graduate, has received the prestigious Elijah Watt Sells Award for excellence on the Uniform CPA Examination.
Williamson was one of 15 award winners across the country for his performance on the 2009 examination. Nationally, more than 93,000 persons sat for the examination that year.
The Elijah Watt Sells Award is presented annually by the American Association of Certified Public Accountants to candidates who have obtained the 10 highest cumulative scores on all four sections of the computerized Uniform CPA Examination. The 2009 award is unique since multiple candidates received identical cumulative scores, resulting in a tie and increasing the total number of winners to 15.
“GSU helped me gain the skills I needed to enter the world of accounting and succeed on the CPA exam,” Williamson said. “I appreciate having learned from many dedicated professors. They wanted to make sure that students not only learned the rudiments of accounting, but also could see how course concepts applied to tasks we would encounter in the workplace.”
Williamson also said he appreciated GSU's flexibility in course scheduling. By taking courses at night, he was able to work as an accounting intern while finishing his accounting degree at GSU.
Williamson received a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from GSU’s College of Business and Public Administration. A resident of Herscher, Illinois, Williams is currently employed with Groskreutz, Schmidt, Abraham, Eshelman, and Gerretse in Kankakee.
