A Naveen Jindal School of Management accounting senior has received a $5,000 scholarship for minority accounting students from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
Sidrah Syeda, who is in her third year at UT Dallas, is a senior based on credits and will graduate early. She begins an internship with Big-Four accounting firm KPMG in January.
She decided on her career path in high school after talking with her aunt who is a CPA. Syeda enrolled in accounting courses in the 10th grade at Liberty High School in Frisco. After graduation, she wanted to attend a university with a strong accounting program that would prepare her for a career as a certified public accountant.
“UT Dallas is different than other universities,” she said. “The professors work closely with students to prepare them for exams, help them get internships, and pair them with mentors. They made me feel that I could stretch outside my comfort zone. I owe so much to the PPA (Professional Program in Accounting) program at JSOM.”
The PPA program was established at the Jindal School in 2007 and prepares students for a professional accounting career. The program allows students to reduce the time necessary to receive a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree by a year or more.
Through her accounting courses at JSOM, Syeda was paired with a mentor who is a CPA with his own firm. That mentorship resulted in a part-time job with that firm.
“My work at the tax firm exposed me to the tax side of things,” she said, “but I am more interested in the auditing side.”
Mary Beth Goodrich, a professor in the Accounting Area at the Jindal School, described Syeda as “an exceptional student” in two of her courses.
“She is extremely hardworking and dedicated and has shown herself to consistently go above and beyond in her studies, asking additional questions and seeking resources to deepen her understanding of the courses,” said Goodrich, who is also the faculty advisor of the UT Dallas student chapter of Ascend, a Pan-Asian professional organization, and CPA advisor/mentor. “She is part of the PPA 16, a prestigious program at our university. Exemplary students are admitted if they meet all requirements and plan to pursue their CPA certification. Her diligence and perseverance through my classes and willingness to exert her full potential have resulted in excellent grades and academic achievements here at The University of Texas at Dallas. She has consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic and a genuine passion for learning.”
Syeda has been a member of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants (TXCPA) since 2022. The nonprofit organization provides resources, education and professional development to members.
In addition, she volunteers on the weekends at the DFW Refugee Outreach Services as an English as a second language (ESL) teacher. The nonprofit works with refugees to help them successfully adapt to their new society.
