Accounting graduate finishes third in nation on CPA exam

A UW–Madison graduate had the third highest score in the nation on the Uniform CPA Examination for May. Kelly Mogensen earned the Elijah Watt Sells Bronze medal for finishing third nationally among people who took the exam last May. The award is given by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants each May and November. More than 120,000 candidates take the examination each year.

Mogensen earned her bachelor’s in business degree with a double major in accounting and in information systems analysis and design in May. She works for IBM in Durham, N.C.

AICPA presents the Elijah Watt Sells Award to the CPA candidates who attain the highest combined grades when taking all four sections of the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded.

The award was presented to Mogensen at a ceremony held Feb. 11 in Grainger Hall, the home of the UW–Madison School of Business. A plaque honoring her accomplishment was presented by Norbert “Jim” Johnson, chair of the Wisconsin Accounting Examining Board, and LeRoy Schmidt, executive director of the Wisconsin Institute of CPAs.

“Kelly is representative of the highly accomplished young people who have chosen to enter the accounting profession,” Johnson says. “She has consistently demonstrated academic achievement at the highest level, as well as the knowledge, leadership and integrity inherent in the accounting profession. The business world is fortunate to have Kelly join its ranks, bringing a standard of excellence with her.”

“Kelly’s accomplishment is the latest in a tradition of excellence by graduates of our accounting program,” says Michael Knetter, dean of the UW–Madison School of Business. “Between 1992 and 2001, the School of Business was ranked third among all schools in the country in percentage of undergraduate students passing the CPA Examination.”

According to Professor John Eichenseher, chair of the Accounting Department, skill in accounting runs in Mogensen’s family. In November, Kelly Mogensen was honored by the department with its Top 10 Undergraduate Award. Her twin sister, Kerry Mogensen, was also among the top 10 students honored.