Member Spotlight: Yelesina Hernandez, Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Recipient
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I hope to become a CFE in the future.
My name is Yelesina Hernandez, and I am a junior at the C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston. I am majoring in accounting, set to graduate in Fall 2020. I first became interested in fraud examination when I went to one of the Association of Latino Professionals for America’s Regional Student Symposiums with the Hispanic Business Student Association.
In one of the workshops, intelligence officers from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) spoke about the importance of forensic accountants in the federal government, and how we could shape our career toward that goal. That was when I knew where my interests were, and I became passionate to learn more. After finding out that we had no student organizations centered around fraud examination, some friends and I co-founded the ACFE Student Chapter at the University of Houston Main Campus. Through this organization I made connections with the Houston ACFE Chapter, which introduced me to various topics within the profession, and its members guided me by providing excellent advice. Thanks to my student organizations, mentors and friends, I have been able to meet so many inspiring professionals and have had the chance to intern for the forensics team at the Ernst & Young Houston building through the Launch Internship Program. While my future career still seems very far away and my ambitions are high, I do hope to one day work for the CIA.
But before I could make my dreams come true, I had to pay for tuition.
I looked for different scholarships and applied to around 50, but I never heard back from any of them. That left me very discouraged and thinking, “Why am I not being selected? Am I not a good enough student?”
Trying to not allow my mind to get taken over by negative emotions, I volunteered at the Houston ACFE Chapter’s 2018 Fraud Conference, where I was able to sit down and listen to professionals speak about their experiences as fraud examiners. I also heard from convicted fraudsters. It was at this point, more so than ever before, that my heart fluttered for this knowledge. I spoke to Katherine Guillot, the Student and University Relations Director of the Houston ACFE professional chapter, and she gave me words of encouragement, advice and a life-changing tip. She mentioned the Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship and how it would be a great opportunity for me to apply to. Being rejected multiple times left me unsure on whether I should apply or not, but I felt like I could not listen to that fear of rejection, at least not this time. Paying for my own tuition for the past years made me realize that I needed all the help I could possibly receive. So, I asked for recommendation letters and I sent my scholarship application in, with all that fear attached to it.
A few months later I was notified that I had won the 2019-2020 Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. I’m a first-generation student, whose parents never finished high school, and winning this scholarship meant a lot to me.
No longer did I have to worry about how I would pay for my tuition for the next two semesters.
I must admit, I cried for at least an hour because a group of people out there felt that I was worth their investment. They believed in me and placed their faith in me through their monetary support. Even now, it makes me teary-eyed and shocked that I was selected for such a prestigious award.
It was thanks to the kindness of strangers that I was able to have another shot at pursuing my goal. This investment in my education means that I can become the first female in my family to graduate from university with a degree in accounting. This scholarship means I can continue to pursue my dreams of one day becoming a fraud examiner. It means that there are people who care so much about the anti-fraud profession that they decided to donate a portion of their hard-earned money to help people like me.
There are no words that could possibly explain how grateful I am to every single person who donated because they might not even know how much they have changed my life. Thank you for believing in me!
Through the Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship, the ACFE Foundation supports the education of students who have an interest in pursuing a career in fraud examination. The scholarship provides an opportunity for students to advance their education and anti-fraud career paths. Many of these outstanding and deserving students go on to become Certified Fraud Examiners. The 2020-2021 scholarship committee is currently accepting applications.
