About the Award
The AICPA Outstanding Young CPA Award in Honor of Maximo Mukelabai recognizes a young CPA who personifies an unwavering commitment as demonstrated through successful practices, involvement in and contributions for the interest of the accounting profession.
We strongly recommend you have the professional reference form completed by your employer, state CPA society or affiliate membership organization representative, or community service organization or other professional relationship.
Application criteria
Be a licensed CPA between the ages of 22-40 at time of application
Be a regular member of the AICPA
Provide the following via the official application form:
Completed application form
Current resume
Two (2) letters of recommendation
A volunteer activity essay of no more than 1,000 words focusing on each of the following topics:
How you have demonstrated leadership within your job or volunteer activities.
Why volunteering is important to the accounting profession.
How you have positively impacted the accounting profession through volunteering.
Application & nomination process
Applications and nominations are closed for the 2023 award.
Selection process
Applications will be vetted by a volunteer committee of young CPAs. All applicants will be notified no later than April 1, 2023.
In honor of Maximo Mukelabai
This award was created in 2012 to honor Maximo Mukelabai.
Maximo was a member of the inaugural class of the AICPA Leadership Academy in 2009. Tragically, Maximo's life ended abruptly at the age of 36. He was an extraordinary individual filled with passion, intellect and inspiration; traits immediately recognized by anyone who met him.
Maximo's most recent accomplishment was made official on May 4, 2011 when he became the youngest and first African-American chair for the North Carolina Association of CPAs board of directors. Maximo's influence and leadership was felt by so many and he is sorely missed.
Previous award winners
2022 - David Almonte
2022 - Favor Lee
2022 - Dr. Adrian L. Mayse
2022 - Kenneth Omoruyi
2022 - Alexandria Romero
2022 - Dr. Sean Stein Smith
2021 - Jaclyn T. Badeau
2021 - Aaron Clayton
2021 - Jessica E. McClain
2021 - Erin E. Roche
2021 - Osei Sencherey
2020 - Joseph Rugger
2019 - Elizabeth Pittelkow Kittner
2018 - Matthew Rosenberg
2017 - Lindsay Stevenson
2016 - Danielle Supkis Cheek
2015 - Dan Griffiths
2014 - Mark K. Rich
2013 - Jeremy Dillard
2012 - Donny Shimamoto
Need help?
For questions about this application, please contact Diversity@aicpa.org.