10 Texans Among 2021 Top CPA Exam Performers

May 19, 2022

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) announced the 57 winners of the 2021 Elijah Watt Sells Award. To qualify, CPA candidates must obtain a cumulative average score above 95.50 across all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination, pass all four sections on their first attempt and have completed testing in 2021.

TXCPA extends special congratulations to two members Maha Haque and Corey Partridge on their terrific accomplishment!

More than 72,000 individuals sat for the CPA Exam in 2021, with 57 candidates meeting the criteria to receive the Elijah Watt Sells Award.

“Passing the CPA Exam is a career milestone,” said Mike Decker, American Institute of CPAs Vice President—CPA Examination and Pipeline. “Winning the Elijah Watt Sells Award is a very impressive accomplishment. We congratulate these candidates for their exceptional performance, with this honor that very few individuals achieve.”

The individuals listed below are the 2021 Sells Award winners with a Texas connection, followed by their Board of Accountancy affiliation, education and present employer:

Maha Haque (Texas), a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Professional Accounting, is employed with Ernst & Young in Dallas, Texas.

Corey Partridge (Texas), a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Master’s in Professional Accounting, is employed with DK Partners in Austin, Texas.

Liana Hamm (Texas), a graduate of Rice University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Master of Accounting, is employed with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Houston, Texas.

Megan Hartley (Illinois), a graduate of Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Master of Science in Accountancy from Illinois State University, is employed with RSM US LLP in Chicago, Illinois.

Scott Haveman (Colorado), a graduate of Creighton University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting and Finance and Master of Accounting, is employed with Deloitte in Dallas, Texas.

Victoria Heavey (Tennessee), a graduate of University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Accountancy from the University of Tennessee, is employed with KPMG in Dallas, Texas.

Joseph Overman (Texas), a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master in Professional Accounting, is employed with Deloitte in Dallas, Texas.

Derek Rezler (Texas), a graduate of Baylor University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master’s in Taxation, is employed with BDO in Dallas, Texas.

Yanfei Shen (Texas), a graduate of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics with a Bachelor of Management in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy from Texas State University, is employed with KPMG LLP in Austin, Texas.

Gavin Van Someren (Texas), a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master in Professional Accounting, is employed with Ernst & Young in Houston, Texas.