NWC accounting grad Hannah Van Meeteren achieves top-40 score on CPA exam

Hannah Van Meeteren, a 2023 graduate of Northwestern College’s accounting and finance programs, has been named one of 40 winners of the 2023 Elijah Watt Sells Award by the American Institute of CPAs. The award is given to CPA candidates who achieve a cumulative average score above 95.50 across all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination, and pass all four sections on their first attempt. More than 86,000 individuals sat for the CPA exam in 2023.

In addition to earning one of the top 40 scores, Van Meeteren earned the highest score of those who were licensed in the state of South Dakota, and she is one of only two students from an Iowa college to receive the award. She is also among only nine recipients who have not yet earned a master’s degree, and is one of two students from a Council of Christian Colleges & Universities school to win.

“Hannah is truly a standout individual in every respect,” says Vonda Post, professor of accounting. “She is intellectually curious and was a leader across campus, having participated in a number of worthwhile activities outside of academics. Her achievement on the CPA exam is the very best we could hope for as a result of Northwestern’s accounting program.”

“I am honored to be recognized for such a prestigious award in the field of accounting, and even more honored to represent Northwestern College on a list dominated by many large schools,” says Van Meeteren, a native of Sheldon, Iowa, who now works as an assurance associate at CliftonLarsonAllen in West Des Moines, Iowa. “I believe my Northwestern experience equipped me with skills and tools to succeed that I may not have received elsewhere. The four years I spent at Northwestern were transformative in my development as a future accounting professional and more importantly, as a servant of Christ.”

Northwestern’s accounting major prepares students for accountancy excellence while also paving the way to successful business careers. It equips students to work in a variety of settings, from Big Four firms to companies around the country. Graduates consistently achieve high scores on the CPA exam, including a 2023 alumna whose score ranked in the top 40 out of 86,000.