AICPA and NASBA Recognize Top Exam Performers with Elijah Watt Sells Award

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NEW YORK AND NASHVILLE (June 2, 2026) – The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) congratulate this year’s winners of the Elijah Watt Sells Award. This award is granted to CPA candidates who obtain a cumulative average score above 95.50 across four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination, pass all four sections on their first attempt, and completed testing in 2025.

An extraordinary group of six candidates met the rigorous criteria to receive the Elijah Watt Sells Award this year, underscoring their dedication to excellence within the profession. In 2025, more than 87,000 individuals sat for the CPA Exam.

“The Elijah Watt Sells Award represents one of the highest honors in the CPA profession, and this year’s recipients have demonstrated extraordinary commitment, intellect and discipline,” said Susan Coffey, CPA, CGMA, CEO of public accounting at the AICPA. “These individuals exemplify the highest standards of achievement and are well positioned to help shape the future of the profession with integrity, innovation and a strong sense of purpose.”

The Uniform CPA Exam is owned by the AICPA and administered in Prometric test centers by NASBA on behalf of the 55 U.S. Boards of Accountancy.

“The Elijah Watt Sells Award recognizes not only technical excellence but also a deep commitment to the accounting profession’s highest standards,” said NASBA President and CEO Daniel J. Dustin, CPA. “On behalf of NASBA and our member Boards of Accountancy, we congratulate this year’s recipients on their outstanding accomplishment. Their performance on the CPA Exam places them among the top candidates nationwide and reflects both their dedication to personal achievement and their future contributions to the profession.”

The Elijah Watt Sells Award program was established by the AICPA in 1923 to recognize outstanding performance on the CPA Exam and to honor Elijah Watt Sells, one of the country’s first CPAs. A founding member of the firm now known as Deloitte, Sells played a significant role in advancing the accounting profession, particularly in education and professional standards.

The individuals listed below are the 2025 Sells Award winners, in alphabetical order, followed by their Board of Accountancy affiliation, education and present employer:

William Baker (Kansas),a graduate of The University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Analytics, is employed with Wendling Noe Nelson & Johnson LLC in Topeka, KS.
Lauren Dever (North Carolina),a graduate of Dickinson College with a Bachelor of Arts in International Business and Management and a Master of Accounting from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, is employed with HealthEdge in Boston, MA.
Stephanie Guei (Texas),a graduate of the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a Master of Science in Accountancy, is employed with Weaver and Tidwell, LLP in Houston, TX.
Allison Hinaman (Texas),a graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Accounting, is employed with the Financial Accounting Standards Board in Norwalk, CT.
Sophie Kapler (Michigan),a graduate of Oakland University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, is employed with Ally in Detroit, MI.
Xin Jie Yu (California), a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in accounting, is employed with KPMG in Santa Clara, CA.

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AICPA and NASBA Recognize Top CPA Exam Performers with Elijah Watt Sells Award