Amy Vu

Among the recipients of the 2019 CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement, which honors a student from each of the 23-campus higher education system’s locations for superior performance and accomplishment in light of need, was Cal State Fullerton accounting senior Amy Vu ’20. The recognition is the highest annual recognition for student achievement awarded by the largest public higher education provider in the United States.

Vu received the honor, which includes a $6,000 scholarship, for a combination of near-perfect 3.99 GPA academic performance, community service through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program that provides tax preparation support for the region’s less fortunate, and her commitment coming from an immigrant and financially limited background to pursue a college education and career.

“It was truly an honor and a memorable moment that I will never forget,” says Vu. “I plan to use my scholarship for my master’s program, and I have a long-term educational goal of a doctorate in accounting and information systems. I want to be a professor who will teach with enthusiasm and passionate understanding to inspire students to learn more and achieve greatness.”

Certified public accountant (CPA) and certified information systems auditor roles are also among Vu’s career goals.

Putting Family First, a Young Immigrant from Vietnam Rises Higher

Arriving in California with her family from their native Vietnam, Vu postponed going to college and worked a full-time job to financially support her parents. In 2015, she enrolled in Santa Ana College, a community college serving central Orange County, where she studied business administration and earned a 4.00 GPA upon graduation in 2017.

“I did really well in all of my accounting classes at Santa Ana College, so when I transferred to Cal State Fullerton, I chose an accounting concentration,” she recalls. “After taking an information systems course, though, I found another passion in life and decided to add a second concentration.”

Vu shared her accounting skills with the community by serving as an IRS quality reviewer and assistant site coordinator for the VITA program during the 2017 and 2018 tax seasons, for which she earned the CSUF President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Vu’s Advice on Achievement

Vu knows her success can be replicated by many others.

“I believe anyone can achieve greatness by putting 200% into what they do,” she says. “What makes someone standout is their perseverance and determination in achieving their life goals. I hope my story can inspire everyone, regardless of their origins, to achieve their dreams with hard work and the tenacity to better themselves.”

For More on Accounting and Awards

For more information on accounting education programs at Cal State Fullerton’s Mihaylo College of Business and Economics, visit the Department of Accounting online. Or read more of our articles on accounting.

Are you a Cal State student and believe you should be considered for the Cal State Trustee’s Award? Apply online for consideration for next year’s awards.