Americo Acevedo got a taste of what it’s like to work at a Big Four accounting firm courtesy of the Deloitte Pioneer Internship he landed during the summer of his freshmen year. For six weeks, he worked alongside partners and staff in Deloitte’s offices at New York City’s iconic Rockefeller Plaza and Empire State Building, as well as locations in Atlanta and Dallas. During a three-day conference at Deloitte University in Westlake, Texas, he networked with interns from around the country while learning about career opportunities with the international firm.
According to Americo, the experience was a game-changer that affirmed his plan to pursue an MBA at St. Thomas Aquinas College. That was just the beginning. He was recently accepted into the KPMG Mentor Program, another Big Four experience that is sure to pay dividends in his college career and beyond.
The supportive vibe at STAC and the interaction between professors and students are second to none, according to Americo. “Everyone wants to help you achieve your goals. If you have an issue with something, there’s always someone to help you. I love the education I’m getting here.”
Growing up in the Bronx, he attended St. Raymond High School for Boys and developed an interest in accounting while working with his dad who runs two busy contracting businesses in the Bronx. Americo says his parents, who emigrated from the Dominican Republic, are his best role models. “They have worked their whole lives for a better future for my sisters and me,” he says.
An avid sports enthusiast and die-hard Yankee fan, Americo enjoys playing baseball and working out in his free time. He recently took an interest in golf and is also a member of the Aquinas Leaders and Business Club.
Along with Accounting, Americo’s favorite class so far has been Management and Organization because it introduced him to the Bloomberg Lab, “a place where you can learn about the stock market and gain many tools for your future.” STAC’s MBA program appealed to Americo because, unlike other schools, “it allows students to graduate with 150 credits.”
Americo’s advisor, Assistant Professor Mariellen Murphy-Holahan, has had him in three of her accounting classes so far and says he is an enthusiastic learner who actively participates in class. “The initiative he took in learning about freshman internships allowed him to gain a valuable internship experience with one of the Big Four accounting firms,” she says. “He is on the way to reaching his full potential.”