Accounting student Dayna Nguyen applied to three Southern California universities and was accepted to all of them. An invitation to apply to Cal State Fullerton’s exclusive Business Honors Program is what sold her on becoming a Titan.
“During college application season, you get a lot of emails from universities. When I received a physical letter from Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics, I felt wanted and welcomed,” shared the Class of 2026 grad.
The Business Honors Program is a highly selective program for high-achieving undergraduate students, focusing on recruitment, professional development opportunities and networking. Graduates from the program go on to work for top companies such as Goldman Sachs, Boeing, PepsiCo, The Walt Disney Co. and the Big Four accounting firms.
“Being a Business Honors student means joining a cohort of incredibly talented and highly motivated students who take classes together, study internationally, become friends and share passions in a unique learning environment,” said Lorenzo Bizzi, professor of management.
“Dayna has been an exemplary student, showing leadership potential, dedication and a motivation to bond with others.”
From the day she stepped onto campus to her senior year, Nguyen made the most of her college experience. In addition to the Business Honors Program, she joined the Beta Alpha Psi honor society for financial students and professionals.
“I love the community Business Honors and Beta Alpha Psi have given me,” said Nguyen, who serves as treasurer for the latter. “They were the main driver when it came to me securing both of my internships.”
Nguyen’s first internship at Moss Adams, now Baker Tilly, helped her explore the audit, tax and advisory pathways in public accounting. “By the end of the internship, I knew I wanted to go the audit route because it tends to be client-facing and team-focused, which fits my personality,” she said.
During her junior year, she completed an internship at Big Four accounting firm Deloitte and was offered a job post-graduation as an audit and assurance assistant.
“During my internship at Deloitte, I was able to hone in and really see how audits are done. I shadowed different industries, like health care and consumer business, to see which areas I want to focus on,” added Nguyen, who is preparing for a career as a certified public accountant.
Pursuing a career in accounting is a dream come true for Nguyen and her father, who always hoped she would follow in his footsteps of working in a finance-related field.
“My dad has always been a big motivator in my life, from high school to college,” she said. “He was the happiest in my family when I decided to study business.”
Nguyen encourages future students to step outside their comfort zones and get involved in student organizations.
“In high school, I didn’t participate in any clubs or extracurricular activities. I went to school, hung out with friends and went home,” she said. “I’m happy that I’ve pushed myself to try something new every semester at Cal State Fullerton.
“I’m very proud of the four years that I spent here.”