Over the past four decades, the CPA Education Foundation has been a passionate supporter of students, helping them reach their CPA designation goals by offering a variety of scholarships and awards. This past year alone, the Foundation has awarded more than $184,000 to Alberta high school and post-secondary students and CPA candidates. 

Thanks to the generosity of our CPA donors, the Foundation is able to help remove financial barriers and increase access to higher education for students at all stages of their educational careers. We were curious about the impact these awards have had on the educational and career trajectories of some of our previous award recipients, so we asked three of them to share their experiences.  

Meet the three 

Tatianna Pelletier 

My name is Tatianna Pelletier, and I am a member of the Pine Creek First Nation located in Manitoba. I was born and raised—and currently live—in Edmonton, am employed at Crowe MacKay LLP, and am working towards my CPA designation. I’m a mom of two and really enjoy spending free time at home with my family…and I taught myself how to crochet last year! 

Awards received from the CPA Education Foundation 

• Alex Tutschek FCPA, FCA Award for Mature Indigenous Students, 2019 

• Alex Tutschek FCPA, FCA Award for Indigenous Student Post-Secondary Achievement, 2020 

• Crowe McKay LLP No Limits Award, 2022 

• Telus Award for Indigenous Post-Secondary Success, 2022 

Brandon Murphy CPA 

I’m Brandon Murphy, and I’m a CPA at Crowe MacKay LLP in Calgary. I was born and raised in Peace River, a small town in northern Alberta. I moved to Calgary to attend the University of Calgary and really enjoyed being close to the mountains and an international airport, so I decided to stay! 

Awards received from the CPA Education Foundation 

• Calgary CPA Small Practitioners Forum Award, 2019 

• 2nd place, Business Challenge Case Competition, 2018 

Sydney Eyre CPA

My name is Sydney Eyre. I am a born and raised Calgarian, and while I have always been interested in living abroad and experiencing new cultures—during university I did a six-month student exchange in Scotland in 2019—Calgary is my home. I’m currently working at EY, and outside of my accounting work, I like to teach spin classes and have been doing that for almost four years now. 

Awards received from the CPA Education Foundation: 

• Young Emerging Professionals Award (High School), 2016 

• Young Emerging Professionals Award (PSI), 2017 

• J. Lorne Baxter FCPA, FCA Memorial Scholarship, 2018 

• David Bentley FCPA, FCA, and Janet Bentley Post-secondary Excellence Award, 2020 

The BIG questions 

How did you feel when you first received your award? 

Tatianna: I was filled with excitement and gratitude hearing that I was a successful recipient of the Alex Tutschek FCPA, FCA Award for Mature Indigenous Students. Since I was a teenager, I have worked towards becoming a CPA, and—many years later—having the Foundation recognize my journey and the work I put in had a huge impact on my education and career path up to this point. The recognition and acceptance of the award strengthened my confidence in the career I chose and removed the financial burden that pursuing an education brings. 

Brandon: I was happy to receive the award and grateful to the donor for their support. I was living on my own at the time and didn’t have any family in Calgary, so the award went towards my living expenses. In addition to alleviating some of the stress of having to pay for school and basic necessities, it also enabled me to focus on other things like participating in case competitions or the volunteer tax program at the university or to be able to just get out to the mountains and go hiking or play golf in the summer months. 

Sydney: When I got my first award, I was so excited and proud of myself. It encouraged me to pursue my education and kept me engaged and enthusiastic about the future ahead! Receiving my subsequent awards not only helped relieve the stress of a financial burden butalso allowed me to join various extracurricular activities, such as case competitions. These extracurricular opportunities allowed me to travel, meet new people,   put myself out of my comfort zone, and learn invaluable skills that truly have helped me in my career through learning to think critically, under pressure, and be confident in myself. 

It’s been at least five years since receiving your initial award from the Foundation, are you where you thought you’d be? 

Tatianna: Life is definitely unpredictable, and with that said, I am not quite where I thought I would be. I had hoped I would be further in the CPA Professional Education Program by now; however, I took an unplanned year off after completing my degree. I don’t have any regrets about it and am still working towards the vision I set out for myself—I just took a little detour along the way. 

Brandon: I actually always thought I’d go back to Peace River, but I ended up really liking Calgary. I found moving here at a young age really matured me. As far as physical presence goes—working and living in downtown Calgary—I am where I thought I would be. And I think, for me, life’s taken turns, but in a positive direction. Crowe MacKay has given me a lot of good opportunities, and I’ve been able to excel here. I’m probably ahead of where I thought I would be! 

Sydney: Five years ago, I thought I would be working towards my CPA designation, so I guess I am where I thought I would be! I have finished three terms in audit at a Big 4 firm and am now exploring other opportunities to see where my future will take me. I have submitted my CPA membership application, which is SO exciting and one of my biggest accomplishments. I feel so proud of myself for getting to this spot, which is where I dreamed of being when I first received my award. 

What’s next for you? What have you learned about yourself and/or the CPA profession since receiving your first award? 

Tatianna: One of the last awards I received was the Crowe Mackay LLP No Limits Award, and through that, I was given the opportunity to intern with Crowe Mackay for a summer, which led to a full-time position with the firm. I am starting Core 1 this year. What I learned about myself since I received my first award is that I can accomplish my goals as long as I believe in myself and put in the work. 

Brandon: I think for me right now, “what’s next” is just progressing with where I’m at. I like my manager position, and I’d like to keep growing my client base and also keep growing as a leader. I feel like as a CPA, I’ve gotten the technical competency. Now, it’s about growing my leadership competencies by working with the new students who are coming in, developing training programs, and trying to give back to the community where I can. I’ve also developed a passion for financial literacy, so I’ve been volunteering with Junior Achievement in that capacity. 

Sydney: What’s next for me is seeing what other career paths and opportunities are available. I am super interested in the real estate valuation side of things, which is something I got to experience a little bit while in audit. I learned that getting a CPA designation takes time, energy, and dedication and that getting your CPA is not a solo task. It is a team effort. I feel incredibly grateful for all of the help along the way, starting with receiving these awards, for giving me the confidence and opportunity to pursue my designation, as well as everyone along the way reminding me I am capable, smart, dedicated, and strong enough. 

What advice would you give to high school/post-secondary students and CPA candidates who may be struggling with their studies? 

Tatianna: Try not to stress yourself out and find a study routine that works for you. When I was in post-secondary, I would try the study techniques that worked for my peers but found they didn’t work for me. I eventually found what worked best for me and was able to do well in my classes. Oh, and don’t be afraid to ask for help!  

Brandon: Getting good grades is one thing, but you should take advantage of those years in university to try new things. Live outside your comfort zone. For me, when I first entered university, I was very, very reserved and solely focused on my studies for the first couple of semesters. But after a while, I decided, “Okay, it’s time to step outside my comfort zone.” And that led to me getting involved in case competitions! So, the advice I would give is to try things you wouldn’t normally do—join a club or find a position where you have to do some public speaking or where you have to mentor or have to teach someone else. 

Sydney: My advice would be to never give up. The end goal is so worth it. It can be tough and feel overwhelming many days, but the pride you will feel afterwards is worth it. For high school/post-secondary students, be sure to make the most of every opportunity that presents itself. For the CPA candidates in the thick of studying, I would say don’t give up. Even if a module or an exam doesn’t go your way, pick yourself back up and try again. I have many friends and colleagues who have had multiple attempts and never gave up. 

If you could go back and tell your younger self one thing, what would it be? 

Tatianna: Don’t compare your journey to others. What is meant for you will come into your life at exactly the right time. Give yourself grace. 

Brandon: Take advantage of any opportunities that you’re provided with; step outside your comfort zone; try different things. Just say yes to more, whether it’s a part-time job or a side hustle or something you’ve always wanted to do that you’ve been afraid to do. Just do it. 

Sydney: All the time and energy is worth it as it opens so many doors and opportunities for the future. You’ll learn so many amazing skills in the CPA program that you can use every day, and you will feel confident with where your future will take you.