Meet Kaitlyn Johnson, a 19-year-old upcoming graduate of the College of Business from Jasper, Alabama. During the commencement ceremony of the College of Business, Johnson will obtain her Bachelor of Science in Accounting on December 2, 2023.
Johnson is the youngest graduate in the accounting program in the last 30 years. As an upper-division university, the average age of an undergraduate student at Athens State is 29 years old, making it very rare to have 19-year-old graduates.
“Athens State fit every descriptor of what I was looking for,” said Johnson. “What made it even better was having the opportunity to come to campus for occasional student events.”
Through her fast-tracked homeschool experience and earning the required amount of college credit hours at Bevill State Community College, Johnson could transfer to Athens State in 2020. In high school, Johnson knew that she was interested in business, so she set out to find a university that was accredited, online and offered cutting-edge instruction.
“I have always been organized and good with numbers,” Johnson shared. “Accounting was the perfect fit for me.”
Johnson served as the Treasurer of the Accounting Club and as a member of Delta Mu Delta and the National Society of Leadership and Success. The opportunity to be involved and come to campus allowed Johnson to build relationships with fellow students and professors, enriching her time at Athens State. She received the CMA Scholarship to cover the cost of the Certified Management Accounting Exam that she plans to take after graduation. Johnson also received a Foundation Scholarship, the Hemmingway Accounting Presidential Scholarship, while at Athens State.
“Involvement in student organizations placed me in front of future employers through industry tours and career fairs,” said Johnson. “I could hear directly from prospective employers to learn about their work, company, and what they expect from new hires.”
Johnson said the Accounting Program at Athens State prepared her for the workforce by teaching her the importance of creating a streamlined workflow to meet deadlines. She shared that cost accounting, business policy courses, and advanced instruction in QuickBooks were among the most beneficial aspects of the accounting program. Johnson’s professor, Emily Corzine, left a lasting impact by guiding Johnson to choose which avenue of accounting she was most interested in and wanted to pursue professionally.
“I am most interested in the management and business side of accounting,” shared Johnson. “You can do so many things with an accounting degree. Out of everything, I loved the business side the most and can see myself doing it for the duration of my career.”
Johnson hopes to begin graduate school at Athens State in the near future. Upon completing her master’s degree, she is interested in becoming a financial advisor and one day serving as the Chief Financial Officer of a company. She wants to use her skills to help businesses succeed and create accounting systems to keep projects on time and budget.
We are amazed at all Kaitlyn has accomplished early in life and can’t wait to see where the future takes her!
About the College of Business
The College of Business’s mission is to offer study programs to students that will prepare them for positions in business, finance, or government, enhance the professional development of those already employed, and provide an academic framework for graduate study leading to professional positions.
Through its course offerings, the College of Business provides a high-quality education for all students, teaching them to think critically, use technology efficiently, be effective leaders, decision-makers, and communicators, maintain ethical standards, and understand the global economy. Learn more HERE.