Passing the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) exam is a big career step for all accounting students.

Not only did Cailin Yoho Thompson pass, she was also one of 110 candidates (out of approximately 86,000 individuals who sat for the exam) from across the U.S. who won the Elijah Watt Sells Award in 2018 – the first time in seven years someone from West Virginia won this award.

The award was established by the American Institute of CPAs in 1923 to recognize outstanding performance on the CPA Exam. To qualify, CPA candidates must obtain a cumulative average score above 95.50 across all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination and pass all four sections on their first attempt.

Thompson is a 2018 graduate of WVU. She received her bachelor’s degree in business administration in accounting, as well as a master’s of accountancy. Following graduation, Thompson took a position with Suttle & Stalnaker, PLLC in Parkersburg, W.Va., where she is currently employed as an audit staff accountant.