Four students from the USC Department of Accountancy were included in the 25 finalists of the 25th Search for Outstanding Accounting Students of the Philippines (SOASP) held on March 14, 2024, at The Sphere Serviced Residences in Makati City. 

Jeliel Bolido, Jericka Celine Mapula, Kyle Nicholas Taganas, and Kristina Noelle Vistal, all in their final year of the B.S. Accountancy program at USC, distinguished themselves among other accountancy students nationwide. Vistal was declared the Grand Champion, Mapula ranked 2nd, while Taganas grabbed 4th place. Meanwhile, Bolido was part of the 25 finalists nationwide. 

The SOASP unfolds in two rigorous phases: an online qualifying examination and a quiz bowl during the finals. The nationwide online qualifying examination tests students from various schools and universities. This challenging round determines the top 25 contenders who advance to the Grand Finals. 

In the finals, participants joined a Quiz Bowl, with the top five scorers advancing to the Q&A session, determining the overall SOASP Champion. 

The SOASP, an initiative of the P&A Foundation, Inc., in partnership with the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) and the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Commerce and Industry (ACPACI), annually honors the nation’s most gifted accounting students. It aims to promote excellence and professionalism among the future vanguards of the accounting industry, emphasizing the importance of such qualities in shaping the profession’s future.

Dr. Challoner Matero, chairperson of the Department of Accountancy, accompanied the Carolinian students for the two-day event which showcased their talents as well as the University’s dedication to nurturing outstanding professionals in the field of accountancy.

With reporting from Joemel D. Dakay, CPA, Department of Accountancy