Michael Fernando, a senior Tusculum College student from Sri Lanka majoring in accounting, general management and economics and international business, has accepted an offer of internship at PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Charlotte, N.C.
According to Robin Lay, director of career services at Tusculum, Fernando is the first Tusculum student to obtain an internship with a “Big Four” accounting firm.
Michael Fernando
Fernando has made an impact on the Tusculum campus. He is president of the Student Government Association, chairperson of the Student Philanthropy Council and president of the Pioneer Business Club. He is an active member of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society, the Center for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, the Study Abroad and Global Awareness organization and the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature.
“I am grateful for the confidence that PwC has placed in me,” said Fernando. “I intend to represent our college well and excel in fulfilling my duties with the company. I owe this great privilege to some very important people, especially Dr. Michelle Freeman, who tirelessly worked hard to ensure that her accounting students had a thorough understanding of the accounting discipline and opportunities within the industry. Her commitment to the professional success of her students is what motivated me to think differently, dream big and achieve what I have achieved today. I must also thank Ms. Robin Lay for her hard work in ensuring that students are career ready; her guidance was instrumental in my receiving this opportunity.”
Fernando added, “I must also thank my colleagues at Unaka Company Inc. who have consistently added value to my experience as an intern with their company. They have always supported my personal and professional growth and are excited about my next steps. I thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to attend Tusculum College and my parents who have worked so hard to ensure that I have the ability to pursue my education.
“I have learned so much from the faculty, staff and students at Tusculum College. As my time here as a student at Tusculum comes to an end, I look forward to my journey ahead. With courage and humility, I will travel to the frontier. I will always be a Pioneer.”
According to their website, PriceWaterhouseCoopers offers more than 700 internships annually across 29 countries and more than 88 percent of those interns accept careers with the company once they graduate.
Fernando plans to graduate in the spring, and either pursue a career with PriceWatehouseCoopers or attend East Tennessee State University for graduate school, also with a focus on accounting.
At Tusculum, Fernando provides mentoring and guidance to his fellow students as a tutor and as a resident assistant in one of the resident halls on campus. He has also been involved in Theatre-at-Tusculum, including a memorable role as “The Ghost of Christmas Past” in the 2013 production of “The Christmas Carol.”
An excellent student, he has been named to the President’s and Dean’s List during his time at Tusculum. His excellence as a freshman in an accounting course typically taken by upperclassmen led to an internship position at Plus Mark. Fernando has also worked internships at the accounting firm of Blackburn Childers and Steagall and Unaka Company Inc., where he currently is employed.