San Jac accounting students selected for national symposium

Nov 9, 2026Melissa Trevizo
San Jac Accounting Students
From left to right: John Large, accounting professor and accounting students April Gomez, Martha Constante, Brenda Moctezuma, Dulce Briceno, and Alisson Salazar Trevino.

Nineteen San Jacinto College accounting students have been selected for the 2026 American Accounting Association Foundation Two-Year Bridge Symposium, a free event connecting community college students with accounting professionals in some of the nation's largest firms. 

The students will attend the event at several Houston offices of Big Four public accounting firms, including PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, and KPMG. 

San Jac Accounting Students
From left to right: John Large, accounting professor and accounting students Dulce Arias Ortiz, Alani Chavira Bejarano, and Regina Cavazos.

The free symposium is designed for community college students exploring accounting careers. Participants will learn about career pathways, explore transfer opportunities at four-year institutions, and gain access to resources supporting their educational and professional development.  

“This is an excellent opportunity for our students to get a glimpse into the professional side of accounting,” said John Large, accounting and general business professor. “It lets them develop relationships that can potentially lead to a job with a major public accounting firm.” 

The symposium began as a nationwide effort in 2025, bringing more than 900 community college students to 30 accounting firms. This is the first year San Jacinto College has had students participate. 

For Richard Thornton, who is building a career in forensic accounting, the symposium offers a chance to connect classroom learning with professional opportunities. Thornton has worked as a police officer for more than 12 years. As a financial crimes investigator, he worked hundreds of cases, an experience that helped spark his interest in accounting. 

Thornton first attended the College in 2005, earning associate degrees in fire protection technology and emergency medical technology. He returned in fall 2024 to pursue business studies and has since earned an Associate of Arts in business, maintained a 4.0 GPA, and joined Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges.  

Accounting Students
John Large, accounting professor (left) with accounting student Gage Bettell (right).

“Being accepted to the Two-Year Bridge Symposium is a meaningful step in bridging my community college studies with real-world accounting opportunities,” Thornton said. “I'm looking forward to learning directly from professionals at leading firms, gaining insight into career pathways, and expanding my network.” 

Regina Cavazos, who is pursuing an Associate of Arts in business, is still exploring which career path is right for her. She expects to graduate in spring 2027 and is interested in marketing or public relations, particularly in the entertainment and sports industries. 

“I'm really excited to attend the symposium because I'm looking forward to learning more about the field, exploring different opportunities it offers, and seeing if it could be a potential career path for me,” Cavazos said. “From this experience, I hope to gain clarity and knowledge regarding accounting professions and what path is right for me as I build a successful career in business.” 

Business major Erick Vazquez also hopes to gain a better understanding of how accounting firms operate and how classroom lessons translate to the workplace. 

“What I want to learn the most is how to work in the environment the office expects, whether that's fast-paced or slower-paced,” Vazquez said. “I also want to learn how to manage my work within scheduled time frames and how the skills I'm learning in my accounting class apply to areas such as tax, audit, and bookkeeping.” 

For the 19 students selected, the symposium offers an opportunity to connect what they are learning in the classroom with possibilities ahead in the accounting profession. 

The symposium is supported by the Center for Audit Quality, the participating firms and their foundations, the Association of Government Accountants, the Institute of Internal Auditors, and the Institute of Management Accountants. 

The following San Jacinto College students were selected to attend: 

  • Dulce Arias Ortiz 
  • Gage Bettell 
  • Dulce Briceno 
  • Alejandra Bustamante Nava 
  • Grecia Caraza 
  • Marlon Castillo 
  • Regina Cavazos 
  • Alani Chavira Bejarano 
  • Martha Constante 
  • April Gomez 
  • Sinai Hernandez 
  • Zahid Hernandez 
  • Angel Magana 
  • Lily Martinez 
  • Brenda Moctezuma 
  • Alisson Salazar Trevino 
  • Bryan Santana Garcia 
  • Richard Thornton 
  • Erick Vazquez 

Learn more about accounting at San Jac

About San Jacinto College

Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris County, Texas, since 1961. The College is ranked second in the nation among more than 1,100 community colleges, as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020 and 2026. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution that spans five campuses, plus an online college, San Jacinto College serves approximately 45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s. San Jacinto College is accredited by the The Commission on Colleges and Universities.

 

 

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