For Angelica Lopez ’26, a passion for accounting started early and never wavered. While still in high school, she participated in a finance academy program that allowed her to earn more than 30 college credits. It was in her first accounting class at the academy that she discovered a field that felt like a perfect fit.
At UHart’s Barney School of Business, Angelica turned that interest into a focused career path. As an accounting major, she developed a strong foundation in financial reporting, auditing, and data analysis, while also sharpening her critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Her coursework emphasized teamwork and presentations, further helping her grow into a confident communicator—an essential skill in any business setting.
Angelica’s time at UHart extended far beyond the classroom. Through her internship with LAZ Parking’s treasury team, she gained hands-on experience in cash management, bank reconciliations, and financial operations. The role allowed her to directly apply what she was learning in class while also building new technical and analytical skills. Working in a fast-paced professional environment strengthened her attention to detail, adaptability, and ability to collaborate across teams.
That experience proved to be a defining moment for her. After more than a year with the company, Angelica was offered and accepted a full-time position as a treasury analyst with LAZ, even before she had graduated.
“Being able to apply what I learned in class to a real business environment gave me confidence and helped me discover that I genuinely enjoy treasury work,” she says. “It made me realize how much I had grown professionally during my time at UHart.”
Angelica Lopez ’26, Barney School of BusinessUHart gave me both the academic foundation and the real-world experience I needed. It helped me build confidence, discover my interests, and develop the skills to succeed in a professional environment.
Angelica credits much of her success to the relationships she built along the way. Her UHart professors provided not only academic guidance but also real-world insight into the accounting field, encouraging her to pursue opportunities aligned with her strengths. Classmates became collaborators and a support team, helping her develop teamwork and communication skills through group projects and shared experiences. Her involvement in the Women in Business club further expanded her network and professional perspective.
Through it all, UHart helped Angelica refine her goals. While she initially considered pursuing a CPA, her internship experience revealed an even stronger interest in treasury and financial strategy, ultimately shaping her plans for post-graduation.
As she prepares to take an even bigger step into her role at LAZ Parking, Angelica reflects on how college set her up for success. “UHart gave me both the academic foundation and the real-world experience I needed,” she says. “It helped me build confidence, discover my interests, and develop the skills to succeed in a professional environment.”
Angelica’s advice to incoming students is relatively simple: get involved early, stay open-minded, and take advantage of every opportunity.
“Some of the best opportunities come from trying something unexpected,” she says. “And the relationships you build—those will shape your experience just as much as your classes.”
With a full-time role secured and a clear sense of direction, Angelica Lopez is graduating not just with a degree, but with the experience, confidence, and momentum to thrive in her career.