2025 Honorees

Wendi Masis

Accounting, Management

From an early age, Wendi Masis dreamed of going to college. As the daughter of Nicaraguan immigrants, she was the one in her family who “did school,” rather than sports or music.

That drive — and dream — came into sharper focus after middle school. Four months into high school, she faced family hardship involving immigration issues.

Her mom worked two jobs and became her biggest motivation, which is still her “why” today. Masis vowed to work even harder to attend college.

She has continued that unwavering pursuit of excellence at USF with a 4.0 GPA. “Every test, project, and class is more than an academic exercise. It is a tribute to my family’s resilience and an investment in my future,” she says.

She poured herself into USF clubs. She shares her passion for the university as a Campus Tour Guide. Masis served as the head of operations for the Central American Student Alliance and volunteers in USF’s study abroad office as a GloBull Ambassador.

Two internships have given her a glimpse into the business world. This summer Masis will be an audit intern at KPMG, a Big 4 accounting firm, and was chosen as a Global Intern. She will spend four weeks of her internship in the Zurich, Switzerland office.

She is on track to graduate in May with two bachelor’s degrees — in accounting and management — and as a King O’Neal Scholar. Her post-graduation plans have her staying at USF to pursue a master’s degree in accounting and analytics.