LeBow Senior Named Drexel Student Leader of the Year

Senior accounting and finance major Andres Vivas Lopez was presented with the Student Leader of the Year Award on May 12 at the annual awards banquet sponsored by Drexel Student Life and the Undergraduate Student Government Association.

The award is presented to one undergraduate student each year who “has shown outstanding leadership and vision and has exemplified a dedicated involvement and commitment to making a difference in the lives of Drexel students.”

Andres transferred to Drexel from the Community College of Philadelphia after completing his associate’s degree in business administration in 2013 and immediately got involved on campus, joining the Accounting Society and the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA). He served as the president of both organizations over the past two years.

During that time, he has worked with both organizations to host professional development workshops and networking opportunities for his fellow students to meet with industry professionals to become better informed. He has a specific interest in the support and mentorship available to minority students and has been active in reviving the Drexel chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA). As an ALPFA member, he attended the organization’s national conference and was selected for one of 50 national scholarships.

Despite preparing for graduation in a few short weeks, Andres continues to actively plan events for the organization, including a speed networking event with members of ALPFA and NABA.

His nominator, Hubert Glover, PhD, head of the Accounting Department, noted his compassion, sincerity, communication skills and leadership ability as what sets him apart.

“He is remarkable in his unselfish focus on helping others reach common goals,” says Glover. “He represents the best of the University where our experiential learning advantage develops maturity, insight and professional capability prior to graduation. His co-op employers have been impressed by his leadership, communication and sincere interest in connecting with people, which is the core of their business.”

The Accounting Department recognized Andres in the fall with the Golden Calculator Award, and he has received numerous national scholarships from the American Institute of CPAs and Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

As for his leadership philosophy, Andres repeats what he frequently shares with his fellow students: “Work smart, not hard. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Hard work is appreciated and admired, but not at the expense of efficiency.”

Andres will be working for KPMG, his former co-op employer, following graduation in June.