Kim Stevens of Murrysville is heading towards a career in accounting with Ernst & Young in Pittsburgh next September. She already has spent one summer with them as an intern from St. Vincent’s College in Latrobe. “I like the challenge of the business world because it is always evolving opportunities,” she said. That challenge was nurtured in her when she accompanied her dad to work early in her life. His work in banking investments in Pittsburgh ignited her interest in mathematics.

Kim had plenty of challenges while interning. She was assisting in audits of large companies and was greatly challenged by the work. So much so, she plans to become a Certified Public Account (CPA) as soon as possible.

Graduation will be coming up in May, but Kim doesn’t want to think about it right now. She has her plate full at St. Vincent College where she balances her busy schedule of schoolwork and her position as the president of Student Government Association. “Trying to balance the two has been a huge learning experience, but I think the key has been understanding how to delegate responsibility,” she said. Her experience as Student Government Association president has helped her learn life skills.

"One of the biggest things SGA has taught me is professionalism,” she said. She has been the student representative on various committees over her SGA career. In that role she has had to share the student’s point of view with the administration of St. Vincent’s. She has taken pride in speaking for the student body because she sees how much weight it can carry in certain situations.

A news release from St. Vincent College cites her work with the new president, Jim Towey, and Dean of Students Jamie Caridi, and how it has taught her a great deal about leadership. “It’s so motivating to know that when you give your opinion it is valued,” she said. She also noted that her service to SGA has inspired her (to be outgoing when typically in the past I might have been too shy to speak up.” That helped her a great deal in her internship with Ernst & Young, particularly when she had to ask veterans of the client company how they performed their job on a daily basis and analyze their performance.

Kim takes pride in the projects SGA has accomplished during her years at St. Vincent College, including the improvement to the sidewalks in Melvin Platz (“Place” in German), decorating the garden for Founder’s Day and the Christmas season and the support SGA provided to the first annual Homecoming event. “It’s awesome to work with such an amazing group of students on the SGA senate who also enjoy trying to make a difference on campus. The projects we complete are most often a team effort,” she said.

Kim’s work in SGA isn’t her only contribution, She volunteers for Campus Ministry service projects like Meals on the Boulevard, Hunger Garden, and worked on a church cleaning project in Pittsburgh. She received a Community Service in her junior year and was named Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges & Universities. And, to top all that off, she has been on the Dean’s List.

Kim is following a family tradition. Her father, John, Jr., graduated from St. Vincent College in the Class of 1973 and her grandfather, John, Sr., in the Class of 1937. She has a younger brother, Michael, who she hopes will also go to St. Vincent College.

Kim graduated from Central Catholic High School, Greensburg and is a member of St. Barbara Roman Catholic Church in Harrison City. While at high school she was in the choir and student government. Kim’s long-term priority is to raise a family. She said her mom instilled those values in her as she stayed home to raise the family. After graduating, she wants to stay in the area on a long-term basis. Kim is the daughter of John and Leslie Stevens, Murrysville.