Allie Summerville is not only a Fox School student, but she’s also a member of the women’s rowing team. (Photo courtesy of Allie Summerville)
Name: Allie Summerville
Major: Accounting (BBA and MAcc)
Hometown: Harrisburg, PA
Graduating senior Allie Summerville has masterfully navigated the currents of Temple University’s demanding Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Accountancy programs.
During her undergraduate years, she was a distinguished member of the women’s rowing team and the president of Beta Alpha Psi where she has not only achieved academic excellence but has also harnessed the discipline and resilience of competitive sports to propel her career in accountancy forward. Over the past year, she has served as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Accounting, taking on roles from planning department events to lecturing in undergraduate classes. Her exemplary leadership and analytical prowess have led her to a promising role as an Audit Associate at KPMG post-graduation.
Summerville accelerated her undergraduate studies, earning her degree magna cum laude with a 3.9 GPA in just three years, driven by a clear vision for her career. She is currently on track to graduate the Master of Accountancy program this year with a 4.0 GPA.
"I was the first in my family to go the traditional college route, and I was navigating much of it on my own,” she says. “I didn’t have someone there to guide me through that who had experienced the process before.”
Her determination found a home at Temple, chosen for its strong combination of affordability and opportunity, giving Summerville access to Philadelphia’s vibrant job market.
Her tenure on the rowing team was pivotal in her growth, teaching her to steer through challenges with the same precision required for successful audits. Despite undergoing two knee surgeries, she persisted, mastering the art of balancing rigorous training schedules with demanding coursework.
"It was a major lifestyle adjustment requiring a lot of discipline," she recalls. "It changes your perspective on how much time there is in the day, if you’re up just after 5:30 am and have your workouts done before an 8 am class."
As president of Beta Alpha Psi, Summerville leveraged her leadership to bridge connections between her peers and industry leaders from prominent spaces like the Big Four accounting firms, which enhanced their professional networks and opened up new opportunities.
"Our members got to meet directly with the firms they wanted to work for. It was a great way to pass down the professional knowledge that one accumulates through the process of building their early career," she says.
Her internship at Tait Weller, a leader in mutual fund audits, further honed her technical skills and solidified her career aspirations. She played a key role in several auditing projects, applying her analytical acumen to real-world financial challenges.
Summerville’s advice to incoming freshmen is to embrace every opportunity.
"Seize every opportunity that you’re given, don’t be afraid to try out for that team, run for that leadership position, or interview for that job. I didn’t row before college, and was able to realize a lifelong dream of being a D1 athlete” she says. “Don’t think you’re not ready for things. Everyone wants you to succeed, you just have to show up and put the effort in to get there."
As she prepares to embark on her professional journey with KPMG, Summerville is equipped not just with academic knowledge and professional experience, but with the enduring spirit of a competitive athlete—ready to make waves in the world of accounting. Her story is a powerful reminder of how discipline, adaptability and seizing opportunities can propel us forward, both in sport and in life.