Student Spotlight: Whitney Lee

August 24, 2024

In reviewing Whitney Lee’s accolades and activities, it’s hard not to wonder how she does it all! Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Lee is a thriving scholar and a successful student athlete.

Originally a finance major, Lee realized her appreciation for accounting as she began taking the accounting classes required by her original major. In addition to enjoying her accounting classes, Lee had previously worked for an accounting firm during her senior year of high school. As she reflected on the tasks she was assigned during her internship, Lee decided that an accounting degree was something she wanted to pursue. Lee changed her major to accounting with a minor in both finance and management information systems.

Lee plans to graduate in May 2026 and is a flourishing scholar with many accolades to her name. Lee is a Clemson University Foundation Unrestricted Scholarship Endowment Recipient, a Thomas F. Chapman Leadership Scholar and a Doug Peacock Scholar. She has also been part of the Community for Undergraduate Business Students, is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and an active member in the Minority Business Student Association.

In addition to pursuing an accounting major and double minor, Lee is an athlete on the Clemson All-Girl cheerleading team. The team practices year round, and during their busiest season, they have practice or training five days a week. The team also cheers at football games, basketball games and gymnastics competitions, and although not always in uniform, they support the majority of the university’s sports. Lee has cheered since she was three years old, and the discipline she has gained from the sport is reflected in her success today. For Lee, cheerleading is not just a sport, but a reflection of her outlook on life. In her own words, Lee explains that “for someone to truly understand the sport of cheer, it requires them to understand what it means to have grit, leadership, and an unwavering likeness to be a part of a team, and to love supporting your organization, school or university.”

In the summer of 2024, Lee worked as an intern with EY in their Atlanta office. During her internship she learned the various career opportunities available to accountants and she gained a deeper appreciation of the dynamic nature of the world of business. After completion of the internship, Lee recognized that her “voice is the most crucial asset for achieving success in a professional career.” Upon graduation in May 2026, Lee plans to take the CPA exam. Based on her experiences during her internship, she hopes to begin her career in asset wealth management. As a student athlete, Lee also appreciates the world of sports and she aspires to combine her accounting and athletic skills to work in the sports industry.