Ruiz Canal Honored with “World’s Ahead Graduate” Award by FIU

Kaufman Rossin, one of the largest CPA and advisory firms in Florida, announced today that Andy Ruiz Canal, who started with the firm as an international tax intern this past spring, has been selected for the highly coveted “Worlds Ahead Graduate” award from Florida International University.

The award recognizes graduates who “exhibit outstanding perseverance, intelligence and personal strength during their time at FIU, and fully demonstrate and embrace what it means to be Worlds Ahead.” The students are nominated by faculty members to be personally honored during the commencement ceremony.

Ruiz Canal, 26, left his home in Cuba in 2015 and moved to the U.S. in pursuit of the American Dream. He had been studying accounting and finance at the University of Havana before he left. Once he arrived in Miami, he set out to overcome the language barrier before seeking out mentors who could help him navigate the U.S. education system so he could continue pursuing his passion for accounting.

He thrived at FIU, balancing his course work with a full-time internship at Kaufman Rossin – all while maintaining dean’s list honors. Ruiz Canal also distinguished himself professionally by working extra hours during the busy tax season.

Ruiz Canal has accepted a full-time job offer from Kaufman Rossin that he will start after graduation in December. He will also begin his graduate studies in FIU’s Master of Accounting Taxation program. “I’m very grateful to FIU for helping me achieve my American Dream,” he said, “and I am excited to begin my career in accounting with such a prestigious firm.”