RENO — The University of Nevada, Reno has named Sophia Raphael Cardinal the recipient of the 2010 Herz Gold Medal, presented at each commencement ceremony to the graduating senior with the highest grade-point average.

Raphael Cardinal, a Carson High School graduate, was admitted to UNR in the fall of 2006 and has completed her degree in accounting in the College of Business with a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average. She has been employed as an intern with a local accounting firm and will begin her studies for the Certified Public Accountant Examination (CPA exam) after graduation.

“I did not come to the University of Nevada, Reno planning to be an accountant,” she said. “Thankfully, a move to the College of Business led me to professor Cynthia Birk’s Accounting 201 course. It was there that professor Birk started my passion for debits and credits and prompted me to major in accounting.”

The university marks the achievement of the top graduating senior – the Senior Scholar – from each college on campus, as well as their faculty mentor. University accounting lecturer Birk taught Raphael Cardinal and served as her faculty mentor for the Senior Scholars award.

“I feel very honored to be recognized as Sophia’s mentor and friend,” Birk said. “This sort of recognition is very rewarding. Most faculty members try to make a difference and we don’t always know if we are succeeding or not. “

The Herz Gold Medal was established in 1910 by brothers Richard, Carl and Otto Herz. It is the university’s oldest and most prestigious award.