The Virginia Society of CPAs Educational Foundation awarded $61,500 in undergraduate, graduate and doctoral scholarships to 27 accounting college students across the state.
The VSCPA Educational Foundation is a nonprofit organization that promotes academic and career opportunities while rewarding high-performing students who wish to become CPAs. To be eligible, candidates must be currently enrolled or have been accepted in an accounting program in a Virginia college or university. Other selection criteria for selection include academic performance, recommendations from faculty, an entry essay and/or extracurricular activities.
"The VSCPA has a long-standing commitment to support the pipeline of students into the accounting profession," said VSCPA president and CEO Stephanie Peters. "In recent years, we have significantly increased our commitment to promoting the profession to diverse students. This year, 16 scholarships (more than half) went to minority student applicants, and we're happy to increase our commitment to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the profession as a national partner with the Center for Audit Quality's Accounting+ program."
This year's recipients are as follows:
Curtis C. Duke and Dr. Ruth Coles Harris Scholarship ($1,500)
Stephen Smith, Emory & Henry College
CST Group Scholarship ($3,000)
Mary Mocek, University of Virginia
FORVIS Scholarship ($2,500)
Deborah Okai, University of Virginia
Valerie Rondi, College of William & Mary
H. Burton Bates Jr. Scholarship ($2,500)
Joshua Morse, Roanoke College
Keiter Opportunities Scholarship ($2,000)
Tiandra Threat, Virginia Commonwealth University
Marty A. Einhorn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000)
Bao Huynh, Old Dominion University
Michael E. Mares Scholarship ($2,500)
Tyler Edge, Virginia Commonwealth University
Josiah Fisher, James Madison University
MJW Scholarship (two awards at $2,500 each)
Ashley Milligan, University of Virginia
Alicia Ray, University of Virginia
Samuel A. Derieux, CPA, Memorial Scholarship ($1,500)
Sepideh Taheri, Old Dominion University
Thomas M. Berry Jr. Scholarship ($2,000)
Fernando Barrezueta, Virginia Commonwealth University
Kevina Johnson, University of Virginia
William Masselli, University of Virginia
Verus Financial Partners Scholarship ($3,000)
Emma Mason, College of William & Mary
Virginia Tech Doctoral Scholarship ($3,000)
Mailyn Fernadez, Virginia Tech
VSCPA Past President's/Chair Scholarship ($2,000)
Khushboo Mann, Virginia Tech
VSCPA Minority Scholarship ($2,000)
Rachel Absolu, George Mason University
Lena Azizi, George Mason University
