Five ethnically diverse students receive up to $20,000 in scholarships and internships with public accounting firms during the 2020 tax season.
NEW YORK (October 16, 2019) – The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is pleased to announce the inaugural recipients of the George Willie Ethnically Diverse Student Scholarship and Internship Program.
The George Willie program provides a scholarship and internship to five minority accounting students who intend to pursue a CPA. The AICPA provides a scholarship of up to $20,000 to each student to assist with their final academic year, while one of the AICPAʼs Private Company Practice Section (PCPS) member firms will sponsor each student for an internship during the 2020 tax season (January to April).
“Internships give students practical experience and the opportunity to fully understand what it means to be a CPA,” said Carl Peterson, CPA, CGMA, Association International of Certified Professional Accountantsʼ vice president of small firm interests. “This program not only assures students get hands-on experience within the profession, but it also helps them complete their education and gives our firms the opportunity to add needed talent during their busy season.
Recipients of the scholarship and their universities of study are listed below, according to the firm at which they will be interning:
- Anglin Reichmann Armstrong (Huntsville, AL): Camara Strong, Alabama A&M University
- Aprio (Atlanta, GA): Calvin Calloway III, Eastern Michigan University
- Cover & Rossiter (Wilmington, DE): Sunil Maheshwari, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
- Glenn Burdette (San Luis Obispo, CA): Maurea Richmond, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
- Kreischer Miller (Horsham, PA): Chivonne Williams, LaSalle University
This program was created in honor of George Willie, CPA, CGMA, a former chair of AICPAʼs PCPS Executive Committee and the AICPA Minority Initiatives Committee. Throughout his over 35-year career, Willie has promoted the benefits of a career in accounting to students and young professionals in pursuit of the CPA designation.
“The George Willie program is an innovative new approach to enhance diversity within the profession,” said Kim Drumgo, director of diversity and inclusion for the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants and vice chair of the AICPA National Commission on Diversity and Inclusion. “The scholarships help minority students complete their fifth year of education and enter the profession. And the internship is a great opportunity for firms to diversify their recruiting efforts. It is a win-win scenario for the students and the firms.”
The program is open to minority students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in accounting or an accounting-related major and who plan to sit for the CPA exam. Full eligibility requirements are available online.
This is one of several programs from the AICPA to help promote diversity and inclusion in the profession. The Accounting Inclusion Maturity Model is a tool to help organizations assess and measure their diversity and inclusion efforts. The Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop is an annual, all-expenses-paid event for racial and ethnic minority students to strengthen their professional and networking skills, while helping them to prepare for a career in accounting. And the AICPA Scholarship Award for Minority Accounting Students, part of the AICPA Legacy Scholars program, provides funding to outstanding minority students studying accounting.
Firms interested in co-sponsoring by providing an internship opportunity during busy season 2021 can visit aicpa.org/pcpsscholarship for more information. Applications are currently open, with a deadline of November 1, 2019. Student applications will open in the spring of 2020 once the co-sponsoring firms have been selected.
About the American Institute of CPAs
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is the worldʼs largest member association representing the CPA profession, with more than 429,000 members in the United States and worldwide, and a history of serving the public interest since 1887. AICPA members represent many areas of practice, including business and industry, public practice, government, education and consulting. The AICPA sets ethical standards for its members and U.S. auditing standards for private companies, nonprofit organizations, federal, state and local governments. It develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination, offers specialized credentials, builds the pipeline of future talent and drives professional competency development to advance the vitality, relevance, and quality of the profession.
About the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association) is the most influential body of professional accountants, combining the strengths of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) to power opportunity, trust and prosperity for people, businesses and economies worldwide. It represents 657,000 members and students across 179 countries and territories in public and management accounting and advocates for the public interest and business sustainability on current and emerging issues. With broad reach, rigor and resources, the Association advances the reputation, employability and quality of CPAs, CGMAs and accounting and finance professionals globally.
