By: Stan Hill
Back in my younger days when I was an accounting major at UNC–Wilmington, I was the proud recipient of a scholarship awarded by the firm Cherry Bekaert. It was small in today’s standards, but to a college student back then, it was honestly huge and covered a semester of expensive text books! Not only was I pleased to receive it, but my parents were especially thankful for the scholarship given to me. That scholarship boosted my confidence and made me work even harder for my college degree, knowing that my efforts thus far had been noticed and that someone believed in me.
Did you know?
Our Association is affiliated with a separate 501(c)(3) named the NC CPA Foundation Inc. It is governed by a volunteer board of directors representing NCACPA members across the state of North Carolina. I am proud to be one of those board members and also the President for 2013–14.
Among its many purposes, the Foundation is responsible for overseeing the promotion of the accounting profession by assisting and encouraging individuals pursuing an education in accounting.
The Foundation fulfills the purpose by awarding scholarships to deserving North Carolina accounting students who are at least in their sophomore year of their accounting program, demonstrating cumulative GPAs of 3.0 or better.
The Foundation awards scholarships, ranging from $1,000–$5,000 annually, depend on the number of applicants qualifying for the awards and available financial resources of the Foundation. This year we awarded over $56,000 in scholarships from the General and James L. McCoy Scholarship Fund.
We have more applications each year than we can honor requests.
What Can You Do?
When we were attending college in pursuit of our CPA, we all came from different financial backgrounds. Some of us had most expenses paid for by our parents, some worked their way through college, some took out college loans and some of you may have received scholarships. In no way were any scholarships too small to turn down. It all helped no matter what the award amount was given.
Can we do more for our accounting profession? Absolutely yes! There is so much need for financial support to help the future CPAs in North Carolina. During the week of August 26–30 we hope to make more NCACPA members aware of the increased need to help accounting students. Have you had the opportunity to receive a scholarship when you were in college? How did it make you feel? Can you help a future CPA?
Stan Hill, CPA, is a partner with the public accounting firm Watts & Scobie in Raleigh, NC. He has been an active member of NCACPA since 1990. He has volunteered in many capacities including officer positions on the Triangle Chapter Board, former member of the Chapter Advisory Group, and currently a member of the Member Connections Committee and the CPA Day of Service Sub-Committee, and President of the NC CPA Foundation.