On May 17th, students, volunteer scholarship reviewers, and Foundation contributors assembled for a networking reception at the WSCPA’s Roy J. Polley Memorial Room to celebrate the Washington CPA Foundation Scholarship winners for 2018-2019. Forty-four of this year’s 72 scholarship recipients attended from all corners of the state, including students who traveled from Spokane, Bellingham, and Vancouver. Our scholarship reviewers had the opportunity to finally meet the students whose stories they’d read during the dozens of hours they volunteered to pore over transcripts, essays, and résumés—all during tax season.

Those stories described the diverse lives of an amazing group of students. I’d like to highlight just a few of the outstanding people the Washington CPA Foundation is honored to recognize with a $5,000 scholarship this year:

• One winner is Medie Luzemba from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who is attending the University of Washington Bothell after earning dual associates degrees in business and accounting from Edmonds Community College. Medie is passionate about breaking the gender stereotypes that constantly tried to define who she could and could not be as she grew up.
• Another winner is Tyler Kert, an accounting prodigy who is graduating from both Cashmere High School and earning his associates degree from Wenatchee Valley College this year. In the fall, Tyler will start his first year at Central Washington University as a junior in their accounting program.
• Yet another winner is Akilah Johnson, who impressed reviewers by maintaining a high GPA while actively volunteering in her community and raising twin 6-year-old boys. She will fulfill her dream of studying abroad by taking her family to Lisbon, Portugal next semester.

I’d also like to take a moment to honor our named scholarship contributors and endowments, which fund many Foundation scholarships. They include:

• Clark Nuber
• CliftonLarsonAllen
• Shimer Family Foundation
• EY
• KPMG
• Moss Adams LLP, Everett Office
• Peterson Sullivan LLP
• PwC
• The Sambataro Family Foundation
• TruBlue Inc
• Deloitte, in honor of Rich Jones, former WSCPA President & CEO
• Roy J. Polley Memorial Endowment
• George J. Waterman Memorial Endowment

It is a Washington CPA Foundation tradition to host this reception at the end of the scholarship season to acknowledge contributors and volunteers for their generous support. This year we had a record turnout of students at the event. It has been exciting to witness the networking connections fostered between students and professionals, both this year and in past years. I’m heartened that many scholarship winners themselves come back as professionals to review scholarships, volunteer with the Foundation, or contribute to fund future scholarships.

All scholarship awards include a one-year WSCPA student membership, so please help us welcome our newest WSCPA student members: this year’s scholarship winners. Be on the lookout for these rising stars at upcoming networking events and career fairs!

If you are interested in applying for the Washington CPA Foundation Scholarship, then review the qualifications and requirements here. Bookmark that page and check back in September when the application period for scholarships for the 2019-2020 academic year will open.

Monette Anderson is the WSCPA Manager of Student Initiatives. You can reach her at manderson@wscpa.org.

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