Richmond (June 15, 2021) — The Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) Educational Foundation recently selected its college scholarship recipients for the 2021–2022 academic year. The VSCPA Educational Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting business and accounting education, rewarding academic excellence, and encouraging students to pursue promising careers as Certified Public Accountants (CPA).
This year, the Foundation awarded $59,250 in undergraduate, graduate and doctoral scholarships to 26 accounting college students across Virginia. As part of the VSCPA’s focus on increasing diversity in the CPA profession, the Foundation awarded an additional VSCPA Minority Scholarship this year, bringing the total to four.
In addition, this year Virginia Tech student Elizabeth Michalowicz of Glen Allen received the first Samuel A. Derieux, CPA, Memorial Scholarship. Derieux, who died March 8, 2020, was a Richmond-based CPA who retired from Deloitte, Haskins + Sells (now Deloitte & Touche, LLP), where he was managing partner of the Richmond office. He was a VSCPA past president and long-time member who tirelessly championed the accounting profession and helped shape the modern face of the VSCPA and American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). Having been the only CPA to serve as both president and chair of the AICPA, Derieux was honored with a lifetime seat on the AICPA’s governing Council. The Foundation established this memorial scholarship to honor his commitment to the CPA profession.
Foundation scholarship applicants must be currently enrolled or have been accepted in an accounting program at a Virginia college or university. Other selection criteria for the awards include overall academic performance, entry essay, faculty recommendation(s) and community and/or extracurricular activities.
VSCPA Past President’s/Chair Scholarship ($2,000)
Jamie Underwood of Dublin, Virginia Tech
VSCPA Minority Scholarship ($1,500–2,000)
Jonathan Balan of Woodbridge, George Mason University
Jelani Herard of Fairfax, George Mason University
Carissa Malone of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech
Melanie Osorio of Arlington, University of Virginia
VSCPA Undergraduate Scholarship ($1,500)
Virginia Anderson of Powhatan, Christopher Newport University
John Buckwalter of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech
Allison Gray of Salem, Virginia Tech
Sarah Philips of Bridgewater, Virginia Tech
CST Group Scholarship ($3,000)
Divya Kumaran of Fairfax, University of Virginia
DHG Scholarship (two awards at $2,500 each)
Tyler Spiers of Stony Creek, Virginia Tech
Kelsey Watlington of Glen Allen, Virginia Commonwealth University
Burton Bates Jr. Scholarship ($2,250)
Tristan Savage of Herndon, College of William & Mary
Kearney & Company Scholarship (two awards at $2,500 each)
Mariam Farzayee of Fairfax, Virginia Tech
Camryn Tinsley of Glen Allen, Christopher Newport University
Michael E. Mares Scholarship (two awards at $2,250 each)
Sarah Rackoski of Chantilly, Virginia Tech
Justin Seymore of Roanoke, Virginia Tech
MJW Scholarship (two awards at $2,500 each)
Jordan King of Wytheville, Radford University
Tatiana Montes of Virginia Beach, College of William & Mary
Samuel A. Derieux, CPA, Memorial Scholarship ($1,000)
Elizabeth Michalowicz of Glen Allen, Virginia Tech
Thomas M. Berry Jr. Scholarship (two awards at $3,000 each)
Cindy Ly of Fredericksburg, University of Mary Washington
Carol Pham of Springfield, George Mason University
Verus Financial Partners Scholarship ($3,000)
Chad Antosik of Elizabeth, Pa., College of William & Mary
Virginia Tech Doctoral Scholarship ($3,000)
Delia Valentine of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech
Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer Scholarship ($3,000)
Michael Viola of Suffolk, College of William & Mary
Yount, Hyde & Barbour Scholarship ($3,000)
Christian Kessinger of Covington, Virginia Tech
The Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) Educational Foundation is the premier nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting business and accounting education, rewarding academic excellence and encouraging students to pursue promising careers. For more information on the VSCPA Educational Foundation, its scholarship and award programs, or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit vscpa.com/foundation, email info@vscpafoundation.com or call (804) 612-9427.
To learn more about Derieux’s legacy and accomplishments and to donate to his memorial scholarship, visit https://www.vscpa.com/news/vscpa-remembers-sam-derieux-cpa.
ABOUT THE VSCPA
The Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) is the leading professional association in the Commonwealth dedicated to empowering CPAs to thrive. Founded in 1909, the VSCPA has more than 13,500 members who work in public accounting, corporate finance, government and education. For more information about the VSCPA, visit vscpa.com, email tbates@vscpa.com or call (804) 612-9416. Connect with us on Facebook: Facebook.com/VSCPA Twitter: @VSCPANews and Instagram: @VSCPA. To search for a CPA in your geographic region, visit vscpa.com/FindaCPA
