Society Scholarship Applications Available

By Sanjay Paranandi

The NYSSCPA and its Foundation for Accounting Education encourage Society chapters and members to inform college students about the Excellence in Accounting Scholarship. The Society sends applications to accounting departments, accounting clubs, and financial aid offices in late January.

The Society created the scholarship fund in 1990 to provide financial assistance and encourage deserving candidates to enter the accounting profession. To qualify, college students must have declared accounting as a major, have completed at least 60 semester credits, and maintain a 3.0 GPA. The NYSSCPA awards scholarships of $1,500 per academic year for full-time students (12 credits or more per semester) and $750 per academic year for part-time students (at least six credits per semester), and presents payments in separate equal installments, one each semester. Students can renew the awards provided they continue to meet all eligibility requirements. Last year, the Society awarded more than $111,000 in new scholarships and renewals.

"We need our chapters and individual members to contact their local schools and get the word out to deserving students," NYSSCPA President George T. Foundotos said. "As an educator myself, I have seen how these scholarships can help. It is important that we all do everything possible to make sure students are aware of the program."

The Scholarships Awards Committee, which includes representatives from all 11 chapters, selects recipients from each chapter area, based on the student's home address. The number of scholarships in each chapter is allocated by the number of NYSSCPA members in that area.