Two Radford accounting majors score CPA scholarships

A pair of Radford University accounting majors recently won the top two prizes offered by a statewide business organization at its annual gathering.

Each spring, the Roanoke chapter of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) hosts "Student Night," which includes a buffet, a panel discussion, networking opportunities and three awards.

This year's event was held April 21 at the Holiday Inn in Christiansburg, Virginia.

David Boothe of Tazewell, Virginia, netted the $1,000 scholarship, while Jacob Crewell from Richmond, Virginia, took the $750 prize. Both are rising seniors.

"These scholarships will go a long way to helping them achieve their goal of academic excellence at Radford University," said Assistant Professor of Accounting Rob Warren, one of the faculty members who attended with a group of about a dozen Highlanders.

Crewell is currently serving in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, while Boothe supports his education by working two jobs - he's a shift supervisor at Food Lion and is also interning at the Roanoke accounting firm of Spencer Hager & Mosdell PC. Boothe said he hopes to stay in this area, take his certified public accounting exam and earn a management position at a local firm.

The VSCPA also invites local employers and chapter members to attend the event and meet future accountants.

"Our goal is simple: to help aspiring CPAs access opportunities, learn more about the profession and connect with leaders in the region," the organization said. "Through this scholarship and our annual event, students gain exposure to top employers, receive guidance from experienced CPAs and build relationships that can accelerate careers."

In order to be eligible for the scholarships, students must attend a college within the general Roanoke and New River Valley areas. They apply by sending in their resumes and a 500-750 word essay that describes where they see themselves within five years of college graduation, and how they would use the scholarship funds.

"Experiences like this are exactly what help our students move from learning about the profession to seeing themselves in it," Donna McCloskey, the dean of the Davis College of Business and Economics, declared in a letter of thanks to the VSCPA.