Diversity Matters Scholarship

$1,000 Scholarship Information & Application

Deadline to Apply is October 3, 2023

Scholarship Overview

GRF CPAs & Advisors is a full service accounting firm located in Bethesda, Maryland. We believe in diverse representation and supporting more people of color to enter the accounting profession. To exemplify this, GRF CPAs & Advisors is happy to announce the “Diversity Matters” Scholarship in an effort to level the playing field for underrepresented people of color.
The “Diversity Matters” Scholarship will provide financial assistance to a sophomore, junior or senior student enrolled in an accredited accounting program. To support the student’s pursuit of a future career in public accounting, the $1,000 award will be issued for the Spring 2024 semester and made payable directly to the recipient. Financial need is not a requirement.

What does the “Diversity Matters” Scholarship cover?

The award must be used for expenses related to the cost of attendance to obtain a degree such as the cost of books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, computer purchase and miscellaneous expenses, allowance for childcare or other dependent care, costs related to a disability, and reasonable costs for eligible study-abroad programs.

Eligibility

To apply, students must be/have:

  1. A sophomore, junior or senior college student majoring in accounting at a four-year degree program at a US accredited not-for-profit, private or public, college or university
  2. From at least one of the following ethnicities: Black/African American, Native American, Asian &Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American
  3. A US citizen or Permanent Resident
  4. Completed at least 30 semester hours of college coursework, including at least 9 semester hours in accounting by the end of the Fall 2023 semester
  5. In good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  6. A copy of your resume
  7. A letter of recommendation from a professor or professional reference
  8. A copy of your transcript verifying your current college enrollment

Selection Process

GRF’s Scholarship Selection Committee will consider all qualified applicants who submit a complete application. The winner will be selected based on academic achievement, leadership, and career aspirations in accounting.

An ideal candidate will have:

  • A strong academic record
  • Demonstrated leadership ability (e.g., as shown through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities)
  • Exceptional personal success skills (e.g., emotional maturity, motivation, perseverance, etc.)

The winner will be notified by November 15, 2023 and announced on GRF’s website by Thanksgiving.

Submit an Application

The online application with requested documents must be submitted by 5:00 pm ET on October 3, 2023. For questions, please email grfscholarship@grfcpa.com.

Apply

2022 GRF Diversity Matters Scholarship Recipients

GRF CPAs & Advisors (GRF) was pleased to announce the 2022 recipients of the GRF Diversity Matters Scholarship. The scholarship was established in 2022 to encourage more people of color to enter the accounting profession.

“Diverse representation in the accounting profession is important to GRF,” said Trevor Williams, CPA, GRF’s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). “The GRF Diversity Matters scholarship provides needed funding to talented and deserving people of color pursuing a degree in accounting. This funding bridges the gap for those who may not have access to education without assistance from their community.”

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