GRF CPAs & Advisors (GRF) is pleased to announce the 2022 recipients of the GRF Diversity Matters Scholarship. The scholarship was established this year to encourage more people of color to enter the accounting profession. The program provides financial assistance to sophomore, junior, and senior students enrolled in an accredited accounting program.

“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.”

2022 GRF Diversity Matters Scholarship Recipients

University of Maryland Eastern Shore

  • Shawn Smith
  • Da Park

Loyola University

  • Angele Velasco
  • Moises Zelaya
  • Nicole Codorlupo
  • Ronnie Gruseck

Bowie State University

  • Ibiyemi James
  • Rocky Aliping, Jr

To support the student’s pursuit of a future career in public accounting, the $1,000 award will be issued for the Spring 2023 semester and made payable directly to the recipient. The award must be used for “Cost of Attendance” – costs to obtain a degree including books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, computer purchases and miscellaneous expenses, allowance for childcare or other dependent care, costs related to a disability, and reasonable costs for eligible study-abroad programs.

Eligibility

In addition to enrollment in a four-year degree program at a US accredited college or university, applicants must also demonstrate:

  • US citizenship or permanent resident status;
  • Ethnicity containing at least one of the following: Black/African American, Native American, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American;
  • Completion of at least 30 semester hours of college coursework, including at least 9 semester hours in accounting by the end of the Fall 2022 semester; and
  • Good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Application Process

Students interested in applying for the next round in 2023 must complete an application accompanied by a copy of their resume, a letter of recommendation from a professor or professional reference, and a copy of their transcript verifying current college enrollment.

Contact

To receive an application for the 2023 GRF Diversity Matters Scholarship program, contact grfscholarship@grfcpa.com. Applications will be accepted until 5:00 pm on October 1, 2023. For more information about the scholarship and GRF’s DEI initiative, contact Trevor Williams, CPA, Partner and Director, DEI, at twilliams@grfcpa.com.

About GRF CPAs & Advisors

Headquartered in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region, GRF CPAs & Advisors (GRF) is a full-service professional services firm providing clients with accounting, tax, and advisory solutions. For more than 40 years, the firm has supported the financial and operational success of for-profit and tax-exempt organizations locally, nationally, and around the world.

The firm is a member of CPAmerica, Inc., one of the largest associations of CPA firms in the United States. Our membership guarantees clients access to the expertise and resources of more than 4,000 accounting and advisory professionals at 78 member firms throughout the country. CPAmerica is a member of Crowe Global, providing our firm with access to the eighth-largest accounting network in the world with over two hundred independent firms in more than 130 countries.