ARCPA.org - Scholarships

Arkansas Society of CPAs Student Education Fund Scholarships

Criteria, Requirements and Information for Schools and Applicants

General Purpose

The Student Education Fund Scholarship Program of the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants is to provide support and encouragement to accounting majors at four-year Arkansas colleges and universities who intend to become CPAs; to encourage the involvement of the faculty at those institutions in the Arkansas Society of CPAs; and provide access to the profession for scholarship winners by awarding student memberships in the Arkansas Society of CPAs.

The Arkansas Society of CPAs Student Education Fund is supported entirely by contributions. It is a non-profit corporation, and gifts to the Student Education Fund are tax deductible. Securities and any other property, as well as cash, may be contributed.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be accounting students who have completed 84 semester hours of coursework including 15 semester hours of accounting (including Principles).
The student must have a 3.5 GPA (on a 4-point scale) in accounting coursework.
The applicant may be pursuing an undergraduate accounting degree (or its equivalent) or may have graduated and be completing additional coursework to accumulate 150 credit hours.
The applicant must certify that he/she is pursuing the requirements to sit for the CPA Exam and does intend to pursue the CPA professional certification.

Availability of Scholarships

Each accounting department of an Arkansas four-year college or university offering an accounting degree shall be allowed to submit one (1) scholarship application for each qualifying faculty member who is a regular member in good standing of the Arkansas Society of CPAs. The accounting department may decide how to determine which applications are submitted. (For example, the accounting department may allow each faculty member who is a Society member to determine individually whose application is submitted. Or a department might allow its students to apply to the department and decide from those applications which one(s) should be forwarded to the Arkansas Society of CPAs Student Education Fund Board.)

When a department submits its application(s), it must provide a numerical ranking (1, 2, etc.) of the applicants. The determination of this ranking is left to the discretion of the department. Failure to submit the ranking may disqualify applications forwarded from that department.

Amount and Duration of Scholarships

The Arkansas Society of CPAs Student Education Fund Board shall determine each year the maximum amount of scholarships that may be awarded, and shall determine the number and amount of scholarships to be awarded.

The maximum amount of scholarships awarded to any single applicant shall not exceed $2,000.

The scholarships may be awarded for the fall semester only or for both the fall and subsequent spring semesters.

The Arkansas Society of CPAs Student Education Fund Board will determine whether to disburse the scholarships through the student’s college or university or directly to the student.

Each scholarship winner shall also be awarded a one-year student membership in the Arkansas Society of CPAs.

Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic achievement, professional promise, and other factors considered significant by the Board.

Scholarships will be awarded without regard to age, gender, race, creed, religion, ethnic or national origin, or sexual orientation.

Application Process

A scholarship application must contain the following: Completed application form, required supporting documents to include a current resume, an academic transcript that is current through the previous fall semester; two letters of recommendation and other documents that the applicant may wish to submit.

Incomplete applications without required documents, or those received by the ASCPA after the deadline of February 10th will not be considered.

Once submitted, applications and required supporting documents cannot be returned.

The Arkansas Society of CPAs Student Education Fund Board will review scholarship applications at its annual meeting in February, and will announce the scholarship recipients in March.

ASCPA Student Education Fund Scholarship Application

Students should submit completed application with all required supporting documents to Their college accounting department chairperson

After reviewing, the Department Chairperson will submit the applications with supporting documents on behalf of the students to:

Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants
Student Education Fund
11300 Executive Center Drive
Little Rock, AR 72211-4352

Completed application with required documents, must be received by the ASCPA by February 10th.

Required Documents:

An official transcript from college or university (including most recent fall semester)
A current resume that includes educational and employment history (one page)
Letter of recommendation from accounting faculty on school letterhead
Letter of recommendation from friend or co-worker, etc. (not a relative)

Application to be completed by student (Please type or print)

Full Name
Social Security Number
Permanent Address
College Residency Address
College Residency Phone
Permanent Phone
Work Phone
Email Address
Name of College to be attended during academic period requested
Major
Expected Graduation Date
Number of Credits Completed
Number of Credits Enrolled This Semester
Are You Enrolled in a "150-Hour" Program?
Enrolled
Cumulative GPA
GPA of Accounting Courses
Are You a Student Member of the Arkansas Society of CPAs?
Is this a

We issue news releases on scholarship winners. Please sign below to permit the ASCPA to publicize your name and background information.

List your hometown daily and weekly newspapers to assist us in our publicity efforts if you are a recipient. (Include town name in title)

*Students signature on this application authorizes release of student’s name and school name for publication on the ASCPA website, its monthly Newsletter and Student Newsletter.

Please write a brief statement (up to 150 words) on why you should be considered for this scholarship. You may include information on why you have chosen accounting as your career goal, what interests you about the profession, or discuss personal circumstances that are relevant to the selection process.

*Student’s Statement:: I have reviewed the scholarship application and the information submitted here. I certify that to the best of my knowledge, all information on this application and all required documents is complete and correct. I certify that I intend to pursue the requirements to sit for the CPA Exam and intend to pursue the CPA professional certification. I certify that I will use any funds that I may receive, if selected as a recipient of this scholarship, only for expenses directly related to my study.

Student Signature

Date

Incomplete applications without required documents, or those received by the ascpa after FEBRUARY 10 will not be considered.

Please note: Applications and required supporting documents cannot be returned.

Students should submit completed application with all required supporting documents to Their college accounting department chairperson

After reviewing, the Department Chairperson will submit the applications with supporting documents on behalf of the students to:

Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants
Student Education Fund
11300 Executive Center Drive
Little Rock, AR 72211-4352

The deadline for receipt of all materials by the ASCPA is February 10th.

For assistance or information, please contact:
Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants at (800) 482-8739 in Arkansas or (501) 664-8739 or by e-mail at ascpa@arcpa.org.