The Deloitte Foundation has announced a need-based scholarship fund to aid with tuition costs for diverse students who are pursuiing professional services careers, in collaboration with Ohio State University and its Max M. Fisher College of Business.
A fund of $180,000 was raised through contributions from Deloitte professionals who are Ohio State alumni and Deloitte Foundation matching gifts. The new fund will help cover tuition costs for Master of Accounting (MAcc) students, as well as support Ohio State University's Project THRIVE diversity initiative.
“It is fundamental to harness the power of these students in order to help build more inclusive talent pipelines and advance both business and society,” said Cynthia Turner, assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer at Fisher, in a statement. “As the first Black woman to earn a PhD in accounting from the Ohio State University, I have seen first-hand how a holistic education can empower and motivate students to be successful in the accounting field. I am proud of our success so far and grateful for the Deloitte Foundation’s support of our students.”
Project THRIVE was launched in 2016 by Turner to provide diverse students with access to Fisher’s accounting curriculum, in addition to an accounting and management information systems education experience.
Funds will provide $150,000 in scholarships over a three-year period to diverse students, who are enrolled in Project THRIVE or the MAcc program, who have expressed interest in a professional services career, with funds being utilized for the completion of the fifth year of education required to become a CPA. In addition, $30,000 will be designated for specific programs within Project THRIVE.
“As part of our mission to help prepare the next generation of diverse talent, the Deloitte Foundation matches alma mater donations from our professionals each year that fund key programs and initiatives on college and university campuses across the country,” said Deloitte Foundation president Erin Scanlon in a statement. “We are proud to match donations from the Deloitte professionals who are Ohio State alumni to enable more students to take advantage of all that Project THRIVE offers while helping to build inclusive pipelines of future accounting talent.”
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