Black CPA Centennial distributes $93.5K in scholarships

The Black CPA Centennial named the recipients Tuesday of the nearly $100,000 it committed to giving to 100 Black accounting students to enable them to study to become CPAs.

Back in March the group — which includes the Illinois CPA Society, the American Institute of CPAs, the National Association of Black Accountants, the National Society of Black CPAs, the Diverse Organization of Firms and others — sought out applicants for the scholarships to commemorate the centennial of the first Black CPA, John W. Cromwell Jr., in 1921 (see story). The $93,500 raised during the Black CPA Centennial celebration last year are being distributed as scholarships to provide financial support for expenses related to preparing for or taking the CPA exam, including college tuition toward CPA eligibility, related classroom materials, CPA exam preparation courses, CPA exam application fees, tutors and more.

“Our intent was to help pave the way for more Black individuals to pursue the CPA credential and succeed in a more diverse and inclusive CPA profession,” said ICPAS president and CEO Todd Shapiro in a statement. “The 100 scholarships we’ve been able to award, in honor of the 100-year commemoration, are going directly to deserving students and professionals to provide meaningful financial assistance to each of them as they strive to overcome their unique financial barriers during their pursuit of the coveted CPA credential.”

The names of the 100 recipients of the Aspiring Black CPA Scholarship can be found here.

See our other coverage of the year-long Black CPA Centennial celebration:

• Meet the first Black CPA
• Meet the first Black woman CPA
• Meet the first Black partner in the big eight
• Meet the first Black Ph.Ds
• Coming together to advance Black CPAs
• Strengthening the pipeline of Black CPAs
• 100 years of Black CPAs