Washburn University Accounting Student Earns $15,000 National Scholarship

Topeka, Kan. - Washburn University accounting student and Topeka native Kelsey Gorman will have a stronger balance sheet after earning a $15,000 scholarship from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). The PCAOB Scholars Program seeks to benefit students who are likely to become auditors and to make a difference to students who might otherwise choose a different career path.

Since 2011, the PCAOB has administered a scholarship program for undergraduate and graduate accounting students enrolled in accredited U.S. colleges and universities. Faculty from the institution nominate students based on their GPA (3.3 or higher) and demonstrate a high ethical standard. More than 400 students received a $15,000 scholarship based on their scholarly credentials and a professor's recommendation this year.

"I was honored and excited when I heard the PCAOB selected me for this award. I have only been at Washburn for one semester, but I have already received a transfer scholarship from the university and now the PCAOB Scholarship," said Gorman.

Gorman, who is a sophomore double-majoring in accounting and data analytics, transferred to Washburn for the spring 2024 semester from Peru State College in Peru, Neb. She wanted to continue her education closer to home and chose Washburn for its reputation as having a strong accounting program and School of Business.

Dr. Barbara Scofield, professor of accounting and director of the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) Program at the Washburn School of Business, nominated Gorman after several professors took notice of Gorman's exemplary work.

"I wanted to give new accounting students an opportunity to earn additional, external scholarships," said Scofield. "Once I registered Washburn with the PCAOB, I consulted with the instructors in the AC 225 Managerial Accounting Course to identify strong students who are committed to a professional accounting career. As a first-generation college student with a superior GPA, Kelsey stood out."

Scofield continued, "Kelsey is an enthusiastic Ichabod who chose Washburn to increase the challenge of her college experience."

Washburn qualified to nominate students for the PCAOB Scholars Program as one of the top 150 regional institutions with Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredited business programs, as determined by the total number of accounting degrees conferred in the last five years.

Jim Martin, Henrietta and G.W. Snyder Jr. Professorship in Business and senior lecturer at the Washburn School of Business, said, "Washburn offers one of top accounting programs in the Midwest with courses taught by knowledgeable faculty with real-world experience. Students enrolled in the program receive a solid accounting foundation interlaced with opportunities to complete internships in fields such as professional accounting, business and government."

Students in the Washburn Accounting Program have claimed the top Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam scores in Kansas the last two years and scored in the 95th percentile on the national Major Field Test (MFT) in accounting, a standardized exam given to more than 550 U.S. business schools.

"The faculty are actively engaged in making sure you succeed in their course. Dr. Scofield and all my professors have been helpful in my transition to Washburn and along my educational path," said Gorman.

"We provide students with the fundamentals and hands-on experiences they will need to be successful in their careers. Accounting is ever changing, and professional accountants must increase their knowledge on an on-going basis. Kelsey's success is another recognition of the quality of our program," said Dr. David Sollars, professor of economics and dean of the Washburn School of Business.

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