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Drew Pinkston ’16 was awarded a $10,000 merit scholarship from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) in July. She was one of 72 students to receive the scholarship — each from a different college or university.

“As a young African-American woman in a male-oriented field, this award exemplifies the theory that hard work truly pays off,” Pinkston says.

The PCAOB scholarship program encourages educational institutions to give consideration to students from populations that have been historically underrepresented in the accounting profession.

The scholarships are only offered to AACSB accounting accredited programs. ������ý���� is a proud member of AACSB International with dual accreditation for its business school and accounting program.

"������ý���� is very appreciative of this opportunity from the PCAOB to honor and financially support one of our students," says Dr. Marge O’Reilly-Allen, associate professor and director of ������ý����’s MAcc Program and the Accounting Co-op Program. "This is our second year to receive the scholarship and we can not think of a more deserving student than Drew. She not only has an outstanding academic record, but Drew is an active member of the ������ý���� community. The scholarship will allow Drew to complete her MAcc degree and pursue her career in public accounting."

Pinkston aspires to become an auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers, the multinational firm specializing in audit, assurance, tax and consulting services, in its financial services line. She earned her bachelor’s in accounting from ������ý���� in 2016 and entered the University's Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program this fall.

“������ý���� has one of the best accounting programs,” she says. “Its accreditations, amazing teachers and staff, as well as the success stories of recent graduates, made choosing the University and its accounting program an easy choice.”

Students in ������ý����’s MAcc program develop the required technical competencies to meet the evolving credit-hour requirements for licensure in the accounting field. Most courses are taught in small sections, usually by full-time faculty holding doctoral degrees, but ������ý���� also offers a 16-month online MAcc program.

The PCAOB scholarship program was created in 2002 by Congress in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires that monetary penalties imposed by the PCAOB in its disciplinary proceedings be used to fund a merit scholarship program for students in accredited accounting degree programs. The PCAOB scholarship program was created to identify eligible students for scholarships and award funds through the students' educational institutions.

This is the sixth year the PCAOB program has granted scholarships. "Over the years, the academic achievements of more than 400 students have been recognized through this program," says PCAOB Chairman James R. Doty. "We hope this recognition inspires future accountants to become leaders in audit for the benefit of investors."

Each participating educational institution nominates a scholarship recipient from students enrolled in its accounting degree program. To qualify, students must be enrolled in a bachelor's or master's degree program in accounting and demonstrate interest and aptitude in accounting and auditing and high ethical standards. In addition, applicants may not be a PCAOB employee or a child or spouse of a PCAOB employee.

Pinkston, who is from Willingboro, N.J., is part of the Aspiring Accounting Professional Program (RUAAPP) at ������ý����. The program is designed to help minority accounting students succeed in the classroom and ultimately their careers. Since 2011, the program has helped and encouraged African-American, Hispanic-American and Native American accounting students by offering tutoring services and providing practical experience.

������ý���� 75 graduates have participated in the program. Surveys show they leave ������ý���� feeling more successful and supported as they move into their accounting careers, according to Dr. Evelyn McDowell, an assistant professor of accounting who runs the RUAAPP.

"The program and Dr. McDowell played a large role in the success of my career at ������ý���� and winning this scholarship," Pinkston says.