Virginia Society of CPAs Educational Foundation Scholarships

The VSCPA Educational Foundation awards over $50,000 in undergraduate, graduate and doctoral scholarships to accounting college students across Virginia.

Application deadline is April 1, 2020. Applicants will be considered for all awards that they are eligible for based on their application. Scholarship awards range from $1,500 to $3,000 and are for the 2020-2021 academic year. See below for eligibility criteria and a full list of scholarships.

Available Scholarships and Eligibility Criteria

All applicants must:

A) Be a U.S. citizen

B) Have earned at least three credit hours in accounting

C) Have a minimum and overall GPA of 2.7 or higher

D) Be currently enrolled AND enrolled in the Fall 2020 semester to an accredited Virginia college or university with the intent to pursue a degree in accounting. Students from Howard University may apply for the Kearney & Company scholarship


1) VSCPA Undergraduate Accounting Scholarship

This $1,500 scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students who demonstrate academic excellence and financial need. Eligibility:

A) Must demonstrate a minimum overall and accounting GPA of 3.0

2) VSCPA Minority Accounting Scholarship 

This $1,500–$2,000 scholarship is awarded to undergraduate or graduate minority students who demonstrate academic excellence and financial need. Eligibility:

A) Must be a member of one of the following race/ethnic groups: American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

B) Must demonstrate a minimum overall and accounting GPA of 3.0

3) VSCPA Graduate and PhD Accounting Scholarship

This $2,000 scholarship is awarded to graduate or PhD students who demonstrate academic excellence and financial need. Eligibility:

A) Must be enrolled in a graduate or PhD program for the Fall 2020 semester

B) Must demonstrate a minimum overall and accounting undergraduate GPA of 3.0

4) VSCPA Past Presidents/Chair Scholarship 

This $1,500–$2,000 scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student who demonstrates academic excellence and financial need. This award honors past presidents/chairs of the VSCPA and VSCPA Educational Foundation. Eligibility:

A) Preference given to a student who demonstrates leadership potential

B) Must demonstrate a minimum overall and accounting GPA of 3.0

5) CST Group Scholarship

This $3,000 scholarship is funded by CST Group. Eligibility:

A) Must be enrolled in the Fall 2020 semester as a junior or senior undergraduate accounting major at University of Virginia or George Mason University with the intent to take the CPA Exam

B) Must demonstrate a minimum overall and accounting GPA of 3.0

6) DHG Scholarship

Two scholarships of $2,500 each are funded by DHG. Eligibility:

A) Must be enrolled in the Fall 2020 semester as a junior, senior or "fifth-year" undergraduate, or graduate accounting major with the intent to take the CPA Exam

B) Must demonstrate a minimum overall and accounting GPA of 3.3

7) H. Burton Bates Jr. Scholarship

This $2,250 scholarship is funded by the children of H. Burton Bates Jr., CPA, a VSCPA life member who passed away in May 2005. Eligibility:

A) Must be enrolled full-time in the Fall 2020 semester as a junior or senior undergraduate accounting major OR have earned an undergraduate degree from an accredited Virginia college or university and enrolled at least part-time (as defined by the institution) in the Fall 2020 semester completing additional coursework in order to take the CPA Exam

B) Must demonstrate a minimum overall and accounting GPA of 3.0

8) Kearney & Company Scholarship

Two scholarships of $2,500 each are funded by Kearney & Company.

Eligibility #1:

A) Must be enrolled in the Fall 2020 semester as a junior undergraduate accounting major at Christopher Newport University, George Mason University, Virginia Tech, James Madison University or Howard University

B) Must be enrolled full-time during the term of application and throughout the term of scholarship in coursework required to qualify to take the CPA Exam OR enrolled part-time and employed a minimum of five hours a week

C) Must demonstrate involvement in extracurricular activities

D) Must demonstrate a minimum overall and accounting GPA of 2.7

Eligibility #2:

A) Must be enrolled in the Fall 2020 semester as a senior undergraduate accounting major at Christopher Newport University, George Mason University, Virginia Tech, James Madison University or Howard University

B) Must be enrolled full-time during the term of application and throughout the term of scholarship in coursework required to qualify to take the CPA Exam OR enrolled part-time and employed a minimum of five hours a week

C) Must demonstrate involvement in extracurricular activities

D) Must demonstrate a minimum overall and accounting GPA of 2.7

9) Michael E. Mares Scholarship

Two scholarships of $2,250 each are funded by PBMares and friends, family and colleagues of Michael E. Mares, CPA, a VSCPA member known for his tax law expertise and impact on the profession, who passed away in 2009. Eligibility:

A) Must be enrolled in the Fall 2020 semester as a junior or senior undergraduate accounting major with the intent to take the CPA Exam

B) Must be enrolled full-time during the term of application and throughout the term of scholarship in coursework required to qualify to take the CPA Exam

C) Must demonstrate involvement in extracurricular activities

D) Must demonstrate a minimum overall and accounting GPA of 3.0

10) MJW Scholarship

Two scholarships of $2,250 each are funded by MJW (formerly Murray, Jonson, White & Associates) and its clients and friends. Eligibility:

A) Must be enrolled in the Fall 2020 semester as a junior or senior undergraduate accounting major with the intent to take the CPA Exam

B) First preference: student whose permanent residence is in Northern Virginia. Second preference: student whose permanent residence is in Virginia

C) Must demonstrate a minimum overall and accounting GPA of 3.0

11) Thomas M. Berry Jr. Scholarship

Two scholarships of $3,000 each are funded by friends, family and colleagues of Thomas M. Berry Jr., who retired as president & CEO of the VSCPA in April 2007. Eligibility:

A) Must demonstrate a minimum overall and accounting GPA of 3.0

12) Verus Financial Partners Scholarship

This $3,000 scholarship is funded by Verus Financial Partners. Eligibility:

A) Must be enrolled in the Fall 2020 semester as a junior or senior undergraduate accounting major with the intent to take the CPA Exam

B) Must demonstrate a minimum overall and accounting GPA of 3.0

13) Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer Scholarship

This $3,000 scholarship is funded by Wall Einhorn Chernitzer. Eligibility:

A) Must be enrolled in the Fall 2020 semester as a junior, senior or "fifth-year" undergraduate or graduate accounting major at Old Dominion University, University of Virginia, The College of William & Mary, Virginia Tech or James Madison University with the intent to take the CPA Exam

B) Must demonstrate a minimum overall and accounting GPA of 3.0

14) Yount, Hyde & Barbour Scholarship

This $3,000 scholarship is funded by Yount Hyde & Barbour. Eligibility:

A) Must be enrolled in the Fall 2020 semester as a junior, senior or "fifth year" undergraduate or graduate accounting major with the intent to take the CPA Exam

B) Applicant must demonstrate a minimum overall and accounting GPA of 3.0