Robert Connell, a graduate student from Leesburg, Florida, in Stetson University’s Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program, recently won a $10,000 national scholarship awarded by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). The PCAOB scholarship program is intended to encourage accounting students to pursue careers in audit.

Connell, who graduated cum laude from Stetson’s School of Business Administration in May, was chosen for the merit-based scholarship due to his interest and aptitude in accounting as well as his demonstration of high ethical standards. He was selected from a pool of candidates nominated by other top universities and colleges with accredited business and accounting programs.

“This scholarship is significant to me because it allows me to attend Stetson University’s MAcc program,” explained Connell. “The information I learn from this program will help me achieve my goal of becoming a CPA and further advance in my career path of public accounting.”

As an undergraduate student, Connell served as vice president of public relations for Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting honors society, and as a member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. He is currently enrolled in the MAcc one-year program.

“To have been one of only 207 students to receive such a significant scholarship is an impressive accomplishment.” said Maria Rickling, PhD, associate professor of accounting and chair of M.E. Rinker, Sr. Institute of Tax and Accountancy. “We are so excited for Robert and pleased that his excellence in academia was recognized on this national level.”

About the Scholarship

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 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.

-Marie Dinklage