The Ohio CPA Foundation awards 25 scholarships at Accounting Careers Leadership Academy

By Jessica Barboza, OSCPA marketing and communications intern 

College students with plans to pursue accounting recently received recognition and support from The Ohio CPA Foundation and various accounting organizations.   

“This scholarship is an investment in my future as a CPA,” said Hannah Malbasa, a second-year accounting student at Kent State. “I couldn’t be more grateful to Deloitte and am excited for what’s to come.” 

Malbasa was among the 25 students who received scholarships from accounting organizations on Nov. 8, at the Accounting Careers Leadership Academy event in Gahanna.  
ACLA is an annual event hosted by the Ohio CPA Foundation that aims to prepare college students for a successful future in the accounting industry, strengthen professional skills and highlight the limitless possibilities of a career as a CPA. 
Specifically, the event is designed to increase the number of CPAs and accounting professionals, including, but not limited to those who identify as: having a disability, LGBTQ, veterans, first-generation and people of color. 
The event was free to attend and included a “Meet the Recruiters” session followed by a luncheon sponsored by BDO with keynote speaker Libby Cullins, CPA, Executive Director & Strategic Business Manager at JPMorganChase. Plante Moran was the presenting sponsor and Crowe sponsored transportation.

“I am just really appreciative that people are willing to invest in our future, and young people’s futures, and just continue to put resources behind us,” said Hannah Morehart, a MAcc student at BGSU. “It can be kind of hard to go for this kind of career, but there are so many people out there who support us and it’s really appreciated.” 

At the end of the event, the Foundation awarded 25 firm-sponsored scholarships to student attendees based on their participation throughout the day.