Accounting Student wins Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Scholarship
JONESBORO – An Arkansas State University accounting major has received a prestigious award.Senior Christian Russell of Jonesboro has been awarded the 2023-24 Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) student scholarship. The $10,000 award will help cover tuition, fees, books and supplies.
Russell joins 368 other winners from across the country and is the only scholarship awardee from Arkansas.“To receive this scholarship means that I have been on the right track with my studies and that hard work doesn't go unnoticed,” said Russell.This scholarship program recognizes academic achievements of students who are studying accounting and auditing.The goals of this scholarship are to benefit outstanding students who are likely to become auditors and to make a financial difference to qualifying students. Those considered for the award are nominated by their schools.“It made me feel extremely grateful to be a recipient of this scholarship and to know that someone at A-State believes in me that much is very rewarding in itself,” said Russell.He was nominated by Dr. James Doering, chair of the Department of Accounting.“We are extremely proud of Christian’s accomplishments and his dedication to academic excellence,” said Doering, who also is HCJ CPAs and Advisors/Louis and Ann Schaff Distinguished Professor of Accounting in the Neil Griffin College of Business.With a planned graduation date of May, Russell plans to continue his education, seeking a master’s degree in accounting with data analytics. His goal is to become a certified public accountant and work in public accounting as an auditor.
“This scholarship will help me continue my education by allowing me to have an easier time affording graduate school and continuing toward my CPA license,” Russell added.
The students who have been awarded scholarships this year are the largest number of recipients in the program’s history. Since 2011, PCAOB has awarded more than $22 million in scholarships to 2,242 students.PCAOB is a nonprofit corporation established by Congress to oversee the audits of public companies in order to protect investors and the public interest by promoting informative, accurate and independent audit reports.The PCAOB oversees the audits of brokers and dealers, including compliance reports filed pursuant of federal securities laws, to promote investor protection.
