VI CPAs Award Minority Accounting Scholarship To UVI Students

The Virgin Islands Society of Certified Public Accountants (VISCPA) presented the first Minority Accounting Students Scholarship to two University of the Virgin Islands accounting majors on Friday, Nov. 6, at the society’s annual meeting. Eula Cyrille and Shanee Isaac were each awarded a $3,000 scholarship, according to a press release UVI issued today.

“We are all very excited,” said Dr. Sherri Levin, certified public accountant. “It is an honor to be able to provide a scholarship that will enable accounting majors to graduate from UVI, pass the certified public accountant exam and have the option to continue to serve in the Virgin Islands.” 

Providing this scholarship has been an important initiative of the VI Society of CPA’s. “VISCPA members voted to increase their dues to fund the scholarship and the additional dues were collected for a number of years before we collected sufficient funds to offer a scholarship,” Levin said. With the assistance of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Foundation the society was able to offer these scholarships.

“We are proud of the role this scholarship program plays in recognizing student achievement and are very proud of our students, said Dr. Dion Gouws, assistant dean and chair of Accounting and Finance at UVI. “We hope to inspire students to become future thought leaders in accounting and finance.”

“This award comes at a very opportune time,” he said. “UVI has just aligned its programs and created two new accounting programs to enable students to satisfy the new educational regulations of the V.I. Board of Certified Public Accountancy.” These new programs will also allow UVI to provide students with a definitive path to prepare for professional qualifications, such as the Certified Public Accountant,” Dr. Gouws said.

“At UVI we believe very strongly in identifying and harnessing new talent,” said Dr. Stephen Reames, dean of the UVI School of Business. “Our School of Business scholarship programs allow us to do that by supporting students all the way through their university career.”

The VISCPA, which is the only association dedicated to enhancing the professional success of CPAs in territory, plans to offer this scholarship annually.

Feature Image: Rob Upson (left) and Dr. Sherri Levin (right), of the Virgin Islands Society of Certified Public Accountants presents UVI Accounting Student Shanee Isaac (center) with a scholarship, while UVI staffers Dr. Stephen Reames, UVI Dean of the School of Business, (left to right) Dr. James S. Maddirala and Dr. Dion Gouws  stand in the background.  

Image Credit: UVI.