The Education Foundation of the Mississippi Society of CPAs recently awarded $33,200 in college scholarships for the fall 2017 term. Founded in the early 1970s, the Foundation seeks to promote accounting education in Mississippi colleges and universities by helping students pursue a CPA career.

College juniors, seniors, and graduate students representing 10 Mississippi institutions applied for the scholarships, which required submitted essays, transcripts, and resumes. Scholarships worth $2,300 each were awarded to 14 students.

GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS

Hannah Claire Farmer
University of Mississippi
Edward A. DeMiller, Jr. Scholarship 

Hannah Claire Farmer of Tupelo has a 4.0 GPA in accounting and a 3.98 GPA overall. Her campus involvement includes Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Alpha Psi-Director of Membership, Beta Gamma Sigma, Phi Sigma Tau, Alpha Lambda Delta, Barksdale Honors Scholar, Green Grove Initiative, Ole Miss Global Ambassador, PwC Challenge Case Competition 1^st place (2015) and 2^nd place (2014), Deloitte FanTAXtic Case Study Competition runner-up (2014), Burns Hall-VP of Administration, and RebelTHON, The Big Event. Her activities in organizations outside college include Oxford Premier Volleyball Club coach, Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, Lake Sardis Clean-Up, Feed the Hunger Packathon, and promoter of women’s self-defense through Oxford Fitness Kickboxing.

The Edward A. DeMiller, Jr. Scholarship was established in 2016 to honor Mr. DeMiller who was an original Trustee of the Education Foundation when it was founded. Mr. DeMiller, who died in 2014, served as MSCPA President during 1959-60.

Hannah Katherine Allen Hoffman
Mississippi College
Ralph F. Neely Scholarship 

Hannah Katherine Allen Hoffman of Clinton has a 3.86 GPA in accounting and a 3.97 GPA overall. During her time at Mississippi College, she has served as the Accounting Society President, Women in Business Treasurer, and Swannanoa Social Tribe Historian and Treasurer. She has been a member of Delta Mu Delta and the Dean’s Student Advisory Board for the School of Business. At the Writing Center on campus, she was the head receptionist and worked for three semesters until she began an off-campus internship. For two years she was a member of the Welcome Week leadership team that plans and implements a week of activities for incoming freshman and transfers. During her freshman year, she attended a church plant where she assisted in Children’s Worship activities each week. During her sophomore year, she began directing elementary school kids through a program called Drama Kids that encourages creativity and confidence through improvisation and a spring performance. She regularly attends a small group and Bible study as well as Sunday services at her home church in Clinton.

The Ralph F. Neely Scholarship was established in 2016 to honor Mr. Neely who was an original Trustee of the Education Foundation when it was founded. Mr. Neely served as MSCPA President during 1966-67.

Andra Isaac Lewis
Jackson State University
Gary Thornton Memorial Scholarship 

Andra Isaac Lewis of Jackson has a 3.8 GPA in accounting and a 3.8 GPA overall. His campus involvement includes Advocates of World Health, Pre-Law Society, Accounting Society-Vice President, Golden Key International Honor Society, and Beta Gamma Sigma. His involvement in organizations outside college include National Association of Black Accountants, Kid’s One-Mile Fun Run in Ridgeland, and Aaron E. Henry Center children’s summer camp in Clarksdale. He is also currently working as an intern with HORNE LLP in their tax department.

 The Gary E. Thornton Memorial Scholarship was established in 1999 by Gary’s widow, Cathy. Gary was an active MSCPA member and former chair of the Governmental A&A Committee. He died in March of 1999.

Haley Marie Lott
University of Southern Mississippi
Rhyne E. Neubert Scholarship 

Haley Marie Lott of Sumrall has a 4.0 GPA in accounting and a 4.0 GPA overall. Her campus involvement includes Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Beta Alpha Psi, Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, Chi Omega Fraternity, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She served as a WileyPLUS Student Partner and interned in Healthcare Reimbursement and Advisory at HORNE LLP. She also served as an accounting tutor through her involvement in Beta Alpha Psi. Through her involvement in Chi Omega Fraternity, she works closely with the Hattiesburg chapter of Make-a-Wish America to grant wishes for local children with life-threatening illnesses. She has also volunteered at the Hattiesburg Habitat for Humanity through Beta Alpha Psi to help build houses for families in the Hattiesburg area. In addition, she has continued to participate in the Lamar County Relay for Life each year in support of the American Cancer Society.

The Rhyne E. Neubert Scholarship was established in 2016 to honor Mr. Neubert who has served as a Trustee of the Education Foundation since inception. Under his investment guidance and expertise, the Fund has grown from an original contribution of $1,000 to its level today. Mr. Neubert served as MSCPA President during 1972-73 and was honored by the MSCPA in 1996 as the Public Service Award Winner for outstanding service to his community.

UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS

Christopher Bernard Brown
Jackson State University
Hamp King Award 

Christopher Bernard Brown of Greenwood has a 4.0 GPA in accounting and a 4.0 GPA overall. He is active in campus organizations including JSU Marching and Concert Bands-head baritone section leader, Beta Gamma Sigma, Golden Key International Honor Society-secretary, Accounting Society-SGA representative, and the National Society for Collegiate Scholars. Outside of college, he is involved in a mentoring program for middle school students and also coaches a little league baseball team.

The prestigious Hamp King Award is given to the most outstanding undergraduate scholarship recipient. This award was established to recognize and honor the memory of the late Hamp King, a CPA who served as Mississippi’s State Auditor for many years. The winner is invited to the Mississippi Tax Institute conference on December 7, 2017, at the Hilton-Jackson to receive the award along with an additional $1,000 scholarship to be given by the Institute.

Erica Joyce Berg
Millsaps College 

Erica Joyce Berg of Pearl has a 3.5 GPA in accounting and a 3.8 GPA overall. Her campus involvement includes Phi Mu-Tailgating Chair and Parliamentarian, Psychology Club, Enable America, and Else School Student Advisory Council. She also volunteered with Children’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi and recently interned with CSpire in their finance department.

Pace Danielle Boettcher
Mississippi College 

Pace Danielle Boettcher of Southaven has a 4.0 GPA in accounting and a 4.0 GPA overall. Her campus involvement includes Women in Business, Accounting Society, College Democrats, Blue & Gold 101-mentor, Student Government Association-Secretary of Academic Affairs, Varsity Soccer and Track teams, Student Advisory Board, and intramural sports.

Anna Elizabeth Ford
Mississippi State University 

Anna Elizabeth Ford of Baldwin has a 3.5 GPA in accounting and a 3.88 GPA overall. Her campus involvement includes membership in Beta Alpha Psi-tutor and proctor, and Sigma Alpha Lambda. Outside college, she is an active church member at Mt. Olive Baptist Church and has helped with the Fourth of July Parade, Memory Walk, George E. Allen summer reading program, Pilot Club pancake breakfast, Relay for Life, and Fellowship Hall Committee.

Mary Katelyn Harris
Delta State University 

Mary Katelyn Harris of Clarksdale has a 3.56 GPA in accounting and a 3.66 GPA overall. Her campus involvement includes Kappa Delta Sorority-recommendations chair, PCE chair and ritual chair, Certified Managerial Accounting Club, Student Alumni Association, Delta Mu Honor Society, and Accounting Honor Society. She also serves with Girl Scouts and Prevent Child Abuse America.

Patrick G. Herbert, Jr.
Alcorn State University 

Patrick G. Herbert, Jr. of Woodville has a 3.14 GPA in accounting and a 3.46 GPA overall. His campus involvement includes Student Council Association-President, Student Senate, Pre-Alumni Council, Student Ambassador, and the Delta Kappa Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.-Assistant District Director. Outside college, he is a member of the King Emanuel Baptist Church choir.

Ryan Ivy Lackey
University of Mississippi
Bill Rush Mosby, Jr. Scholarship 

Ryan Ivy Lackey of Oxford has a 3.17 GPA in accounting and a 3.53 GPA overall. His campus involvement includes Beta Alpha Psi-Officer. He has also volunteered at The Pantry in Oxford helping to provide food to local families in need.

The Bill Rush Mosby, Jr. Scholarship was established to honor the late Bill Rush Mosby, Jr. of Natchez. He served as MSCPA President in 1977-78 and was honored by the MSCPA in 2000 as the Public Service Award Winner for outstanding service to his community. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded each year to an undergraduate accounting major from the Natchez (Adams County) area.

Kirkland McCarty
University of Southern Mississippi 

Kirkland McCarty of Hattiesburg has a 4.0 in accounting and a 4.0 GPA overall. His campus involvement includes the Southern Miss baseball team-captain, Student Athlete Advisory Committee-representative, and Beta Gamma Sigma. He also serves on the Top Issues Working group for C-USA SAAC and has recently been nominated to be a member of the Division I Competition Oversight Committee.

Cedenia L. Reed
Belhaven University 

Cedenia L. Reed of Brandon has a 3.478 GPA in accounting and a 3.432 GPA overall. Her campus involvement includes Belhaven Activities Team, Belhaven Leadership Council-activities intern, Belhaven Society of Accountancy-secretary, Campus Recreation Team, Dean’s Circle, Dean’s List, International Peer Partner, Phi Beta Lambda-reporter, and tutor/study group coordinator. Outside college she is a member of AICPA-student affiliate and works as an administrative assistant for Cal-Maine Foods. She is also a representative for Springhill Sunday School Institute and is involved with St. Mary M.B. Church’s Young Women’s Association, Youth Department Secretary/Advisor, Young Adult Choir, Anniversary Choir, and is a Church Announcement Clerk. She also volunteers with Indian Run Estate nursing home, Wingard Home Ministry, Susan G. Komen, and Touch by a Card Ministry.

Kathryn Elizabeth Whitman
University of Mississippi 

Kathryn Elizabeth Whitman of Columbus has a 3.67 GPA in accounting and a 3.90 GPA overall. Her campus involvement includes Alpha Lambda Honor Society-secretary, Beta Alpha Psi-VP of Programs, KPMG and PwC Challenge Case Competitions, RebelTHON, and the BIG EVENT community service project. Outside college, she volunteers with Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen in Columbus.

Meng Yan Wu
Mississippi University for Women

Meng Yan Wu of Horn Lake has a 4.0 GPA in accounting and a 3.94 GPA overall. Her campus involvement includes Tennessee Valley Authority Club, Student Associate Alumni, National Society of Leadership Success and Delta Mu Delta. Outside college she offers free tax help through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and volunteers with the Boys and Girls Club.