The Education Foundation of the Mississippi Society of CPAs recently awarded $44,000 in college scholarships for the fall 2021 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 8 Mississippi institutions applied for the scholarships, which required submitted essays, transcripts, and resumes. Scholarships worth $3,000 each were awarded to 14 students and a scholarship worth $1,000 was awarded to a student from the Natchez-Adams County area.

GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS

Khylar Cain
Mississippi State University
Rhyne E. Neubert Scholarship

Khylar Cain of Eupora has a 4.0 GPA in accounting and a 4.0 GPA overall. She graduated from Mississippi State in 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in accountancy. While at Mississippi State, she served as a College of Business ambassador and was able to engage in the recruitment of prospective business students and help meet the needs of current business students. Khylar has also volunteered on the college fair planning committee at her local church and with a local after-school educational service program. This past spring semester, Khylar interned at Watkins, Ward and Stafford, PLLC in West Point where she prepared Form 1099s for clients and prepared tax returns for individuals, government entities, partnerships, C-corporations, and S-corporations. As a graduate student, Khylar will be serving as a graduate teaching assistant in MSU’s Adkerson School of Accountancy.

The Rhyne E. Neubert Scholarship was established in 2016 to honor Mr. Neubert who served as a Trustee of the Education Foundation since inception. Under his investment guidance and expertise, the Fund grew 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 the profession and to his community.

Reid Cudd
Delta State University

Reid Cudd of Wiggins has a 4.0 GPA in accounting and a 4.0 GPA overall. Reid is a graduate assistant in Operations and Marketing under the direction of the Assistant Athletic Director where he assists in managing game day event staff and other game day operations duties. He is a member of DSU’s Accounting Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa honor society, and Delta Mu Delta business honor society serving as Vice President. He has also served as a Resident Assistant at DSU in the University’s Housing Department. Reid graduated from Delta State in the spring of 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration after earning his Associate’s degree in Business from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. While at MGCCC, Reid was a member of the varsity tennis team and was an NJCAA Region 23 singles flight champion. Reid earned President’s List academic recognition from 2016-2018 while at MGCCC.

Hannah Holman
University of Mississippi
James W. Davis Scholarship

Hannah Holman of Carrollton has a 4.0 GPA in accounting and a 4.0 GPA overall. She is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, Beta Alpha Psi, Gamma Beta Phi, and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. Hannah completed a tax internship at BKD, LLP in Jackson and has accepted a full time position to start July 2022.

The James W. Davis Scholarship was established in 2021 to honor Dr. Davis, who served as a Trustee of the Education Foundation since inception. Dr. Davis was long-time professor at Ole Miss, holder of the prestigious Peery Chair in Accountancy, and former Dean of the Patterson School of Accountancy. He was the author of the first MSCPA history in 1977 and co-authored our MSCPA Centennial History book. Dr. Davis served as MSCPA President during 1983-84 and served numerous years on the Board of Directors. He was the recipient of the 1993 MSCPA Outstanding Educator Award.

Lauryn Rawlins
Mississippi College
Gary Thornton Memorial Scholarship

Lauryn Rawlins of Mobile, Alabama, has a 4.0 in accounting and a 4.0 GPA overall. She graduated from Mississippi College in 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in accounting. While at MC, Lauryn served as Treasurer of the Chenoa social tribe. She was a member of the MC Powerlifting Club and played intramural sports. Lauryn is a member of two MC School of Business groups, the Accounting Society and Women in Business. She is also a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, Alpha Chi, Delta Mu Delta, and Beta Gamma Sigma honor societies. She is a student affiliate member of the AICPA and a student member of the Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance. She has experience working in the accounting and subrogation departments with Greene & Phillips Attorneys at Law, LLC in Mobile and is currently an accounting intern with Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation in Jackson.

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.

Hunter Reed
University of Southern Mississippi
Ralph F. Neely Scholarship

Hunter Reed of Summit has a 4.0 GPA in accounting and a 4.0 GPA overall. At Southern Miss, he served three terms as Treasurer of Beta Alpha Psi and was a founding officer and chapter Secretary for the Student Center for Public Trust. He was chosen to sit on the Dean’s School of Business Student Advisory Council and is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma serving as VP of Community Outreach. Hunter is a student member of the AICPA and MSCPA and was the MSCPA Hamp King Award recipient in 2020. He is currently a graduate assistant for the School of Finance and assists with tutoring, lab monitoring, and outreach for the school. He completed both the BEC, AUD and REG portions of the uniform CPA exam on the first attempt and has started studying for the final section.

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.

Abigail Tew
Millsaps College
Edward A. DeMiller, Jr. Scholarship

Abby Tew of Brandon has a 4.0 GPA in accounting and a 3.97 GPA overall. At Millsaps, she is on the cross country and track and field teams having earned all-conference honors in each. She has been the captain of the cross country team and has served on the track and field team’s Leadership Committee. In addition to athletics, she participates in Major Calling as part of Millsaps’ annual fundraiser. Outside of college, she works for SkyHawks Jackson teaching life lessons to preschool and elementary age children through sports. She also volunteers with her high school’s cross country program. Abby graduated from Millsaps in 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in business administration. She completed an internship with KPMG this past winter.

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.

UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS

Niland Fortenberry
University of Mississippi
Hamp King Award

Niland Fortenberry of Tupelo has a 4.0 GPA in accounting and a 4.0 GPA overall. At Ole Miss, she is a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, Chi Omega Fraternity, Phi Kappa Phi, the Ole Miss Big Event, and Reformed University Fellowship. She currently serves on the Ole Miss Big Event Executive Board on the Volunteer, Recruitment and Retention Committee and previously served on the Logistics Committee. She also currently serves on the Chi Omega Executive Board as the Personnel Chair, and she previously served as a Philanthropy Chair for her chapter. She has also co-led an RUF small group for the past two years. She actively attends Christ Presbyterian Church where she volunteers with the youth program and helps lead a 9th and 10th grade girl bible study.

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 receives an additional $1,000 scholarship and an award plaque to be presented at a future event.

Casey Cameron
University of Southern Mississippi

Casey Cameron of Petal has a 4.0 GPA in accounting and a 3.96 GPA overall. He is a Luckyday Scholar and is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and the Business Student Advisory Council. At Southern Miss, he is the founder and President of the Investment Club and the Financial Management Association. Casey founded the Investment Club to provide students the opportunity to become acclimated with investing in the stock market. Investment Club members have participated in multiple stock trading challenges and have worked on researching investments and pitching it to their members for a shared portfolio. Through FMA, Casey has been able to host multiple financial speaking events where executives from various companies were able to provide USM students advice on what to focus on when leaving college and what types of jobs to pursue first to eventually land their dream job down the road. Outside college, he spends time volunteering with a local after school program named Aldersgate where he helps a class of 2nd and 3rd graders on homework. Also, each year he volunteers to help with Special Olympics where he coaches and helps with the state games that are held at Camp Shelby each fall. He has been involved with both of these organizations since high school and thoroughly enjoys donating his time to each of them. A few of his professional memberships outside of college include the AICPA and the Association of Government Accountants. Through these memberships he has been able to already begin making beneficial connections with professionals in his field. Casey has interned with KPMG in Washington DC and intends to take the CPA exams after graduation.

Kaitlyn Dortch
Mississippi College

Kaitlyn Dortch of Canton has a 4.0 GPA in accounting and a 3.96 GPA overall. At MC, she is a member of the Swannanoa social tribe and serves as Business Manager of MC’s Service Club. She is a member of the School of Business Student Advisory Board, Women in Business Executive Council, MC Accounting Society, and the MC Investment Fund Club. She is also a member of Alpha Lambda Delta and Beta Gamma Sigma honor societies. Outside of MC, she participates in various volunteering events with the Salvation Army, specifically preparing Thanksgiving meals for the homeless, elderly, and disabled.

Addison Mills
Delta State University

Addison Mills of Oxford has a 3.89 GPA in accounting and a 3.8 GPA overall. She is a Lady Statesman for the Delta State University women’s soccer team and is a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society and the DSU Accounting honor society. She participates in intramural sports and volunteers in the Cleveland community. Addison also works as a youth soccer coach for the Cleveland Youth Soccer Association and is assistant soccer coach at Cleveland High School.

Hunter Pierce
William Carey University

Hunter Pierce of Ellisville has a 3.4 GPA in accounting and a 3.879 GPA overall. He is a member of Mu Alpha Theta honor society, Phi Theta Kappa honor society, and Sigma Beta Delta honor society. Hunter works part-time at his family’s business with plans to work there full-time after graduation.

Caroline Samson
Millsaps College

Caroline Samson of Pass Christian has a 4.0 GPA in accounting and a 3.8 GPA overall. At Millsaps, she is President of Sigma Lambda honor society and Vice President of Canterbury Club Episcopal student organization. She is also a member of Enable America which works with and raises money for the Mustard Seed and the Roteract Club which offers assistance to the local community. Caroline volunteers at Grace Place Soup Kitchen in Jackson, Camp Ablein in Gulfport (a camp for disabled children), and Camp Rap-A-Hope in Mobile, AL (a camp for children with cancer). She completed an internship with Carr, Riggs & Ingram in Jackson this summer.

Jameria Stokes
Jackson State University

Jameria Stokes of Brandon has a 4.0 GPA in accounting and a 4.0 GPA overall. At Jackson State, she is involved with many organizations such as JSU Mass Choir President, JSU Blue Ambassador, JSU Pre-Alumni Council, JSU Blue S.T.R.E.A.K. Mentor and Business Manager, Student Government Election Commissioner, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Outside college, she is an active volunteer with Greater St. Matthew as a youth leader, Word of Life Community Impact, and MS Food Network.

Samuel Williams
Mississippi State University

Samuel Williams of Belden has a 4.0 GPA in accounting and a 4.0 GPA overall. At Mississippi State, he is involved in the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, MSU Foundation Ambassadors, and Beta Alpha Psi. As a member of Phi Delta Theta, he has served as both Treasurer and Alumni Secretary as well as having a position on both the Budget and Judicial Committees. As a Foundation Ambassador, he has served on both the Stewardship and Community Service Committees. Outside of college, he is active in his church’s college ministry and volunteers with high school and middle school. He also works part-time as an accounting trainee at Consolidated Electrical Distributors in Starkville.

Joseph Harris
University of Mississippi
Bill Rush Mosby, Jr. Scholarship

Joseph Harris of Natchez has a 3.58 GPA in accounting and a 3.78 GPA overall. At Ole Miss, he is a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, Haley-Barbour Center for Manufacturing Excellence, TVA Financier’s Club, Beta Alpha Psi, and Phi Kappa Phi. He is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Natchez and is also an Eagle Scout with Boy Scouts of America.

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 and the profession. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded each year to an undergraduate accounting major from the Natchez (Adams County) area.