New Jersey Society of CPAs Awards More Than $350,000 in Scholarships to NJ Students
   

Rider University, The College of New Jersey and Rutgers University Top the List

ROSELAND, N.J. — The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) awarded more than $350,000 in scholarships to 75 New Jersey high school and college students at its 59th Annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony held at the Pines Manor in Edison on April 30. Rider University, The College of New Jersey and Rutgers University (from its combined campuses) topped the list with the most concentrated award winners.

More than 200 students applied for the awards ranging between $6,000 and $7,000. Sixteen four-year awards of $7,000 were presented to high school students along with 37 one-year awards of $6,000 to college students. The NJCPA awards were presented along with those of the Atlantic/Cape May, Bergen and Mercer chapters. Minority awards were also presented in conjunction with the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA).

Award recipients have to meet stringent GPA, writing and curriculum requirements, as well as participate in an interview process. The awards are open to accounting students at New Jersey colleges who are currently in their junior or senior year and New Jersey high school seniors who plan to major in accounting or obtain a concentration in accounting.

“Being able to reward the next generation of accounting professionals is truly a pleasure. We all have an obligation to assist in furthering the profession and informing students about what options are open to them if they decide to pursue this kind of a career,” said Ralph Albert Thomas, CPA (DC), CGMA, CEO and executive director of the NJCPA. “Our members continue to exceed expectations in giving back and financially supporting New Jersey students.”

New Jersey-based college recipients currently attend Baruch College, Bergen Community College, Fairleigh Dickinson University-Madison, Mercer County Community College, Monmouth University, Montclair State University, New Jersey City University, Northeastern University, New York University, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Rider University, Rutgers University, The College of New Jersey, Rowan University, Seton Hall University, Stockton University,  Syracuse, University of Maryland, University of Notre Dame and William Paterson University of New Jersey.

High school award winners currently attend Bridgewater Raritan High School, Cinnaminson High School, Dr. Ronald Mcnair Academic High School, Howell High School, Kinnelon High School, Lenape High School, Livingston High School, Montville Township High School, Morris Knolls High School, Northern Highland Regional High School, Northern Valley Region-Old Tappan High School, Wall High School, Washington Township High School, Wayne Hills High School and Whippany Park High School.

This year’s ceremony included an additional award from the friends and family of Raymond Rigoli, CPA, who passed away in November 2018. Rigoli was an accounting professor at Ramapo College for more than 35 years and a longtime member of the NJCPA.

The NJCPA Scholarship Fund (njcpa.org/scholarship) has grown to become one of the largest professional scholarship programs in New Jersey, awarding more than $4 million in awards since inception. The fund has supported more than 1,700 New Jersey students on their way to becoming CPAs.

For a complete list of this year’s winners in each scholarship category, go to njcpa.org/scholarship. 

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The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, with more than 14,500 members, represents the interests of the accounting profession and advances the financial well-being of the people of New Jersey. The NJCPA plays a leadership role in supporting the profession by providing members with educational resources, access to shared knowledge and a continuing effort to create and expand professional opportunities.