KSCPA Educational Foundation Scholarships

KSCPA Invests in YOU, Our Future Talent!

Educational Foundation Logo

The Kansas Society of CPAs Educational Foundation is seeking applicants for our accounting scholarships. Our new scholarship platform makes the process quick and easy for you to apply!   

The KSCPA Educational Foundation has a long history of supporting college students and the accounting programs at Kansas colleges and universities by providing four annual scholarships to eligible applicants who demonstrate an eagerness to join the accounting profession. Winners are selected by the KSCPA Educational Foundation Board of Trustees. Submission of an application is required. 

KSCPA Educational Foundation Scholarships

2024-2025


Byron Bird

$3,000

Open to: Graduate Accounting Majors at all Kansas Colleges and Universities (or graduate candidate)

Awarded to one student

Deadline: February 16, 2024

The Byron Bird scholarship is named in honor of Byron Bird, CPA, the first recipient of the American Institute of CPAs National Public Service Award.

Qualified scholarship applicants must demonstrate academic success based on undergraduate academic performance, the potential for success in graduate studies, leadership, and participation in community, charitable, university, governmental, and/or other civic activities.

Application Process and Requirements:

• Must be a current full-time graduate student (or candidate) with a concentration in accounting course of study

• Must demonstrate academic success in the accounting curriculum

• Must submit a completed scholarship application and include a copy of your transcript and resume

• Must have two references complete a questionnaire, with one supporting your public service activities and one supporting your accounting academic performance (e.g., accounting professor or other faculty)

• Complete a short essay on your most meaningful achievement and how it relates to your future goals (600-word)

• Start and stop application as needed


John J. Killian

$2,500

Open to: Junior Year Accounting Majors at all Kansas Independent Colleges and Universities

Awarded to one student

Deadline: February 16, 2024

The John J. Killian scholarship is named in honor of the KSCPA's first full-time Executive Director.

Qualified scholarship applicants must demonstrate academic success in their accounting curriculum. Additional emphasis is placed on the applicant's grades in English and rhetoric subjects and courses in business and economics. Necessary qualifications also include the applicant's involvement in extracurricular activities, willingness to comply with professional responsibility standards, and overall moral character.

Application Process and Requirements:

• Must be a full-time student enrolled as an accounting major in their junior year at an independent Kansas college or university

• Must demonstrate academic success in the accounting curriculum

• Must submit a completed scholarship application and include a copy of your transcript and resume

• Must have two references complete a questionnaire, with one reference from those supporting your accounting academic performance (e.g., accounting professor or other faculty)

• Complete a short essay on a time you had a belief or idea challenged and how that impacted you (600-word)

• Start and stop application as needed


Mary Ellen Kirkpatrick

$2,500

Open to: Junior Year Accounting Major at all Kansas Colleges or Universities

Awarded to one student

Deadline: February 16, 2024

The Mary Ellen Kirkpatrick scholarship in honor of the Kansas Board of Accountancy's first woman chair and the first woman to start a CPA firm in Kansas.

Qualified applicants must demonstrate academic success in the accounting, economics, and business curriculums. Additional emphasis is placed upon the applicant's overall grades. Involvement in leadership activities, willingness to comply with professional responsibility standards and overall moral character are essential characteristics of an applicant. 

Application Process and Requirements:

• Must be a full-time student enrolled as an accounting major in their junior year at a Kansas college or university

• Must demonstrate academic success in the accounting, economics, and business curriculums

• Must submit a completed scholarship application and include a copy of your transcript and resume

• Must have two references complete a questionnaire, with one reference from those supporting your accounting academic performance (e.g., accounting professor or other faculty)

• Complete a short essay on what being a leader means to you (600-word)

• Start and stop application as needed


Ethnically Diverse Student

$2,500

Open to: Junior Year Accounting Major at all Kansas Colleges or Universities

Awarded to one student

Deadline: February 16, 2024

The Ethnically Diverse Student scholarship was created to increase the representation of ethnically diverse CPA professionals and provide financial assistance each year to an outstanding minority student to encourage their pursuit of accounting as a major and their ultimate entry into the profession.

Qualified students must demonstrate academic success in the accounting, economics, and business curriculums. The KSCPA Ethnically Diverse Student Scholarship Award is not based on financial need.

Application Process and Requirements:

• An ethnic minority in the accounting profession (including but not limited to: Black or African American; Hispanic or Latinx; Native American; Pacific Islander; or Asian American)

• Must be a full-time student enrolled as an accounting major in their junior year at a Kansas college or university

• Must demonstrate academic success in the accounting, economics, and business curriculums.

• Must submit a completed scholarship application and include a copy of your transcript and resume

• Must have two references complete a questionnaire, with one reference from those supporting your accounting academic performance (e.g., accounting professor or other faculty)

• Complete a short essay describing who has been the biggest influence in your life and why (600-word)

• Start and stop application as needed

Additional Scholarships

The KSCPA also awards a total of 14 scholarships annually to students selected by accounting faculty at each of the Regent Universities & Washburn University.

Accounting faculty at each university select one undergraduate accounting major and one graduate accounting major to receive the KSCPA Educational Foundation college scholarships.

Contact the scholarship coordinator at your university's accounting department for information.

Regent Universities & Washburn University

2024-2025


Graduate

$2,500

Open to: Graduate Accounting Majors at Regent Universities & Washburn University

Deadline: July 1, 2024


Undergraduate

$2,250

Open to: Undergraduate Accounting Majors at Regent Universities & Washburn University 

Deadline: July 1, 2024

Other Financial Aid and Scholarship Support

Financial Aid Resources for Minority Students

Scholarships for Minority Students

Financial Aid Overview for Accounting Degree Programs

Scholarship Opportunities from AICPA


KSCPA Offers Other Support

In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Educational Foundation, the KSCPA Educational Foundation awarded the T.C. and Trella Anderson and James T. and Mary Ann Clark Doctoral Scholar scholarship to the University of Kansas. The $300,000 endowment granted on January 17, 2013, will help to fund doctoral scholars who are CPAs.