NEW YORK (August 28, 2014) – The American Institute of CPAs is pleased to announce the 2014 Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop (ASLW) graduating class. The 114 students selected for the Workshop successfully completed the two-day program, which strengthened their professional and success skills, while highlighting the career possibilities becoming a CPA affords.
 
The Workshop is an annual invitational all-expense paid event, with the AICPA Foundation covering the cost of student attendees’ transportation, hotel accommodation, and meals. It is open to ethnically diverse accounting and finance majors who plan to pursue the CPA license.
 
2014 marked the 20th year of the program, which has had a positive impact on the lives of thousands of college students by helping them prepare for a successful career in the accounting profession.
 
“Over the course of two intensive days, the Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop provided these impressive students with professional skills development and a greater understanding of what a career as a CPA is all about,” said Kim Drumgo, AICPA Director of Diversity and Inclusion and Vice Chair of the National Commission on Diversity and Inclusion. “I am confident that the life lessons learned at ASLW will benefit these students and will help them immensely along their path to becoming CPAs.”
This year’s program featured speakers such as Frank K. Ross, co-founder of the National Association of Black Accountants, Jason Orme, chair of the Oregon Society of CPAs, and Ken Strauss, immediate past chair of the Florida Institute of CPAs. Attendees participated in interactive sessions on topics such as preparing for the CPA exam, behavioral assessments/unconscious bias, navigating corporate culture, financial literacy and the value of networking and community involvement. In addition, the program provided attendees ample opportunities to network with current CPAs and each other.

This year’s workshop was held at four different locations in partnership with the state CPA societies in Florida, Kansas, Oregon and Pennsylvania.
 
“I would like to thank the AICPA Foundation and our partners at the state CPA societies for helping to make this year’s Workshop possible and hosting this important program,” added Drumgo.
 
The ASLW is open to ethnic minorities who are sophomore, junior, senior, 5th year, or graduate students and have declared a major in accounting, finance or tax with an intent to pursue the CPA credential. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, be actively involved in campus and community activities and be a Student Affiliate Member of the AICPA as well as a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident.
 
“My advice for anyone considering the program is simply to apply,” said Roberto A. Rosas, a San Diego State University Accounting Student and 2014 ASLW graduate. “The Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop benefitted me in so many ways. I'm very glad I got to participate and I highly recommend it to all motivated, excited accounting students,”
 
The ASLW is one of the ways in which the AICPA promotes diversity and inclusion in the accounting profession. The goal of the AICPA’s efforts in this area, including the National Commission on Diversity and Inclusion, is to identify strategies that will recruit, retain, and advance underrepresented minorities in the accounting profession.
 
The list of the 2014 ASLW graduates is available on ThisWayToCPA.
 
For more information, or to apply for the Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop, visit www.ThisWayToCPA.com/ASLW.
 
More information is also available by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
 
About the AICPA

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is the world’s largest member association representing the accounting profession, with more than 400,000 members in 128 countries, and a history of serving the public interest since 1877. AICPA members represent many areas of practice, including business and industry, public practice, government, education and consulting.

The AICPA sets ethical standards for the profession and U.S. auditing standards for private companies, nonprofit organizations, federal, state and local governments. It develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination, and offers specialty credentials for CPAs who concentrate on personal financial planning; forensic accounting; business valuation; and information management and technology assurance. Through a joint venture with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), it has established the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation which sets a new standard for global recognition of management accounting.

The AICPA maintains offices in New York, Washington, DC, Durham, NC, and Ewing, NJ.

Media representatives are invited to visit the AICPA Press Center at aicpa.org/press.

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