Westwood Resident Awarded Scholarship from MA Society of CPAs

Thanks to the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants for contributing this news to Westwood Minute.

On Thursday, May 18, Laila Shelburne of Westwood was awarded the Emerging Scholar Award from the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants (MassCPAs) at the organization's annual, member-wide networking event in Boston, Connect 2023: Conversations & Cocktails.

Ms. Shelburne, who will soon graduate from Westwood High School and enter UMass Amherst as an incoming freshman, was one of 51 students selected to receive a scholarship from the MassCPAs Educational Foundation's 2023 Scholarship Program.

“The Society is honored to support these exceptional students who are the next generation of Massachusetts CPAs,” said Amy Pitter, president and CEO of MassCPAs. “Their dedication and talent are truly inspiring, and they make us all feel confident in the future of the accounting profession. We are honored to be a part of their journey and look forward to their continued success.”

Ms. Shelburne's $1,000 scholarship, like her fellow awardees' scholarships, are entirely funded through donations to the MassCPAs Educational Foundation. The mission of the Foundation is to inspire and support the next generation of CPAs in Massachusetts. MassCPAs note that since the program’s inception in 2006, the Foundation has awarded over 300 scholarships to aspiring CPAs, totaling more than $1.5 million. The scholarships are available to students who are attending a college or university in Massachusetts or attending a college or university out-of-state with a permanent residence in Massachusetts. Scholarship funds are issued directly to the students and can be used for tuition, books, interviewing expenses or other needs.

“MassCPAs is dedicated to fueling and diversifying the pipeline of future accounting professionals by addressing and removing barriers to entry, including the increasingly burdensome cost of education,” said Allie Orlando, director of academic and career development at MassCPAs.

MassCPAs is the state professional association of certified public accountants. It estimates that it represents over 11,500 members in public accounting practice, industry and business, government and education.