EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION OF COCPA
Where Are They Now: SCHOLARSHIPS EQUAL SUCCESS BY NATALIE ROONEY DANIELLE GAFFNEY, CPA, TAX MANAGER, STOCKMAN KAST RYAN + CO., COLORADO SPRINGS
D
Founded in 1958, the Educational Foundation of COCPA provides scholarships to Colorado accounting students who are on the path to a CPA career. Scholarships of $2,500 are awarded for the fall term and may be applied to tuition, textbooks, fees, and on-campus room and board. Applicants must be COCPA members and must be juniors, seniors, or graduate students attending eligible Colorado colleges and universities.
The number of scholarships awarded has grown from 21 scholarships in 2010 to 46 scholarships in 2019. One scholarship recipient, Sheila Balzer, became a CPA and eventually became the President of the Educational Foundation’s Board of Trustees. She also served as COCPA Chair in 2014. Meet some of our more recent scholarship recipients and learn what they’re up to today.
anielle heard about the COCPA scholarships after a professor at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs sent an email to the class. She had been taking an increased course load throughout her time at UCCS which added to her tuition costs every semester. “I’m a driven person, and I was trying to graduate early, but the added costs made doing so just out of my reach,” she says. Once she received the scholarship in 2012, which offered welcome financial relief, she was able to focus on school and pursuing internships.
During Gaffney’s last semester, she interned at Stockman Kast Ryan + Co. where she began work full time right after graduation. “Since then, I’ve worked hard and climbed the ladder to become a tax manager,” she says. “Now I can pay it forward and help other students with internships and training. The internship during my last semester at UCCS got me the job and has propelled my career ever since. In addition to scholarships, I worked full time while in school to save for my CPA studying software.” Gaffney credits that purchase with helping her pass the Uniform CPA Examination just six months after graduation. “I’m incredibly lucky,” she says. “Ultimately, I was able to graduate without any student debt because of the financial support through small scholarships which I received from multiple organizations like the COCPA.” CHRISTOPHER BATTRAW, CPA, CMA, MPACC, STAFF AUDIT AND TAX MEMBER, KUNDINGER, CORDER, & ENGLE, PC, DENVER
C
hris received the Foundation’s Hugh C. Braly Scholarship in 2015. His professors at Metropolitan State University of Denver encouraged him to become involved with the COCPA to network and learn about career opportunities. “That led me to finding out about the Foundation’s scholarships,” he says.
A non-traditional student, Battraw had dropped out of high school, earning his GED through the assistance offered at a homeless shelter. Through discussion with the shelter’s representative and Battraw’s immediate family members about career options, “It seemed like there would be a lot of opportunities if I pursued accounting,” he recalls. While participating in COCPA’s Student Interview Day, Battraw met with Steve Corder of Kundinger, Corder, & Engle. “I thought the nonprofit sector sounded like a great niche,” he says. “I was very fortunate to have found out about the firm.” He accepted KCE’s offer and joined the firm two months after graduation. Battraw credits the scholarship and his COCPA student membership as critical to his success. “The greatest thing to me was the presence of the COCPA itself,” he says. “It allowed me to connect with professionals.” Battraw worked while in school and tried to pay off student debt but acknowledges it was tough. “The COCPA scholarship helped with that at the end.” He has continued his COCPA membership since graduation. “I realized I wanted to get more involved,” he says. “I love the COCPA and the things it does. I’m so thankful for the opportunities.”
12
NewsAccount | March/April 2020
