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VSCPA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
PROVIDING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION >>
New donor Chaikin inspired by his past
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Adam Chaikin, CPA, is a relative
newcomer to the Foundation, having made his first contribution after meeting scholarship recipients at the VSCPA Leaders’ Summit in May. But his interest and commitment to education goes back much further.
Chaikin is the son of two teachers, and their passion for their work inspired him in his own journey of lifelong learning. He’s taken the time to teach others as well, speaking and writing on his favorite subject, technology.
After attending the Leaders’ Summit and meeting some scholarship recipients, Chaikin decided the next step would be to donate to the Foundation. “They are highly motivated and very professional,” he said. “There are a lot of fortunate people in
CPAs view the profession in many different ways. For Kaitlin Caubo, her planned audit career is a roadmap to unlock the complexities of a company.
“I see audit as a great way to look at a company and really understand how they came up with the numbers and what the numbers mean,” she said. “I’m someone who likes to have a really thorough understanding of the details. I think audit is a field that enables me to really understand the details.”
Caubo, a recent University of Virginia (U.Va.) graduate who will start a one-semester master’s program through U.Va.’s McIntire School of Commerce in the fall, is a 2014–2015 recipient of the VSCPA Educational Foundation’s Thomas M. Berry Jr. Scholarship. (She also received the Foundation’s Yount, Hyde & Barbour Scholarship in 2013–2014.)
Financial assistance like the Foundation provides is invaluable to all accounting students, but especially those like Caubo, who, like many students, took her time settling on a focus in college. While she’s preparing to pursue her master’s degree, she took time to reflect on her early years as a confused freshman at U.Va.
“I had no idea what I wanted to get into,” she said, “so I dabbled in everything from economics to some health care classes to thinking about medical school at some point. I really had no idea. Then I took some business classes and learned that I really was interested in business. I saw accounting as a great field that enabled me to understand the fundamentals of business.
“The scholarships have and will help me to excel in my studies and career going forward. Without a doubt, the scholarships have made that significantly easier for myself and my family.”
Caubo has a job in hand with Ernst & Young’s New York office and will begin working toward the CPA Exam as soon as she graduates. She’s thrilled to embark on the next step of her accounting journey.
“I’m extremely excited about it,” she said. “I’m keeping an open mind, and I’m excited to be with Ernst & Young and see what industries I can experience there. I’m excited to see where public accounting will lead me next.” n
this country that squander their resources for education. Not these young men and women. They are sharp!”
Chaikin grew up in Staten Island, N.Y., and attended the State University of New York at Binghamton, largely for financial reasons, which he describes as “a very good education for the money.” He hopes the Foundation, backed by donors like him, can help future CPAs by defraying the cost of that education or enabling them to expand their college search.
“The costs of my education was defrayed by a combination of gifts from my grandparents, savings from my parents, and some sweat equity from myself,” he said. “Having to work during college helped me feel an ownership stake in my education. This weighed heavily on my decision to donate.
“I can imagine there are many less fortunate than me that can’t turn to a relative or loved one for help in time of financial need. I hope my contribution helps and I wish them all the best.” n
