A recent accounting graduate has earned a $10,000 scholarship to pursue her master’s degree at Siena.
Rebecca Fankhanel '23 of Clifton Park, N.Y. earned the merit-based award from the national Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). They grant about 250 scholarships each year to students in accredited accounting programs across the country.
Chester Brearey, D.B.A., C.P.A., professor of accountancy and director of Siena’s M.S.A. program, nominated Fankhanel for the scholarship.
“Ms. Fankhanel’s academic achievements while an undergraduate at Siena were both numerous and notable,” said Brearey. “In addition to maintaining a 4.0 overall GPA, she was a first team NCAA Academic All-American, and worked with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance to prepare returns for the underprivileged in the community. She also served as a Siena accountancy tutor and still had time to intern each semester.”
Fankhanel is currently interning with KPMG LLP in Albany as an auditor. She plans to start classes for her master’s in accounting at Siena this fall, and will begin the exam process for her certified public accountant designation.
“Being a student at Siena College has been an incredible experience that I am grateful for every day,” said Fankhanel. “My great professors helped me learn and grow not only by sharing their expertise, but by inspiring me to push beyond my limits. I am immensely grateful for the time and effort they have invested in me inside and outside the classroom; their mentorship has equipped me with the skills and knowledge necessary to embark on my future endeavors. I want to especially thank Dr. Brearey for the scholarship nomination and the belief that he held in me to make a difference in the world.”
While at Siena, she was also a member of the accounting fraternity Beta Alpha Psi, the business fraternity Beta Gamma Sigma, and played club soccer.
Brearey serves the PCAOB in an advisory capacity by providing input from the academic community on topics of interest to the association. His previous five Siena nominees won scholarships as well: Gianna Paris ’21, Nicholas Amodio ’20, Emily Andolina ’19, Julie Magand ’18 and Julia Geoghegan ’17.
The PCAOB scholarships are funded by regulatory fines assessed on publicly traded companies for accounting irregularities.
