A recent accounting graduate has earned a $10,000 scholarship to pursue her master’s degree at Siena.
Gianna Paris ’21 of Pittsfield, Mass. 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 Paris for the scholarship.
“Recruiters at most accounting firms prioritize work-readiness, the ability to learn new software, and plans to pass the CPA exam,” said Brearey. “Ms. Paris meets all those conditions: she embraces technology, has plans for completing C.P.A. testing requirements, has exhibited the ability to speak and write clearly and effectively, has a resume that demonstrates a variety of activities outside of academics, works well with others, and comes across as professional. She checks all the boxes.”
Paris is currently interning with UHY 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.
“I would like to thank Dr. Brearey and the PCAOB for this generous scholarship,” she said. “I also want to extend my gratitude to all the business professors at Siena who have prepared me for the business world and provided me with the necessary tools to succeed. I am very grateful for this opportunity to further my education in the accounting field.”
While at Siena, she was president of the Hip Hop Club.
Brearey serves on the board of PCAOB, and as such may submit one nomination each year for the award. His previous four nominees won as well: Nicholas Amodio ’20, Emily Andolina ’19, Julie Magand ’18 and Julia Geoghegan ’17 G’18.
The PCAOB scholarships are funded by regulatory fines assessed on publicly traded companies for accounting irregularities.