A new scholarship program will provide one college student with up to $20,000 towards tuition and a full-time internship during the 2020 tax season at Glenn Burdette, the largest accounting firm in San Luis Obispo County.
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) selected five firms nationwide to participate in the Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS) George Willie Ethnically Diverse Student Scholarship and Internship program. Glenn Burdette, the sole western region firm, was selected because of its training program, investment in community service and commitment to diversity.
“Besides the significant financial support, an internship at Glenn Burdette is a gateway to experiencing a wide breadth of tax and accounting knowledge while serving a diverse base of clients,” said Dan O’Hare, President and Managing Director of Glenn Burdette. “An intern has the opportunity to work with professionals who are helping lead San Luis Obispo County’s future.”
Nearly half of Glenn Burdette’s principals and managers are alumni of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Its staff works closely with the university, recruiting at the Multicultural Business Program’s events, serving as economic advisors and even as an adjunct professor. A busy season intern program with Cal Poly students has provided accounting, finance and business majors with a “learn by doing” experience for many years.
Morgen Houlis knows firsthand the hard work that is required to succeed in her industry. She manages estate gifts and trust work for Glenn Burdette and is a Principal partner. A Cal Poly alumna, Houlis’s tenacious spirit and work as a student bookkeeper helped her land a job at Glenn Burdette right out of college 20 years ago.
“Cal Poly students come here well-prepared. They are used to working hard. You have to be tough to be successful in this industry,” said Houlis.
O’Hare and Houlis see this new scholarship and internship program as a way to open doors for minority students. O’Hare is looking forward to sharing their success story with other companies and organizations on the Central Coast.
“If more businesses could sponsor a student each year, we will start making a real difference,” said Houlis. “For these kids, a scholarship can be life-changing.”
Application deadline is May 31, 2019. Learn more at: www.thiswaytocpa.com/pcpsscholarship.
More about the George Willie Ethnically Diverse Scholarship from the AICPA:
The U.S. census projects that minorities will comprise the majority of the population in the U.S. by 2045. The George Willie program is one of the ways AICPA is working to broaden the pipeline of talent entering the profession. This program was created in honor of George Willie, CPA, CGMA, a former chair of AICPA’s PCPS Executive Committee and the AICPA Minority Initiatives Committee. Throughout his over 35-year career, Willie has promoted the benefits of a career in accounting to students and young professionals in pursuit of the CPA designation. Read the AICPA press release here: https://www.aicpa.org/press/pressreleases/2019/new-diversity-program-for-students.html.