|| CAMPUS NEWS HOME

|| USF S-M IN THE NEWS

|| FACTS ABOUT USF S-M

|| CAMPUS EVENTS

|| RESOURCES FOR MEDIA

|| ONLINE NEWSLETTERS

|| OTHER USF SOURCES

:: Alumni Association

:: Bay Bulletin
:: Board of Trustees
:: Quick Facts
:: The Oracle (student
:: newspaper)
:: President's Office

:: USF Athletics

:: USF Magazine

:: USF Lakeland 
:: USF St. Petersburg
:: USF Tampa

:: WUSF

:: Online News Searches

Florida certified accountants group honors local USF students
Awards two $1,000 scholarships
(See photo below)

(Sarasota, FL, March 1, 2002) – The Gulf Coast Chapter of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA) awarded $1,000 scholarships to two USF Sarasota/Manatee accounting students at its annual dinner recently held at the Sudakoff Center on the USF/New College campus.  Amir Hosh and Holly Wilson were chosen for the scholarships because of their academic records, financial need and referrals from USF accounting educators.  Hosh will earn his bachelor’s degree in accounting at the end of summer 2002; he is a Sarasota resident and originally from Egypt where he earned an undergraduate degree in commerce from the University of Tanta.  Wilson will complete her undergraduate accounting degree at the end of 2002; she is a native of Bradenton, graduated from Manatee High School, and has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in public relations.

“The quality of tomorrow’s professional accountants is vitally important to FICPA members,” says Susan Atherton, CPA, CFP, President of the Gulf Coast FICPA Chapter and Vice President of Peninsula Asset Management, Inc., in Bradenton.  “We devote quite a bit of time promoting accounting education and raising funds to provide educational opportunities for deserving students.” 

Atherton also announced at the meeting that the Gulf Coast Chapter’s scholarship endowment fund will reach $100,000 in June, and be matched with a $50,000 State matching grant.  Income from the $150,000 fund will be used for student scholarships.  She stated that since the majority of the Sarasota/Manatee campus students carry part-time class schedules, the chapter board has appointed a committee to review scholarship award criteria regarding part-time students; currently only full-time students can apply.

“FICPA sets the standard for win-win partnerships through this scholarship endowment fund.  Reaching the $150,000 goal is a significant milestone,” says Dr. Laurey Stryker, CEO of the USF Sarasota/Manatee Regional Campus.   “The accounting profession needs top notch employees and USF Sarasota/Manatee graduates keep on delivering.  Some of the best accounting students in the country are USF Sarasota/Manatee alumni, including those who have achieved the highest scores in CPA exams.”

Dr. Will Quilliam of the USF Sarasota/Manatee campus recently joined the Gulf Coast Chapter board as a director.  He is the Coordinator of the College of Business Administration for the campus, a lecturer in the School of Accountancy, and has a Ph.D. in Accounting.

The University of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee Campus offers 25 degree programs for students to complete at the undergraduate and graduate levels.  Currently serving 2,300 students annually, the campus is located at the Sarasota/Manatee County line on 140 acres, touching the shoreline of Sarasota Bay and adjacent to the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport.  It is part of the University of South Florida, the second largest university in Florida with more than 37,000 students, a Research I institution, and one of the top 20 largest universities in the United States.

# # #

(L to R) Holly Wilson, Dr. Laurey Stryker, Amir Hosh

Media contact:  Ellen Wile (941) 359-4749; e-mail ewile@banshee.sar.usf.edu