University of Southern Mississippi (USM) graduate student Patrick “Tyler” Pittman has been awarded a prestigious Legacy Scholarship for 2022-23 by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA). He is the only student from a Mississippi college or university to earn one of the coveted awards.
A native of Sumrall, Miss., Pittman recently earned his BSBA degree in accounting at USM. He is currently pursuing a Master of Professional Accounting degree.
“I am extremely grateful to receive an AICPA Legacy Scholarship. I specifically received the scholarship for minority accounting students which has helped me pay for upfront costs of the CPA exam,” said Pittman. “With this scholarship, I am able to focus on studying and hopefully pass before I start my career with KPMG.”
The AICPA Legacy Scholars program is designed to help students of different backgrounds become CPAs by assisting with the cost of their college education. The program also provides scholars with educational and professional development opportunities throughout the year.
The AICPA Scholarship for Minority Accounting Students provides financial awards to full-time minority students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in accounting or an accounting-related major. Applicants must have a GPA of at least a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
“We are proud to have Tyler as a student and grateful that the AICPA Legacy Scholars program has recognized his achievements,” said Dr. Blasé Sonnier, Director of USM’s School of Accountancy. “Having gotten to know Tyler over the past few months, I know that he will make USM proud on his way to the top of the accounting profession.”