Senior Winnie Wong was selected for the prestigious scholarship based on her exceptional work ethic, dedication to community service and perfect GPA.
Accounting senior Wai Lam (Winnie) Wong has been awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) for the 2021-2022 academic year. The PCAOB awards scholarships each year to high-achieving undergraduate and graduate accounting students through the PCAOB's Scholar's Program to use towards education.
Students must show a deep understanding of accounting, high ethical standards and excel in their classes to be considered for the scholarship. Wong was selected for her exceptional work ethic, dedication to giving back to her community through tutoring and free tax preparation and perfect GPA.
"2020 and 2021 has offered new challenges to people all around, and this scholarship will ensure I can better focus on my studies without financial worries," says Wong. "As I am preparing to take my CPA and completing my Masters at UAB, I can't express enough how thrilled I am to be selected by the PCAOB for this honor."
Wong will begin the UAB Master of Accounting program after graduation. She has been offered a full-time position with public accounting firm KPMG, set to begin in fall 2022.
"We are so proud of Winnie for being awarded this very significant honor," accounting instructor Eddie Nabors wrote in Wong's nomination letter. "Winnie has an outstanding academic record and has already accepted a position as an Audit Associate at KPMG, so she was a very qualified candidate."
Wong joins a roster of fellow UAB Collat School of Business students to be selected as a PCAOB Scholar, which is a testament to the strength of Collat's accounting program. Since 2015, the PCAOB has awarded five scholarships to Collat accounting students, including Sarik Patel, Holly Giang, Lakeisa Tinker and Hannah Marcelino for the 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2020 academic years, respectively.