Aprio Championing Diversity in Accounting with Fifth Annual Case Competition
November 20, 2024
More than 90 College Students from 26 Universities Across the U.S. Compete for Scholarships
ATLANTA – Nov. 20, 2024 – Aprio, a top 25 business advisory and accounting firm, concluded its 5th annual Case Competition, a cornerstone initiative designed to foster a diverse talent pipeline within the accounting profession. Held Nov. 14-15, this year’s competition continued Aprio’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) while inspiring interest in tax, audit, and advisory careers.
The competition provides underrepresented minority college students with an opportunity to apply their skills in solving real-world challenges in tax, audit, and advisory. This year’s participants included 23 teams of four to five students, selected from 167 applicants representing 26 schools across the country. Under the mentorship of Aprio Team Advisors, students collaborated on innovative solutions and presented their cases to a panel of judges. Scholarships totaling $26,400 were awarded to the top teams for their exceptional solutions.
“At Aprio, we believe diversity fuels innovation and drives excellence in our profession,” said Richard Kopelman, CEO of Aprio. “Aprio’s Case Competition is a powerful way to engage with the next generation of accounting professionals, challenge their thinking, and inspire them to reimagine what’s possible.”
Our 2024 Scholarship Winners Include:
1st Place – $14,000
University of South Carolina
Advisor: Joe Colotla
- Alexandra Alleyne
- Ibrahim Alimphamed
- Arav Patel
- Aden Vinnacombe
2nd Place – $7,000
George Mason University
Advisor: Dajana Qepuri
- Hermon Gebreezgi
- Zachary Kim
- Kareem Bassa
- Nicholas Drachenko
3rd Place – $4,000
The Georgia Institute of Technology
Advisors: Neal Darji, Kennedy Binns
- Selina Guo
- Hung Ngo
- Nhi Ngo
- Yelin (Irene) Kim
Standout Student Award — $1,000
Georgia Gwinnett College
Advisor: Kyndle Saffold
- Anthony Webster
“Bring It Everyday” Award — $400
Tuskegee University and Towson University
Advisor: Angela Triplett
- Kendra Colton
- Audrey Obayi
“Our Case Competition allows us to mentor and connect with exceptional students across the nation,” said Rachel Booth, campus recruiting manager at Aprio. “These students not only showcased their creativity and technical knowledge but also reinforced the importance of collaboration and innovation in accounting.”
For more details about Aprio’s Case Competition and other campus initiatives, contact Rachel Booth.
About Aprio
Aprio is the brand name under which Aprio, LLP, and Aprio Advisory Group, LLC, deliver professional services. Since 1952, clients throughout the U.S. and across more than 50 countries have trusted Aprio for guidance on how to achieve what’s next. As a premier business advisory and accounting firm, Aprio Advisory Group, LLC, delivers advisory, tax, managed, and private client services to build value, drive growth, manage risk, and protect wealth, and Aprio, LLP, provides audit and attest services. With proven experience and genuine care, Aprio serves individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses, from promising startups to market leaders alike. Aprio has grown to 2,000+ team members providing solutions to clients in industries including Manufacturing and Distribution, Non-Profit and Education, Professional Services, Real Estate, Construction, Restaurant, Franchise & Hospitality, Government Contracting, and Technology and Blockchain. Aprio.com
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