Five UCR School of Business students received scholarships from CalCPA, the largest state CPA society in the nation, on May 17 at the society’s Installation & Scholarship ceremony. The day’s events also included a spirited game tournament at Topgolf in Ontario, California, where the UCR Business team proudly won the CalCPA Inland Empire Chapter Battle of the Firms trophy. The combination of academic recognition and a fun, team-based competition made the day especially memorable for students, faculty, and staff who represented the university.

“We led a fantastic delegation of faculty, admissions staff, and students to the CalCPA Inland Empire Chapter event,” says Steve Chen, UCR’s A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management (AGSM) director of Graduate Admissions. His leadership and enthusiasm set the tone for UCR’s participation and highlighted the importance of the school’s presence at such high-profile professional gatherings.

Of the 19 scholarships totaling $30,000, five UCR students were selected as recipients, a significant achievement that reflected both academic excellence and the strong reputation of the school’s programs. The honored students were Christopher Buchanan ’25, Noel Lofton ’25, Nicholas Palencia ’24, Vignesh Vasudevan ’24 MPAc, and Hai Yang ’25. Each of these students was recognized for their commitment to their studies, their contributions to the university community, and their future potential as leaders in the accounting profession. “Their hard work and achievements are commendable,” says Chen. “We are immensely proud of each student, congratulations!”

This recognition was especially meaningful because it came during the first official partnership between the UCR School of Business and CalCPA. As Irene Song, associate director of the school’s Graduate Admissions, explained, “Our office met previously with CalCPA about ways to collaborate with them on events, firm visits, and educational programs where we can promote our Master of Professional Accountancy [MPAc] program and send our MPAc students to career events.” This new collaboration not only supported the current scholarship recipients but also laid the groundwork for ongoing opportunities that will benefit future cohorts of students in the School of Business.

The UCR delegation to the event was composed of both faculty and staff who are deeply engaged in advancing accounting education and student success. In addition to the scholarship recipients, Chen, and Song, the group included Assistant Professor of Accounting Eric Allen, Yang An ’23 MPAc, AGSM Associate Director of Graduate Admissions Patrick Latimer, and Haoshen Wang ’24 MPAc. Their participation signaled UCR’s commitment to making connections with the professional community and ensuring that students are able to learn, network, and be visible in important professional spaces.

The event also provided an opportunity for gratitude and recognition of the individuals who made the partnership and celebration possible. Adds Chen: “A heartfelt thank you to Erica Farr and Marjorie McPike with CalCPA Inland Empire Chapter for allowing us to be a silver sponsor and for hosting this wonderful event.” His words reflected the school’s appreciation for CalCPA’s generosity and for the chance to showcase UCR’s students and programs on a regional stage.

Altogether, the day represented more than just the awarding of scholarships. It demonstrated the value of partnership between higher education and professional organizations, highlighted the achievements of UCR students, and strengthened the connection between the School of Business and the broader accounting community. Through this experience, UCR reinforced its role as a place where academic excellence, professional development, and community engagement come together in meaningful ways.