RADFORD – The Department of Accounting, Finance and Business Law in Radford University’s College of Business and Economics recently awarded accounting scholarships and the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) award to five business students.

Michael DeJarnette, Travis Hawley, Megan Lenhardt and Brittany Mason each received a $750 scholarship from Lanigan, Ryan, Malcolm and Doyle, PC, an accounting firm based in Maryland.

DeJarnette, a junior accounting major from Halifax County, is a member of RU’s Institute of Management Accountants, a professional, curricular organization dedicated to publicizing the demand for accounting and finance majors; the Student Managed Investment Portfolio Organization, a student organization that manages more than $300,000 of the RU Foundation endowment; Delta Sigma Pi, RU’s professional business fraternity; and Beta Gamma Sigma, an honorary business society. He is also a part-time employee at the Blacksburg Country Club.

“This scholarship really means that I can continue my education one more year,” said DeJarnette. “I take such pride in being a Radford University student, and awards like this really show me that people care.”

DeJarnette hopes to become a graduate teaching assistant at RU and to study and complete the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam prior to graduation. Afterwards, he plans to find job at a CPA firm in the New River Valley and study for the CPA exam.

Hawley, an accounting and finance junior from Christiansburg, is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest, largest, and most selective honor society for all academic disciplines. “It is an honor to be chosen to receive this scholarship,” said Hawley. “It is also very meaningful financially as I work more than 30 hours per week to support myself while in school.”

After he graduates in May 2010, Hawley plans to take the CPA exam and remain in the New River Valley or Roanoke area as an accountant.

Lenhardt, a sophomore accounting major from Gloucester, received the accounting scholarship after a professor encouraged her to fill out an application. “I am one of 14 children, so this scholarship money will definitely help my parents out,” she said.

A member of RU’s field hockey team, Lenhardt plans to attend graduate school and return to the Gloucester area to work as an accountant.

Mason, a rising junior from Lynchburg, is double majoring in accounting and finance. “Receiving this scholarship proves that working hard and doing the best I can really will reap many rewards,” she said. “Excelling in RU’s accounting and finance programs will hopefully better my chances of completing my master's in the future and retaining the information I need to successfully complete the CPA exam.”

Mason is currently the captain of RU’s cheerleading team and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and RU’s Honors Academy.

Deana Sentman, a senior accounting major from Christiansburg, received the VSCPA Award of Achievement after being nominated and selected by RU accounting faculty. “The award was a complete surprise to me,” said Sentman. “I was thrilled to receive such a vote of confidence from the accounting faculty.”

Sentman is currently registered for fall 2009 entry into the Masters of Accounting and Information Systems program at Virginia Tech. She plans to major in taxation with a minor in auditing. This summer, she will take one-half of the CPA exam and the other half following graduation from the VT master’s program in May 2010. She hopes to enter the public accounting industry.

The mission of the Radford University College of Business and Economics is to provide an active learning environment for responsible business professionals who work collaboratively to compete in a dynamic global economy. To learn more, visit cobe-web.asp.radford.edu or call (540) 831-5187.

In the photo, left to right: Dr. Helen M. Roybark, Travis Hawley, Michael D. Chatham, Michael DeJarnette, Dr. R. Wayne Saubert, Deana Sentman, Dr. Felix E. Amenkhienan, Brittany Mason, Dr. Lynn K. Saubert, Dr. Bruce W.  Chase, Megan Lenhardt and Dr. Daniel V. Davidson.