COBA Students Honored

News Date
COBA KPMG scholarshp Oct. 202 Pres. Ross with Student Ballinger (2).jpg

ASU President Ross with COBA grad student Raegan Ballinger, who was hired by KPMG (photo credit David Campbell/ASU).

Big-Four Accounting Firm - KPMG - Visits ASU/Selects Four COBA Graduate Students for Scholarship Program and Hires One Upon Graduation

By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU 

Officers from one of America's “Big-Four” national accounting firms - KPMG - visited the campus of Alabama State University recently and offered scholarships to four students enrolled in the University's Percy J. Vaughn College of Business Administration's (COBA) Master of Accountancy with Data and Analytics graduate program. One of the four students was offered full time employment with the firm upon her graduation. 

ASU's COBA graduate students Raegan Ballinger, Teriyana McCray, Traylan Packer and Jelaney McGowan all received scholarships valued at $25,000 from the KPMG Master of Accountancy with Data and Analytics Program (KPMG MADA) in the presence of University President Quinton T. Ross, Jr.  Additionally, Ms. Ballinger accepted a full-time position with KPMG to commence after she receives her diploma, according to COBA's dean, Dr. Kamal Hingorani, who orchestrated the program and event. 

"I am extremely proud of our four COBA students who have received this incredible recognition from one of the most prestigious accounting firms in the United States," Hingorani said. "I am also proud that Alabama State University is one of only 16 universities in the nation to be part of this elite KPMG MADA program.” 

On Oct. 13, the KPMG firm visited the University's campus for the first time to meet with President Ross, Dean Hingorani and the scholarship-winning students. The firm’s representatives also interfaced with COBA faculty and other graduate-level students. 

Ballinger credits ASU with providing her the opportunity with KPMG. 

"I am very happy to know that I will be working for what, in my opinion, is the world's best accounting firm, KPMG," Ballinger said. "And my future job and the $25,000 scholarship that I have received would have never happened had I not been enrolled in graduate school at Alabama State University." 

News media contact: Kenneth Mullinax, 334-229-4104. 

###ASU###