WISS Provides 11 Students With Scholarships

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WISS & Company, LLP proudly announces that the WISS Edward W. O’Connell Memorial Scholarship Fund has recently awarded scholarships to four high school seniors and eight college juniors. These students are the 2007 beneficiaries of the growing success of the Scholarship Fund’s primary fundraiser, the annual Edward W. O’Connell Memorial Golf Classic. This year’s “sold out” event, held June 18th at Essex Fells Country Club, was enjoyed by more than 125 leaders from the business community in New Jersey and New York—accountants, bankers, lawyers and business owners.

Since 2003, the WISS Edward W. O’Connell Memorial Scholarship Fund has awarded 28 scholarships to young men and women pursing accounting degrees at New Jersey colleges and universities.

“We are very proud to give back to our profession, to encourage and support young people as they pursue careers in accounting,” says Jeff Campo, Managing Partner of WISS. “It’s also exciting to see the Golf Classic become more successful each year. Consequently, we’re able to award more scholarships as well as expand our reach to include students already attending college.”

These scholarships also serve to introduce WISS & Company to students and increase their awareness of regional accounting firms as a good career alternative to large national firms. “As a graduate considers his or her professional direction,” adds Campo, “naturally we think WISS should be among their short list. We just need to make known the benefits of a firm our size.” One former scholarship recipient is now employed by WISS as a summer intern.

This fall, the four high school scholarship recipients will attend Rutgers University, The College of New Jersey and Montclair State University. The eight college student recipients will be seniors at Montclair State University and Kean University.

“These scholarships are very meaningful to our students,” says Cynthia McChesney, Senior Development Officer at Kean. “Many hold jobs to pay for college, while still maintaining excellent academic records. These scholarships are truly appreciated by the student and by the University.”

“The majority of our student body pays for their own education mainly by working, " says Frank Aquilino, Chairman of the Accounting Dept. at Montclair State University. "It’s through such generosity that these students can realize their full potential and develop into active and contributing members to the profession and community."

The Scholarship Fund is named in honor of WISS’ former Managing Partner, Edward W. O’Connell in recognition of his contributions to the accounting profession and his enthusiasm for higher education.