The American Indian Graduate Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has received a $1 million gift from the Johnson Scholarship Foundation to create a scholarship initiative for accounting and finance students, the Cherokee Phoenix reports. 

Matched by $1 million from AIGC itself, the $2 million Investing in Native CPAs Program will fund scholarships over the next ten years for a hundred and fifty students pursuing a degree in accounting and finance. With the goal of increasing the number of Native certified public accountants (CPAs), the scholarships will help students with tuition and the cost of exam fees required for professional licensure.

"The Investing in Native CPAs initiative addresses an opportunity gap in the accounting and finance fields," said AIGC executive director Angelique Albert. "Data from the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants indicates Native professionals represent only 0.3 percent of individuals holding both a bachelor and master's degree in accounting — the population most likely to attain a CPA....To promote self-determination in tribally driven economic development, it is critical to have a full spectrum of financial and accounting professionals. Through the Investing in Native CPAs Program, American Indian Graduate Center is developing a stream of Native CPAs and finance officers with the skill sets necessary to empower tribal communities."

(Photo credit: American Indian Graduate Center)