Dávid Scott Séra (BS ’21) and Kimberly Bronstein (MAcc ’21) were awarded $10,000 scholarships for the 2020-2021 academic year from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). They were among only 234 students from U.S. colleges and universities selected for the PCAOB Scholars Program, which aims to benefit outstanding students who are likely to become accountants and auditors.
Mandated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and funded through monetary penalties collected as part of PCAOB enforcement actions, the PCAOB has administered the Scholars Program for undergraduate and graduate accounting students enrolled in accredited U.S. colleges and universities since 2011.
Supporting Transfer Students
In 2020, the Board continued a pilot program to award scholarships to students who transferred from a two-year institution to the accounting program at a four-year institution. The program is merit-based, but the PCAOB encourages educational institutions to give special consideration to students from populations that have been historically underrepresented in the accounting profession.
“I'd like to thank my peers and professors at USC who have influenced me greatly and inspired me to be the best version of myself, especially Professor Smrity Randhawa. In my opinion, nothing can come close to the inspirational presence of an instructor like her in a student’s journey.”—Dávid Scott Séra (BS Accounting '21)
Dávid Scott Séra (BS ’21)
Séra is a transfer student from Pasadena City College where he earned an associate’s degree in mathematics, business and natural science. “I’d like to give special thanks to my accounting professors from college, Mariam Katrjyan and Barron Yanaga, who ignited my passion for accounting and without whom I’d never have made it to USC,” he said.
“I'd like to also thank my peers and professors at USC who have influenced me greatly and inspired me to be the best version of myself, especially Professor Smrity Randhawa,” he said. “In my opinion, nothing can come close to the inspirational presence of an instructor like her in a student’s journey.”
He said that receiving the scholarship has been one of his greatest achievements at USC, and is particularly meaningful since he lives in the country without the emotional or financial support of his family, who reside in Hungary.
After graduation, Séra would like to start or lead a company that drives positive change in society. “Additionally, I hope that I can be successful enough to help my family move to the United States.”
Kimberly Bronstein MAcc ’21
Bronstein will begin her career with Deloitte Los Angeles in the Audit and Assurance practice.
“I am so grateful for this scholarship because it gives me the opportunity to focus on making the most of my experience at USC,” she said. “I have a strong appreciation for the PCAOB for providing me with this scholarship and helping me along the way of achieving my academic and professional goals. I hope to give back to the accounting community someday as well.”
