2 UM students win national scholarships – NBC Montana
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by NBC Montana Staff
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MISSOULA, Mont. — At the University of Montana two students won national scholarships focused on outstanding graduates following careers in auditing.
The winners are Ella Pheifer and Brandi Ashford who each earned $15,000 from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
The scholarship is awarded through a nomination process and the two were picked among a group of candidates across the country for the 2025-26 academic year.
Pheifer is from Kalispell and completed an Associates of Arts degree during her last two years of high school and is now beginning the UM Master of Accountancy Program.
“I’ve always loved numbers and organization, so a degree in accounting was an easy choice,” Pheifer said. “This scholarship has given me a new burst of inspiration for my final year of school, knowing I’m being supported and cheered on by the stellar professors who taught me in the undergraduate program.”
Ashford moved to Montana 13 years ago but was born in Nebraska and this may she will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Accounting degree.
She will begin the Accounting Master's Program at UM.
“Receiving this scholarship was a deeply humbling experience,” Ashford said. “It’s more than financial support – it’s a powerful reminder that others believe in me, and that belief inspires me to keep working toward my goals.
UM's accounting program is ranked 14th nationally among similarly sized programs.
The masters program of accounting is now fully online making it possible for students to work anywhere and work around schedules.
Officials say enrollment in the program has almost doubled since it launched online.
