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News | September 22, 2025
Among the students honored with scholarships during Accountancy Day were these who received Sponsorship Scholarships.
Troy University’s William H. Carr School of Accountancy honored alumni, students and special guests at Accountancy Day on Sept. 18 on the Troy Campus.
More than 130 accounting students participated in a job fair preceding the School’s annual awards luncheon, during which more than $75,000 in scholarships were awarded to students. It was the event’s 34th year.
TROY Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. provided a keynote address to the luncheon participants, that included more than 30 private accounting firms, several state agencies, alumni and donors in the Lamar P. Higgins Ballrooms.
“It all begins with great tradition. One thing I’m really proud of – and have been since I walked through the door at Troy University (then Troy State University) is this accounting program,” he said.
Using William H. Carr’s firm Carr, Riggs & Ingram as an example, and pointing to successes of several other alumni such as CRI’s Jon Heath and Doug Mims, Dr. Hawkins told the students that today, Carr, Riggs & Ingram sits among the Top 25 public accounting firms in the country.
“Anything is possible if you can see it,” he said. “Henry David Thoreau said ‘it’s not what your looking at in life, it’s what you can see’ – it’s your vision and, students, I want you to have a great vision for you can do. These people we have pointed out (today) illustrate where you can go in life.
“You have no limitations. If you see it, you can make it happen,” he said.
Dr. Hawkins admonished students to set their goals and be intentional in their pursuit.
“It was Martin Luther who said, ‘sin boldly’ . . . what he meant by that statement was if you do it, do it well; do it with conviction; do it persistently because persistence is the mortal enemy of defeat,” he said.
That boldness translates into a plan of action for the Carr School.
“Our goal is to be the Number One school of accountancy not in Alabama, but in this country,” he said. “. . . I think we have the right people, we certainly have the right vision and we have a very honorable goal to make the Carr School of Accounting the Number 1 school of accountancy in the whole country.”
Carr School Director Dr. Josh McGowan said the Chancellor’s vision already had an outstanding foundation that even prospective students find evident.
“They’ll be on campus for an hour or two hours and say, ‘TROY is just different.’ A lot of times they can’t put their fingers on what that is . . . what they’re really getting at is the culture of Troy University.
“To me, the culture is hard work, kindness and giving back to our community,” McGowan said. “Thanks to the leadership of Dr. Hawkins, that culture flows down through all of (TROY’s) organizations. (Sorrell College) Dean Edwards does a wonderful job of making sure we put the students first.”
McGowan took a few minutes to brag on Carr School students.
“Our students really showed out today. They come from hard-working families and value ethical behavior, and, once again, all they’re looking for is an opportunity. It’s our job to provide that to them,” he said.
It’s that culture of caring, dedication and servant leadership that McGowan points to for the real successes the School has enjoyed.
An example of that is the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance Program – VITA – where students provide income tax preparation to low-income families in and around Troy. Last year, students were able to bring back $120,000 of refunds to the pockets of about 125 area families, saving that group roughly $40,000 in income tax preparation fees.
“Once again that really shows the character of our students and why they end up being so successful as they move on through their careers,” he said.
The real test comes after a student graduates, McGowan said.
“You can measure a culture by the outcomes that the program produces. Once again we have 100 percent job placement of our graduates – every single one of our graduates are going on to a full-time position and those positions are well paid and are great starting jobs – many of those starting salaries are between $70,000 and $75,000 per year … right here in Alabama,” he said.
“I am extremely excited for our students and appreciate the firms that pay our graduates top salaries,” he added.
Clif Lusk is a University Relations Coordinator at Troy University.
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