SUNY Old Westbury graduate student Diana Muyibi was the sole recipient nationwide of the $10,000 Ritchie-Jennings Memorial scholarship award from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), the world's leading professional organization for fraud examiners. The scholarship is presented annually to students who display excellence in academic and extracurricular activities related to economic crime.
In the nearly 30-year history of the Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship, Muyibi is the first student of the State University of New York to earn a $10,000 award, the highest available through the program.
“Diana represents the high caliber of the students in the College’s Master of Science in Forensic Accounting program, and we couldn’t be more proud that she earned this award,” said Dr. David Glodstein, CPA, CFE and Program Director. “Since she joined the program, she has been involved in numerous meetings for the Justice for Fraud Victims Project, where students assist victims of fraud seek restitution, and is currently leading a case for the Project from the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office – she’s a true role model for our students.”
Muyibi, a resident of Brooklyn, New York, enrolled in the Forensic Accounting program after learning of the important work of the Justice for Fraud Victims Project. She plans on pursuing a career in fraud examination or white-collar crimes for the IRS. She is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, National Association of Black Accountants, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, New York State Society of CPAs and the Long Island Chapter of the Association of Fraud Examiners.
The ACFE is the world's largest anti-fraud organization and premier provider of anti-fraud training and education. Together with more than 85,000 members, the ACFE is reducing business fraud world-wide and inspiring public confidence in the integrity and objectivity within the profession. Created in 1992, The Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program was named after two members of the ACFE, Larry Jennings, CFE, CPA, 49; and Tracy Ritchie, CFE, CPA, 41; both of Houston, Texas. They were among five people fatally wounded when terrorists in Karachi, Pakistan fired upon their vehicle on Nov. 14, 1997.
Through the Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship, the ACFE Foundation supports the education of students who have an interest in pursuing a career in fraud examination. The Ritchie-Jennings Memorial scholarship award amounts are $10,000, $5,000, $2,500, and $1,000. Scholarships are awarded in U.S. dollars and include a one-year ACFE Student Associate membership.