As part of the Thomas Burrage Award for Compassion, Collegiality and Character (see last week’s coverage), a scholarship of $1,000 has been presented to Sheyla Lopez, a student at the University of New Mexico (UNM). Burrage was also known for giving his support and guidance to young people in the profession, and UNM was his alma mater. “Sheyla has a unique background and is currently working on both her master’s degree and her law degree,” says Dr. Rich Brody at UNM, who knew Mr. Burrage and who chooses students for the scholarship. “Sheyla spent much of the summer working on a huge fraud project with me (research paper) and hopes to work for the FBI once she has finished with her education. She is a great student and has taken both my fraud examination class and my forensic accounting class. She also did a lot of work with our student chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). I only wish I had more students like Sheyla.”

The scholarship was given by the Expert Resource Connection, co-founded by Mr. Burrage, which is a group of business valuation and forensic accounting professionals who share resources and collaborate on engagements. Contributions to the scholarship fund can be made by check payable to: Thomas Burrage Scholarship Fund, c/o 940 Wadsworth Blvd., Suite 200, Lakewood, CO 80214.