SPRINGFIELD – College students pursuing accounting degrees could receive up to $4,000 in scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) announced today.

The Illinois CPA Society will award more than 40 scholarships of up to $4,000 each to Illinois students through its Accounting Scholarship Program.

“Finances should never stop a hardworking student from getting their degree, but the cost of higher education keeps rising,” said Murphy. “These scholarships could fill in the gaps and make a huge difference for a future accountant.”

Applicants must be an accounting student enrolled at an Illinois college and must demonstrate financial need, academic achievement and leadership qualities.

Available scholarships include:
•    Illinois CPA Society Accounting Scholarships for seniors and graduate students;
•    Herman J. Neal Accounting Scholarships for African American juniors, seniors and graduate students;
•    James A. Sikich Visionary Scholarships for seniors and graduate students;
•    Jovencio P. and Violeta R. Mangahas Accounting Scholarships for seniors and graduate students; and
•    Women’s Executive Committee Advancing Women in Accounting Scholarships for female seniors and graduate students.

Students may apply to any or all scholarships for which they are eligible by submitting a single application. The application deadline is April 1, 2020.

In addition, racial and ethnic minority high school seniors are invited to apply for Illinois CPA Society Freshman Scholarships, which aim to increase awareness of the accounting profession among minority students and prepare them for success in college and the profession. The application deadline for these scholarships is May 1, 2020.

“I’m grateful that organizations like the Illinois CPA Society give back by helping the next generation succeed,” said Murphy. “Everyone deserves the chance to pursue an education.”

All scholarship applications can be completed online at the Illinois CPA Society website.

SPRINGFIELD – The Cook County Board of Review is offering a property tax abatement for the surviving spouses of Cook County’s fallen heroes, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) announced Monday.

“It’s our responsibility to honor the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform by taking care of the families they leave behind,” said Murphy. “This program is one way we can offer a little help to them during an extremely difficult time.”

Surviving spouses of police officers, soldiers and rescue workers who have died in service are eligible to receive up to a full abatement of their property taxes on qualifying properties for the rest of their lives.

Qualifying properties are homes occupied by not more than two families, used as the principal residence by a surviving spouse and were:
•    owned by the fallen police officer, soldier, or rescue worker or surviving spouse at the time of the death;
•    acquired by the surviving spouse within two years after the death if the surviving spouse lived in Illinois at the time of that death; or
•    acquired more than two years after the death if the surviving spouse qualified for an abatement for previous property located in Cook County.

More information about the application process can be found on the Cook County Board of Review website.