Zicklin Undergrads Win Scholarships to “Follow the Money” as Auditors

For the ninth consecutive year, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) has awarded merit scholarships to students at the Zicklin School of Business. This year’s winners are undergraduate accounting majors Ruilong (Ryder) Lin, Julius Morris, and Iven Zheng (all BBA, ’25). 

Lin, Morris, Zheng (left to right)

The Zicklin students were among 686 students nationwide who were named PCAOB Scholars for the 2025-2026 academic year. The scholarships—$15,000 each—support students who are likely to become accountants and auditors, and are funded by fines imposed by the PCAOB in its enforcement actions.  

All three winners are using the money to further their education. Ruilong is continuing with the final semester of his BBA in accountancy, while Julius and Iven will join the Zicklin School’s master of science in accountancy program this fall.  

“All three students are well deserving of the award,” said Zeljko Sockovic, lecturer and student advisor in the Stan Ross Department of Accountancy, who nominated the students on behalf of his department. “We are thrilled to be able to assist and further encourage them in their pursuit of becoming auditors and CPAs.” 

The PCAOB was established in the wake of major accounting scandals like Enron and WorldCom that could have been prevented by rigorous, ethical audit processes. The phrase “follow the money” comes from the 1976 movie All the President’s Men, in which a confidential informant whispers it to a journalist reporting on the Watergate political scandal. Just as auditors “follow the money”—that is, investigate financial transactions to uncover possible criminal activity—so too Ruilong, Julius, and Iven are “following the money” to their future auditing careers.

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