Scholarships for 2025-26 Now Closed. Applications for 2026-2027 Reopen in January 2026!
*UG: Undergraduate Students GR: Graduate Students*
Scholarships for 2025-26 Now Closed. Applications for 2026-2027 Reopen in January 2026!
*UG: Undergraduate Students GR: Graduate Students*
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Award $3000 to 1 or more Students
Gabriel De La Rosa is an audit partner and an SEC reviewing partner in KPMG’s Technology Media & Telecommunications practice and has served as either the audit partner of SEC reviewing partner on several IPOs.
Award of $3000 for one year.
The eligible student will:
Be enrolled in APU accounting program in the School of Business and Management (Preference given to accounting majors)
Be from socio economic backgrounds that are substantially under-represented in the accounting profession as determined by, for example, the AICPA (American Institute for Certified Public Accountants), and within that group preference will be given to first-generation college students
Have overcome economic and/or educational hardships, or students who have demonstrated leadership experience in economically or educationally underserved communities
Award $5000 to 1 or more Students
In recognition of Professor Emeritus Stan Deal's 25 years of teaching at APU, this scholarship was established. Stan Deal came to Azusa Pacific University as an adjunct in 1984 and became a full-time faculty member in 1986. His focus has been teaching principles of financial and managerial accounting, intermediate accounting, and federal taxation at the undergraduate level.
Award of $5000 for one year.
Eligibility Requirements:
Enrolled in APU accounting program in the School of Business and Management (Preference given to accounting majors)
Be enrolled or have taken Intermediate Accounting I
Averaging a GPA of 3.5 or above
Demonstrate leadership and professionalism
Completion of Scholarship Application
Interview with Scholarship Committee, if requested
Award $2000
“Not all who wander are lost.” This J.R.R. Tolkien quote was shared with Shannon Benstead ’16 by her RA at Engstrom Hall during her freshman year at APU. It became her battle cry, not only throughout her time at APU, but also for the rest of her life. Shannon was committed to wander with a purpose; seeking out distant lands, and to know and have compassion for people near and far. Shannon had a heart that sought after the Lord, and she prayed often for His help to do things that would have eternal significance.
While at APU, Shannon not only received a quality education, but also her experiences challenged her and grew her spiritually. She gained a deeper understanding of who she was in Christ, and this drove her dreams and goals for the future.
One of Shannon’s dreams was to build her own business. She was also passionate about supporting other women starting their own businesses and making a better life for themselves. Small companies committed to donating a portion of their profits to help those in need impressed her very much and aligned with her core values. She also invested in microloans to help others and started her own business on Etsy in November 2020, in which a portion of the profits would benefit women who had recently escaped sex trafficking.
God called Shannon home to Heaven in February 2021.
The Benstead’s prayers are that this endowment would challenge and support future APU students to start their own “intentional” businesses. By doing so, they hope that this ripple of blessing would reach many people groups in the future.
Undergraduate Junior or Senior majoring or minoring in a degree program within the School of Business and Management (SBM) or a Graduate student in a degree program within SBM
3.0 GPA minimum
Demonstrated interest in entrepreneurism, or students that currently own at least 51% of a business.
Completion of application
Preference is given to underrepresented populations in the business field with a vision for philanthropic giving
*Award of $2000 for one year.
Award $1000 to 1 or more Graduate Students
Eligibility Requirements:
US citizen
Current APU senior planning to enroll in the APU MBA program
Maintain 3.0 or better GPA
Financial need
Completes the following application
Award $2000 to 1 or more Graduate Students
Dr. Gara began teaching at Azusa Pacific in the School of Business and Management in 1990. Dr. Gara was a member of Pomona First Baptist Church, where he sang in the choir and served as a witness for Christ to his neighbors and those who surrounded him. According to Dr. Ilene Bezjian, the Dean of the SBM from 1999-2013, Dr. Gara always made his faith evident to everyone. “When he told his personal testimony, he openly shared it and was never ashamed of his beliefs,” said Dr. Bezjian.
Award of $2000 to be awarded to one or more SBM Graduate Students.
Eligibility Requirements:
Enrolled in a graduate program in the School of Business and Management
Maintain 3.0 GPA minimum
Financial Need
Completion of application and essay
2025 Scholarship Recipients will be notified via email by March 28, 2025. The Shannon Benstead Memorial Scholarship will be awarded at the Zuventurez Pitch Competion on April 9, 2025.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2025 WINNERS!
SBM Keith and Teresa Porchia Scholarship (Graduate - $2,000)
Joseph Desmarais - Master of Business Administration
Elva Rinus - Master of Business Administration
Thames Wong - Master of Business Administration
Naomi Rivas - Master of Business Administration
SBM Kim Gara Memorial Scholarship (Graduate - $2,000)
Vivian Ho - Master of Business Administration
Karla Cambron - Master of Business Management
Alessandra Perez Laris - Master of Professional Accountancy
Lori Howell-Chun - Masters in Organizational Psychology
Alondio Hill - Masters in Organizational Psychology
LSA Gabriel and Elizabeth De La Rosa Scholarship (Undergraduate - $3,000)
Shin Ryu - Accounting
Audry Ramirez - Accounting
Ye Jin Koo - Accounting
Rebecca Kenz - Accounting
LSA Stan Deal Accounting Scholarship (Undergraduate - $5,000)
Audry Ramirez - Accounting
Ye Jin Koo - Accounting
Rebecca Kenz - Accounting
Shannon Benstead Memorial Scholarship (Grad and Undergrad - $2,000)
Franchesca Bradley - Psychology, Entrepreneurship Minor
Elva Rinus - Master of Business Administration
The Shannon Benstead Memorial Scholarship was awarded at the ZuVenturez Pitch Competition on April 9. The Benstead family was in attendance to present the scholarship.
Awarding of the SBM Shannon Benstead Memorial Scholarship to Darlin Rocha-Torres at the Zuventurez Pitch Competition Spring 2024