Self Memorial Scholarship fuels professional growth for KU Master of Accounting students
For KU graduate students, the Self Memorial Scholarship isn’t just about financial support for tuition. It also provides opportunities for professional development, research, communication, connection and academic support.
KU Master of Accounting students Donna Kraja and Christopher Raithel are two KU Business students currently benefiting from the merit-based scholarship, which provides $10,000 for tuition, $1,000 for professional development and access to a network of fellow scholars from various disciplines.
Kraja hails from Bar, Montenegro, and grew up with a global focus, taking language courses and studying abroad before she moved to the United States. She began an exchange program during her senior year of high school and relocated to Iowa, where she found KU via her host family, deciding to stay in the country long term.
“I never doubt myself,” Kraja said. “I’ve already faced my biggest challenge. I left my home country, my family and navigated a whole new culture, language and school by myself when I was 17. If I did that, I could do anything.”
She has been involved at KU, including being a member of Women in Finance, serving as a senior advisor for the Rock Chalk Investment Club, lecturing as a graduate teaching assistant and serving as a business area peer mentor for the Kirkendall Awards Ideation Challenge.
After learning about the scholarship from Alee Phillips, Master of Accounting program director, she decided to apply. Kraja found the application process easy, thanks to her involvement at KU and strong faculty connections.
“You have an additional layer of support with the scholarship,” Kraja said. “On top of the advisors you have in your academic program, you have the Self Scholars team helping you with anything. It’s nice to have extra people in your corner. This isn’t like any other scholarship. This is for your professional development, your aspirations and a way to grow with other students from all different areas of study.”
After graduation, she plans to relocate to New York City and work full time as a deals associate with EY-Parthenon, where she completed an internship this summer. She says that the scholarship has allowed her to connect with more people, work on her leadership skills and fund her CPA exam fees via the professional development award.
“The alumni network will definitely help me after graduation,” Kraja said. “I feel like everywhere you go, you will find some sort of connection to KU. The Self Memorial Scholars are also so helpful, and I’m excited to see them do awesome things. We’re all in the same endeavor to enhance our opportunities at KU and beyond.”
Raithel, who's from McLouth, Kansas, began his business endeavors early on. In high school, he participated in Future Business Leaders of America, which allowed him to pursue his first opportunities in business communication, accounting, finance and other disciplines. Initially, he wanted to pursue a career in computer science, but after a business professor explained what a career in accounting could look like, he decided it was the right path for him.
“I appreciate getting to work with technical problems and do research and financial analysis,” Raithel said. “I like the opportunities for specialization, too. I want to go into fraud examination or forensic accounting.
During his undergraduate years at KU, he was involved with Student Senate, in which he ran funds for multicultural student organizations and was the head of the legislative branch, and co-founded Gaymers, a recreational gaming organization for LGBTQ+ students. He says that the growth the club has had since his freshman year has been heartwarming.
The Self scholarship has provided a multitude of opportunities while progressing through his master’s program. He’s been able to focus primarily on his studies, and he’s also gained valuable insights from fellow students in interdisciplinary areas of study and advisors in the program, especially through communication coaching sessions.
“I think this scholarship is one of the greatest resources available to KU graduate students,” Raithel said. “Admissions are competitive, but if you have been focused on your studies, have a passion for research and have made an impact, you have a great chance.”
After graduation, he plans to join PwC’s Kansas City, Missouri, office in an audit practice focused on asset and wealth management. Long term, he hopes to continue to work in the specializations that first sparked his interest. Like Kraja, he plans on using the scholarship’s professional development award to help fund his CPA exam. He says the scholarship has advanced his skills in communicating technical information to those unfamiliar with the topic, as well as connected him with research fellows and provided career guidance.
Applications for the 2026-2027 Self Memorial Scholarship will open Feb. 16, 2026, and close on March 2, 2026. Before applying, graduate school applications must be submitted.