WKU News

The Department of Accounting honors three students each year with the Charles H. McAdams Award for Accounting Excellence. The award recognizes the top graduate student and undergraduate senior and junior students with monetary prizes.

The 2024 recipients are undergraduates Ethan Crouch ('24) of Florence, KY, and Dawson Bechman (JR) of Thompson Station, TN, and graduate student Divine Lokuku ('23, '23) of Louisville, KY.

Bechman said the award fills him with gratitude, and he is forever grateful for the McAdams' generosity. "The Gordon Ford College of Business and specifically the Accounting Department has been fundamental for my scholastic, social, and professional development," said Bechman. "I feel beyond blessed to call the Accounting Department my home because of the connection to the professors, my classmates, local accounting firms, and businesses."

Additionally, Crouch shared that he was honored to receive the award. "My time at GFCB has challenged me to expand my horizons and become the best student I can be. That would not have been possible without the support of the Department of Accounting, who have given me advice and an education I will carry with me through the rest of my life."

Lokuku is a two-time Gordon Ford College of Business alumna. She completed her undergraduate in accounting in May '23 and enrolled in the Accounting Jump Program. Lokuku graduated with her Master of Accountancy and Data Analysis in December '23.  Lokuku is humbled to receive this award. "I owe immense gratitude to GFCB for the invaluable experiences, particularly the Department of Accounting. The unwavering support from the faculty and staff has been pivotal in shaping my skills as I embark on my journey in the accounting profession."

Bryson McAdams established the Charles H. McAdams Award for Accounting Excellence to honor his late father, Charles H. McAdams. Bryson McAdams wanted to recognize his dad's transformative experience as an accounting student at Bowling Green Business University (BU). The "BU" would later merge with WKU and was the predecessor of the Gordon Ford College of Business.