West & Company Partners with EIU to Offer Regional Student Scholarships
May-22-2018EIU’s Community Ambassador Scholarship to benefit from recent gift
Leaders from West & Company in Mattoon, together with representatives of Eastern Illinois University, recently announced West & Company’s $5,000 investment in support of the EIU’s Community Ambassador Scholarship (CAS) program. Eastern’s CAS program encourages local high school graduates to stay in the area by continuing their academic careers at EIU. Like other local and regional businesses, West & Company benefits greatly from EIU’s graduates, programs and services. As such, the regional accounting firm hosted a check presentation May 3 at their Mattoon location, 613 Broadway Avenue, with representatives from both the firm and the university in attendance to celebrate their recent gift.
“As an accounting firm, West & Company understands the importance of building tangible assets,” said Brian Daniell, managing partner of West & Company, LLC. “That’s why we stand solidly behind our partnership with EIU, and know that this investment in student success will ultimately pay dividends for our own regional communities. East Central Illinois is lucky to have such a quality university in the region whose leaders recognize and support the role they have in creating a thriving economic environment here and across the state.”
Dr. David Glassman, president of Eastern Illinois University, was unable to attend the presentation, but celebrated West & Company’s commitment to the university and for creating future scholarship opportunities in the region.
“I applaud West & Company’s partnership in supporting the university’s Community Ambassador Scholarship program,” Glassman said in a statement. “I thank West & Company for their commitment to EIU, and in helping us to uphold our mission to produce the future citizens and leaders who will continue to live, learn, work, play, and invest in our local communities for decades to come.”
A recent independent study by a regional economic development organization recognizes EIU’s community investments, indicating EIU adds $503.5 million in economic output to the State of Illinois while contributing $461.8 million in economic output to the region alone on an annual basis.
Organized in 1968 with a single office in Effingham, West & Company, LLC has expanded to become a multi-office public accounting firm serving clients in Champaign, Edwardsville, Effingham, Greenville, Mattoon and Sullivan. They provide specialized services in the areas of accounting and auditing, taxation, management consulting, employee benefit plan consulting and administration, and litigation support, serving myriad clients ranging from individuals to large closely held corporations.
In all, more than 20 EIU partners have contributed in excess of $100,000 to EIU’s Community Ambassador Scholarship program. The program was initially underwritten through a donation by Wells Fargo Advisors, thanks to branch manager Gary Swearingen and staff.
CAPTION: Celebrating the EIU/West & Company partnership supporting the university’s Community Ambassador Scholarship program are, front row, Christy Martin*, bank services, John Vogt*, partner (Effingham), Diana Smith, partner (Mattoon), Brian Daniell*, managing partner, Mike Murray, Director of Development for EIU; middle row, Jim Russell*, manager (Sullivan), Valerie Redfern*, paraprofessional (Mattoon), Heather Wolke*, manager (Mattoon), Alex Hagen, partner (Mattoon), Calvin Schultz*, bank services director, Raif Perry*, partner (Mattoon), Dylan Dhom*, accountant (Sullivan), Jordan Russel*, senior accountant (Mattoon); and back row, Mikayla Neese*, accountant (Mattoon), Derek Righter*, manager (Sullivan), David Faller, partner (Effingham), and Clayton Hinton, partner (Effingham). *Denotes EIU alumni.
