CFAH Scholarship Fund

Congratulations to the Society's Scholarship Recipients for the
2024-2025 school year:

Jaimin Pandya - University of Houston
Hitesh Mehta - Rice University
Yue Wang - University of St. Thomas

Jaimin Pandya

What I Do Now: Master of Science in Finance candidate at the University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business, graduating May 2025

Future Plans: Seeking a career in investment banking, leveraging my strong analytical skills and passion for finance

Fun Facts: 

• Avid Chess Player
• Enjoy exploring new cuisines and cultures
• Passionate about sustainable energy solutions

Thankfulness to CFA Houston: 

I am deeply grateful to the CFA Society of Houston for awarding me the scholarship. This generous support has significantly alleviated my financial burden, allowing me to focus on my studies and career aspirations. The scholarship has empowered me to pursue my dream of becoming a successful finance professional. I am committed to upholding the CFA Institute's ethical standards and contributing to the financial community.

Hitesh Mehta

What I Do Now: Full-Time MBA Candidate, Class of 2025 at Rice University

Future Plans: My post-MBA goal is to advance my career in Investment Management & Advisory services and keep upgrading my knowledge of the Financial ecosystem.

Fun Facts: I am an early riser. I have a strong appetite to gain new knowledge and would love to study for that at any age in my life.

Thankfulness to CFA Houston: I am whole-heartedly thankful to The CFA Society of Houston for their invaluable support, and for paving for me the path to connecting with outstanding professionals in the industry and learning from them.

Yue Wang

What I Do Now:  University of St. Thomas.

Future Plans: My career goal is to leverage my experience from Deloitte and the listed company, combined with the expertise from the CFA certification, to become a thought leader in finance and a key advisor in corporate strategic decision-making. I plan to continue making my mark in the financial industry after obtaining the CFA certification, providing high-quality financial consulting services to businesses and investors. Additionally, I aim to lead the company I have invested in to go public.

Fun Facts: I enjoy outdoor activities and traveling. I love exploring new places and experiencing different cultures.

Thankfulness to CFA Houston: I am incredibly grateful to CFA Houston for this scholarship because it provides me with the opportunity to further my education and career goals. The support from CFA Houston will enable me to gain valuable knowledge and experience, helping me to make significant contributions to the financial industry.

CFA Society Houston
Scholarship Fund

The CFAH Scholarship Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization, was established as a separate legal entity in April 2002. Contributions to CFAH Scholarship Fund have since been tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. The activities of CFAH Scholarship Fund currently include awarding scholarships to local university students expressing interest in a career in the investment decision-making profession. The scholarship committee is responsible for reviewing and selecting the recipients.

Scholarship Opportunities

The CFA Society of Houston awards $3,000 annually to three deserving students: one each from Rice University, The University of Houston,  and the University of St. Thomas. Each Spring, the CFA Houston Scholarship Committee accepts applications from each of the three universities from graduate business students that have one year remaining in their studies. Applicants are asked to submit a resume and an essay on why they are pursuing the CFA ® designation along with their financial needs. The committee reviews the applications and interviews the prospective applicants while also gathering feedback from the school liaisons that work directly with the committee. From there, one winner from each school is awarded the Society's annual scholarship with the recipients also being invited to a future CFA event where they are formally acknowledged amongst members of the Society.

The CFA Society of Houston funds these scholarships solely through member donations, which serve as tax deductible charitable contributions. CFA Houston members have generously supported the fund, which has enabled the Society to help “pass the torch” to some excellent future candidates in the business.

Current CFA Society of Houston Scholarship Co-Chairs:

Brian S. Quattrucci, CFA at [email protected]​ and Jung Hwang, CFA at [email protected]​​​.

CFA Program Access Scholarships

The CFA Institute provides funding for several scholarships annually to Houston-area CFA® candidates to use towards their registration and enrollment fees for either the June or December exams of the CFA® Program. The variety of scholarships allow more people to participate in CFA Program. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis, allowing candidates to select from multiple upcoming exam offerings. Below we highlight Access Awards for candidates in the Greater Houston area. The goal of the Access Scholarship program is to provide greater access to the CFA program for those that otherwise could not afford it.  Applicants for this Society's scholarship must live within 200 miles of Houston, Texas, must be eligible to enroll into the CFA Program, and must not be reimbursed by their company for exam fees. CFA exam level I, II or III candidates are eligible to apply for these scholarships. Applicants may be students, Society members or prospective Society members. The Access Scholarship awards waive the enrollment fee and exam registration fees are reduced to $250 USD. Recipients apply their scholarships to either the June or December exams, and must register and sit for the exam in the relevant exam year awarded to continue being eligible for future Access scholarships.

Click the link below for application instructions, evaluation criteria, scholarship rules, and to the Access Scholarships: 

https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/programs/cfa/scholarships/access