Each year, Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP celebrates the next generation of business and accounting talent through student awards offered in partnership with the University of Alberta. This year marks a special milestone with the introduction of the KRPLLP Rising Stars in Accounting Scholarship—an award designed to recognize ambition, curiosity, and early potential within the accounting profession. Alongside it, the Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP Chartered Accountants Indigenous Award in Business continues to support and uplift Indigenous students pursuing careers in business.

To highlight the achievements and perspectives of these remarkable students, we sat down with each recipient for a brief interview.

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KRP LLP Rising Stars in Accounting Scholarship

Marcus is currently a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Alberta, majoring in Accounting. Born in the Philippines, he was raised across various parts of Asia, mainly in Singapore, before relocating to Edmonton for his studies. In his free time, he is an avid basketball fan and has recently begun exploring other sports, including hockey and football.

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Congratulations on receiving the inaugural KRP LLP Rising Stars in Accounting Scholarship, as the first recipient, what does this opportunity mean for your confidence and readiness as you move toward entering the profession? This opportunity really boosts my confidence as I move closer to entering the profession. It feels like recognition that I’m on the right track, even though I’m still early in my studies. It also makes the idea of transitioning from school to a professional environment feel more achievable. At the same time, it motivates me to keep improving and make the most of the opportunities ahead, because I want to live up to that recognition and be fully prepared when I start my career.

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Looking ahead, what areas of accounting or business are you most interested in exploring as you build your career? Looking ahead, I’m interested in exploring public practice, especially areas like audit and tax, because they offer a strong foundation and exposure to a wide range of clients and industries. I think that kind of environment would help me build both my technical skills and my professional judgment early in my career. I'm still keeping an open mind as I learn more through my courses and future work experience, but I’m drawn to roles where I can continue developing problem-solving skills and understanding how different businesses operate. More broadly, I want to better understand how accounting supports business strategy and decision-making, not just the technical side.

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‍Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP Chartered Accountants Indigenous Award in Business

Emma competes on the University of Alberta’s varsity curling team and is a three-time junior provincial champion. She also earned a bronze medal at the U Sports Canadian Championships this past season. Her long-standing commitment to curling has helped her build strong skills in teamwork, time management, and discipline, both academically and athletically.

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First, congratulations again on receiving this award. In a few sentences, what does this recognition mean to you personally and academically? Thank you. Being recognized for my academic accomplishments—and my accomplishments overall—means a lot. It feels very self-fulfilling. I’ve put so much work into everything I do, and receiving this award is confirmation that I can do it. It makes me feel proud of myself, and it also motivates me to keep working hard because I know I can achieve even more.

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You received the Indigenous Award in Business. How has your cultural identity influenced your academic experience or the direction you hope to take in your career? I’m Métis, but I actually didn’t know about my heritage until about two and a half years ago. During COVID, my uncle really dove into our family history and discovered our Métis ancestry. I didn’t grow up with that knowledge, but over the last couple of years, I’ve wanted to learn more. Coming to the University of Alberta has helped a lot. They’re really strong when it comes to Indigenous inclusion. One of my first experiences was attending the Indigenous student orientation, where I met so many people and built friendships. It opened my eyes to how many opportunities exist, regardless of your ancestry or background.

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As someone who recently learned about your heritage, what strengths or perspectives do you feel Indigenous students can bring to the business and accounting fields? This past year especially, I’ve learned how easy it can be to connect with people through shared heritage. That connection creates a strong foundation for relationships. I think Indigenous students bring that sense of community, connection, and relationship-building, which is so important in business and accounting.

Celebrating Growth, Community, and Future Leadership

These students represent the talent, drive, and diverse perspectives shaping the future of the accounting profession. Whether through academic excellence, community involvement, or long-term aspirations to contribute meaningfully to the field, each recipient demonstrates the impact that thoughtful support and recognition can have.

Beyond these awards, Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP is also proud to support future leaders through its scholarship programs at both NAIT (Promising Leaders in Accounting Award) and MacEwan University (Emerging Leaders in Accounting). In alignment with privacy considerations, the MacEwan scholarship recipient cannot be named, and the NAIT recipient is currently in the final stages of the selection process. KRP remains committed to championing emerging professionals and looks forward to seeing the paths these students take as they continue their journey toward becoming leaders in business and accounting.