2026 Academic Scholarship Winners

The recipient of the $30,000 Goldberg-Miller Public Finance Scholarship is Nicole Hegge. 

• Nicole Hegge is the senior manager of accounting at Anoka County, Minnesota, where she focuses on financial operations and supports community-serving programs. She transitioned to public service after a career in the private sector, bringing a perspective shaped by early exposure to local government through her mother’s career in public finance. Nicole earned her certified CPFO designation in 2024 and remains actively engaged with the Government Finance Officers Association through the Women’s Public Finance Network and as a volunteer reviewer for the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. She is pursuing a master of public administration at Hamline University and plans to begin the certified public manager program in 2026, with a goal of serving as a finance director or city administrator.

The recipients of the two awards for the Frank L. Greathouse Government Accounting Scholarship are Cheyenne Black and Arthens Dacres. Each will receive $10,000. 

• Cheyenne Black is an accounting student at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia, where she is pursuing her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting. She holds an associate’s degree in accounting from Atlanta Technical College and aspires to become a certified public accountant (CPA). Cheyenne currently serves as a treasury accountant at the Georgia Office of the State Treasurer, where she began as an intern in 2025 and developed her skills in government accounting. She is also vice president of the Atlanta Technical College Accounting Advisory Board and a member of Georgia State University’s Accounting and Tax Society. Cheyenne is passionate about public service, financial transparency, and mentoring future students, and she ultimately hopes to serve as an accounting director within a state finance agency, leading with integrity and advancing effective financial management for the state of Georgia.
• Arthens Dacres is an accountant in the Finance Department at the City of Bridgeport Board of Education, where she supports financial operations that impact public education and community services. Originally from Jamaica, she grew up in a rural farming community as one of eleven siblings, where early responsibilities instilled a strong work ethic and resilience. Arthens is currently pursuing an accounting degree at Post University as a first-generation college student while balancing the responsibilities of raising three children and caring for her mother. She is committed to advancing her career in public-sector accounting and aspires to serve in senior financial leadership roles, using her experience and determination to promote sound financial management and create greater opportunities for her family and community.

The recipients of the four awards for the Betty Jo Harker Professional Development Scholarship are Ousman Darboe, Ashlea Houston, Staci Vigil, and Sovandany Wang. Each will receive $10,000. 

• Ousman Darboe is a senior budget and policy analyst at Madison College in Madison, Wisconsin, where he focuses on budget development, financial forecasting, and policy analysis to support strategic decision-making and responsible fiscal management. He previously worked as a management accountant for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, where he gained experience in budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance. Ousman also serves as co-chair of the City of Madison Community Development Block Grant Committee, helping oversee the allocation of federal funds supporting housing and community development initiatives. He is currently pursuing a master of business administration with an emphasis in accounting at Edgewood University and is expected to graduate in Fall 2026. Ousman is committed to advancing into a leadership role in public finance and strengthening transparent, equitable budgeting practices that support long-term community impact.
• Ashlea Houston is a management analyst in the City Manager’s Office for the City of Del Mar, California, where she supports department budgeting, contract oversight, and citywide initiatives. She has worked in local government for over three years and previously served in both the Finance Department and City Manager’s Office for the City of Villa Park, California, gaining early experience in municipal budgeting, accounting, and capital planning. Ashlea earned a bachelor of arts in business management and humanities and is currently pursuing a master of public administration at California State University, Long Beach. She is committed to advancing in local government with a long-term goal of becoming a city manager, building on her strong interest in public finance, budgeting, and organizational leadership.
• Staci Vigil is an accountant for the City of Marion, Iowa, where she has developed a deep appreciation for how thoughtful financial management supports the community she serves. She earned a bachelor of business administration in finance from Mount Mercy University and is currently pursuing a master of business administration with a concentration in finance at the University of Dubuque. Staci came into local government after a career in hospitality and is passionate about applying financial analysis and problem-solving to real-world challenges in her community. She is committed to advancing into a budget analyst role and ultimately serving as a finance director in local government, where she can continue to support her community through effective and meaningful public finance work.
• Sovandany Wang is an accountant for the City of Los Alamitos, where she brings a sharp eye for detail and a strong commitment to public service. She previously worked at California State University, Long Beach as a student account technician, serving as a sponsored liaison and helping bridge communication between the university and its partner organizations. Sovandany is currently pursuing a master of public policy and administration at California State University, Long Beach, building on her experience in local and state organizations and her interest in strengthening public institutions. She is deeply engaged in her community through volunteer work with Confluence Rising (formerly the California Conference for Equality and Justice), where she supports programs that advance equity and empower local youth. Sovandany is passionate about municipal finance and hopes to grow into a leadership role where she can strengthen systems, improve processes, and support effective public service.

The recipient of the $10,000 Clark Burrus Public Service Academic Scholarship is Crystal Jordan. 

• Crystal Jordan is the budget fiscal services manager for Macomb County, Michigan, where she oversees financial planning, budgeting, and fiscal operations in local government. She is currently pursuing a master of business administration at Walsh College, strengthening her leadership and financial management expertise. Crystal is passionate about advancing transparency, accountability, and strategic decision-making in the public sector and has worked closely with departments to improve budgeting processes, financial reporting, and long-term fiscal sustainability. In addition to her government role, she is the founder of Clean Financial Services Foundation, a nonprofit focused on financial literacy, community empowerment, and economic advancement. Crystal aspires to advance into executive leadership in government finance while expanding access to financial education in underserved communities.

The recipients of the three awards for the Jeffrey L. Esser Career Development Scholarship are Jaleesa Kee, Gilbert Teklevchiev, and Diane Thibodeau. Each will receive $10,000. 

• Jaleesa Kee is a recreation program coordinator for the City of Portsmouth, where she oversees the planning, implementation, and budgeting of instructional after-school programs across schools and recreation centers. She earned a bachelor of science in interdisciplinary studies from Norfolk State University, where she served as captain of the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge Team and led her team to a national championship victory. Jaleesa is currently pursuing a master of public administration at Old Dominion University, building on her passion for community service and local government. She is committed to advancing into a leadership role in parks and recreation, where she can design innovative programs and create lasting positive impacts for youth in her community.
• Gilbert Teklevchiev is a senior financial analyst for the City of Boston, where he supports financial planning and analysis across a multi-division operating budget. His work focuses on budget-to-actuals reporting, variance analysis, and improving financial reporting processes through data and automation, partnering with department leadership to deliver clear, actionable insights. Gilbert holds a master of science in economics and business administration with a concentration in strategic finance and analytics from Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology and a bachelor of science in management with a focus on finance and international management from the University of Massachusetts Boston. He is currently pursuing a master of business administration at Boston University, with an emphasis on analytics, finance transformation, and enterprise systems. Gilbert is committed to advancing the use of data, systems, and analytics in public finance and aims to take on leadership roles that strengthen financial transparency and decision-making in government.
• Diane Thibodeau is a contract administrator for the Division of Public Works at the City of Nashua, New Hampshire, where she has worked for more than 11 years. In her role, she manages contracts, ensures compliance, and collaborates with project managers, contractors, and state partners to support the successful delivery of municipal projects. Diane is known for making complex financial and procedural requirements more accessible, helping teams navigate processes efficiently while aligning with public policy. She is currently pursuing a bachelor of science in business administration with a concentration in accounting at Southern New Hampshire University. Diane is passionate about ethical, transparent financial management and is committed to advancing into a financial management role in municipal government while mentoring others and strengthening effective financial practices.