RSM, Zach Johnson Foundation and Kids on Course Announce Inaugural Shot at College Winners

RSM, Zach Johnson Foundation and Kids on Course Announce Inaugural Shot at College Winners

CHICAGO – (July 27, 2021) – RSM US LLP (“RSM”) – the nation’s leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market – is pleased to announce the inaugural winners of the RSM Shot at College program in partnership with the Zach Johnson Foundation and Kids on Course. The program provides critical financial support and ongoing mentorship to help three students each year pursue their passions of going to college.

The RSM Shot at College program aligns closely with the mission of Kids on Course, a nonprofit program founded by the Zach Johnson Foundation in cooperation with the Cedar Rapids Community School District. Kids on Course provides tutoring, enrichment, parent engagement strategies and removes barriers to put students on a path to post-secondary success.

Members of the inaugural Kids on Course class are rising seniors who met certain criteria tied to their academic growth and demonstrated a strong record of stewardship within their schools and their communities. Interested students  applied for the RSM Shot at College scholarship by writing essays about pursuing their academic passions and how this scholarship will support their journeys.

Three winners were selected to receive four-year college scholarships valued at $40,000 ($10,000 per year) each and to be paired with mentors from RSM to support them on their collegiate journeys. Those students pursuing degrees aligned with RSM’s business needs who have strong academic performance, will also have opportunites to participate in the RSM Pathways Summer Leadership and internship programs, and were invited to the Zach Johnson Foundation Classic Pro-Am where they had opportunities to earn additional prizes to support their senior classes.

This year’s Shot at College scholarship recipients are:

“The impact the Zach Johnson Foundation and Kids on Course program has had on more than 1,000 children in Cedar Rapids, IA is incredible, and we are excited to partner with Zach and his team to continue to support three of their Kids on Course graduates as they move to the next stage of their journeys – college,” said  Andy Bosman, chief marketing officer with RSM US LLP. “Pacience, Johanna and Ella, as our inaugural RSM Shot at College scholarship winners, have each demonstrated academic excellence, a strong commitment to their communities and values very much aligned with the Zach Johnson Foundation’s as well as RSM’s own core values of respect, integrity, teamwork, excellence and stewardship. We are proud to present each with a four-year college scholarship and we look forward to supporting them on the next step in their journey.”

“Stewardship – which we define as ‘leaving things better than we find them,’ is a value that our people have held dear since our firm was founded 95 years ago in Cedar Rapids,” said Doug Opheim, chief financial officer with RSM US LLP and board chairman for the RSM US Foundation. “Our inaugural class of RSM Shot at College winners is impressive, and we’re honored to be able to support them as they make their dreams reality.”

“RSM has been an incredible partner of not only Zach’s, but of the Zach Johnson Foundation as well,” said Jenny Becker, executive director of the Zach Johnson Foundation. “The RSM Shot at College scholarship program helps remove the financial barrier to post-secondary education and will enable Kids on Course students to focus on their education and achieve their biggest dreams. This scholarship will be transformational in the lives of these students.”

The three winners also had the opportunity to participate in a clinic during the Zach Johnson Foundation Classic for a chance to win additional prizes to prepare for college and put toward a team-building experience for their senior class. PGA TOUR professionals Joel Dahmen, J.T. Poston and Jonathan Byrd helped the winners secure $500 Visa giftcards to purchase new clothes for school, new Bose headphones and laptops to start college, and $10,000 towards a senior class party to celebrate all of their accopmlishments.

The RSM Shot at College 2021 winners were officially announced during the fundraiser gala at the start of the 10th annual Zach Johnson Foundation Classic at the Cedar Rapids DoubleTree by Hilton.