PNW Chapter Scholarships
There are three scholarships programs available to students.
The Joseph R. Dervaes and Robert A. Goehring Scholarships are for full-time university students seeking a major or minor in accounting, business administration, finance, criminal justice, or related programs. In 2026, each scholarship is valued at $2,500.
The chapter will also award a Horizons scholarship valued at $1,500. This scholarship is available to undergraduate students at any level who are considering a career in an antifraud-related field.
All scholarship applicants must be enrolled in a college or university in the State of Washington when they apply, and they must remain enrolled during the academic year the scholarship is awarded for.
NEach scholarship awarded in 2026 is valued at $2,500.
Application information can be found here.
Joseph R. Dervaes Scholarship
This scholarship is named after the founder and former president of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the ACFE. Joe was a fraud fighter for over 40 years, giving 25 years in service to the Chapter during that time. He founded the Chapter in 1993 and is the chapter's only President Emeritus. In 1995 he was awarded the first Chapter Distinguished Achievement and is the only one of four people to attend 25 ACFE Annual Fraud Conferences. In 2021, Joe was inducted into the ACFE's Hall of Fame. | Robert A. Goehring Scholarship
This scholarship is named after a former president of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the ACFE. Robert was a fraud fighter for over 35 years, giving over 20 years in service to the Chapter during that time, including six years as the Chapter President. Robert served in the Washington State Auditor’s Office for 15 years, including three years with Special Investigations, then with the City of Kent for over 20 years as the City Auditor.
|
Congratulations to our 2025 Scholarship Recipients!
Pictured: Brandon Tuato'o and Joseph R. Dervaes Brandon Tuato’o, St. Martin’s University Joseph R. Dervaes Scholarship Brandon Tuato’o graduates from St. Martin’s University this year with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He’ll then enter St. Martin’s Master of Science in Accounting program. Brandon’s particularly interested in the master’s program’s fraud examination course, which includes preparation for the CFE exam. He also plans to become a CPA and work as an auditor to help companies remediate fraud. . |
Brooke Melburn, Eastern Washington University Robert A. Goehring Scholarship Brooke Melburn is a junior at Eastern Washington University and expects to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 2027. Before she transferred from Pacific Lutheran University, she took a study abroad course that included an internship in Tobago’s probation office. She saw how people working in the criminal justice system can make a difference in their communities. |
.jpg)
Pictured: Robert A Goehring and Katie Robinson (PNW ACFE Board President)