IMA Dr. Royal E. Knight Endowed Scholarship

This endowed scholarship was established by the Muscle Shoals Capter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), family members and friends to honor the life and work of Dr. Royal E. Knight. Dr. Knight served as the Chair of the Department of Accounting and Business Law at the University of North Alabama from 1981-1998. The first accounting professor in the department with a doctorate, Dr. Knight led the department in establishing a graduate accounting concentration in the MBA program. Dr. Knight was a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) who championed the field of management accounting by encouraging students and alumni to prepare for this challenging career. Dr. Knight was a great leader and friend to the University, the Muscle Shoals Chapter of the IMA, the accounting profession, and the Shoals community. He was greatly respected for his integrity, sterling character, and courage. Students and alunmi were motivated and uplifted by his words of encouragement and his example of facing advdersity with strength and resilience. The recipient recommendations will be selected by the Accounting Scholarship Committee. A candidate for this scholarship award must have min GPA 3.0 in undergraduate accounting courses. Preference will be given to graduate students pursuing the Accounting Concentration in UNA’s Master of Business Administration program, who have indicated an interested in management accounting, which could include a goal for CMA exam. In the event that an MBA student with an Accounting Concentration cannot be identified, The scholarship will be awarded to a senior accounting major.