Student Spotlight: Kiylah Muhammad-Drinks Honored with Prestigious Accounting Scholarship

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Central State University Honors College student Kiylah Muhammad-Drinks, a Cincinnati native and Class of 2027 accounting major, is continuing to make her mark on campus and in her field. This year, she was awarded the 2025 Rosemarie Pamela Brown Scholarship from the Alliance of Black Women Accountants (ABWA), a national recognition that also earned her a commendation from the State of California. 

For Muhammad-Drinks, the journey to Central State began long before she enrolled. Her older sister, a 2016 graduate, introduced her to the university’s energy and community. Those early visits left a lasting impression. 

“I remember visiting during different events when I was younger and being inspired by the strong sense of community and unity on campus,” she said. “I knew I wanted to carry on that legacy, attend an HBCU, and create my own story among like-minded individuals who look like me and are all striving to succeed in a system that was never built for us.” 

Since arriving at CSU, Muhammad-Drinks has excelled academically and been supported through several scholarships, including the Luther Vandross Scholarship, the Honors College Scholarship, two College of Business scholarships, awards from the Central State Cincinnati ‘Star’ Alumni Chapter, and the Minority Empowerment Initiative Trust Grant, among others. 

Her long-term goal is to open her own accounting firm offering both traditional and community-centered services. She envisions a firm that hosts financial literacy workshops for families, provides mentorship opportunities, and creates pathways for students of color to enter the accounting profession. 

“I want to be the resource I wish my family had growing up,” she said. “I also plan to create internship and mentorship programs for students like me to help them get real-world experience and feel empowered to join the 2% of Black accountants.” 

On campus, Muhammad-Drinks stays active as a member of the Beta Xi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the Accounting Club, the Crownd Organization, and the Honors Student Association.

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Her most recent honor—the Rosemarie Pamela Brown Scholarship, holds particular significance. The award was established by ABWA to honor its founder and late president, Rosemarie Pamela Brown, whose career in public accounting often meant being the only woman of color in the room. Her experiences fueled a mission to uplift and support future generations through mentorship, education, and expanded access to the profession. 

The scholarship, created about five years ago, continues Brown’s legacy by empowering women of color pursuing accounting degrees. At this year’s scholarship banquet in Ontario, California, Muhammad-Drinks connected with professionals across the industry and gained valuable insight into navigating the field. 

“The experience allowed me to network with so many professionals and gather information that will help me as I continue to grow,” she said. 

For Muhammad-Drinks, the recognition is more than a scholarship, it is another step toward transforming the accounting landscape for those who will come after her.