FIU Business receives gift to establish new accounting scholarship program

FIU’s College of Business received a $500,000 gift from business and civic leader Antonio “Tony” Argiz and his wife Concepcion “Conchi” Argiz to establish an endowment that will provide student scholarships.

The Argiz Family Eminent Scholarship Endowment will provide full tuition support for top students in the School of Accounting who demonstrate academic excellence and financial need.

“I was a first-generation college student and came to FIU on a baseball scholarship and with Pell Grants and various other government assistance programs,” said Argiz, chairman and CEO of Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra (MBAF), a business he has led to become one of the nation’s top 40 accounting firms and the largest Florida-based firm. “Most of the students today are no different than who I was, and they need help.”

Four undergraduate students who are in or are entering their junior or senior year will receive up to $10,000 each year to cover tuition, fees, books and other expenses. Scholarship recipients will be recognized as an Argiz Family Eminent Scholar.

“We are very grateful to the Argiz family for this gift, which will provide the financial support that so many of our students need to succeed in college,” said Joanne Li, dean of FIU Business. “Scholarship endowments are particularly impactful and important as they provide financial support for students year after year in perpetuity.”

Scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to meet with Argiz over lunch on an annual basis, a mentoring opportunity that will allow them to ask questions and receive guidance.

Since taking the reins of MBAF in 1997, Argiz has grown its revenue from $8 million to more than $130 million. MBAF is also repeatedly cited as one of the 25 best managed accounting firms by INSIDE Public Accounting.

At the same time, Argiz has worked tirelessly to support the Miami-Dade community. One of his favorite causes is FIU, which he credits for not only launching his career but connecting him with Conchi, his wife of 43 years. Argiz joined the inaugural class of FIU’s accounting program in 1972 and received his bachelor’s degree in business administration two years later.