Grant Ebert embraced campus involvement during his time at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, serving in leadership roles with the Accounting Club, Dean’s Student Advisory Board and Triton Radio while earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting. (Photo by Derik Holtmann)
Early in his freshman year at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, Grant Ebert was too shy to enter his first Accounting Club meeting.
The student standing in the hallway could hardly have imagined that one day he would serve as president of the organization, sit on a student advisory board for the dean of the Ed G. Smith College of Business and co-host a weekly show for Triton Radio. The transformation reflected not only Ebert’s growing confidence but willingness to fully embrace the opportunities and community he found at UMSL.
“I had no idea when I came to UMSL what they offer as far as the student organizations or advisory boards or anything, really,” said Ebert, who recently earned a master’s degree in accounting. “I thought I was just going to show up for class and go home every day, but I soon figured out that there’s really a connection here that students can make and opportunities that other universities might not offer. That really helped me step out of my comfort zone.”
A native of Fredericktown, Missouri, Ebert entered UMSL in August 2022 already interested in becoming a certified public accountant. A relative from Poplar Bluff who was in the profession had turned him onto the idea, and Ebert felt that being a CPA would open the potential for good career growth and a healthy financial future. Ebert was also relatively certain he could get a job in the industry that would allow him to stay close to Fredericktown.
Having earned 30 college credits while a student at Fredericktown High School, Ebert was looking for a path to a master’s degree that would quickly prepare him for a meaningful and prosperous career. Through a bit of his own research, Ebert found that graduates of UMSL’s accounting department passed the CPA exam at a significantly higher rate than most universities in the St. Louis region. It also didn’t hurt that Ebert’s mother, Stephanie, had graduated from UMSL’s College of Nursing in 1996, or that his sister, Olivia, was transferring to UMSL from Arkansas State University to finish up her master’s degree in social work.
“UMSL just offered more of what I wanted for my college academic career,” Ebert said.
Unbeknownst to Ebert, UMSL would also offer him an even quicker route to the finish line.
About midway through his undergraduate studies, Ebert – who received a bachelor’s degree in accounting in May 2025 – said his advisor in the College of Business, Sierra Phipps, told him about the Accelerated Master’s program for accounting. Ebert learned that he could take a handful of classes as an undergrad that would count for master’s level credit while still at the cost of undergraduate tuition. That was a no-brainer for Ebert, and just another sign that the people at UMSL were looking out for his best interests.
“Sierra didn’t have to inform me about the program,” he said, “but she knew I wanted to complete my degree the quickest I could, and I think it was the perfect speed.”
In the end, Ebert was able to earn both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just four years. And the 22-year-old has already accepted a job offer with Maloney, Wright & Robbins, an accounting firm in Farmington, Missouri, for whom Ebert served an internship during the summer of 2024, primarily assisting with governmental audits. Ebert said his start date will be in November, which will allow him to study intensely for the CPA exam.
“I totally respect Grant for jumping in with both feet,” said Associate Teaching Professor Marcia Countryman, faculty advisor for the Accounting Club. “He did a great job making the most of all his opportunities at UMSL.”
Ebert, who also was an intern at CliftonLarsenAllen in the summer of 2025, took advantage of those opportunities while living in an apartment on South Campus with his sister until she graduated in December 2023. He remained in on-campus housing with a roommate from Taiwan for the rest of his time at UMSL, which Ebert believes helped him build a real connection with the campus. He would often walk around campus, especially on the nicer days, perhaps heading to the Millennium Student Center for a meal at The Nosh, or to study at the Fireside Lounge, then maybe make a run to the Recreation and Wellness Center after it got dark.
“This was home for about four years,” Ebert said. “I got to spend a lot more time than I think most students do, and I definitely think that it helped me open up some opportunities, because I was recognized by some of the faculty in the College of Business, and I also got to meet some other students and form some friendships there.”
Many of the friendships were developed through Ebert’s participation in the Accounting Club. After his initial shyness, Ebert became a regular attendee of club meetings, and given his close proximity and willingness to get involved, he was quick to volunteer at club events and activities.
Ebert was selected as an officer of the club for his second year, then became the vice president over his third and final year as an undergraduate student. For 2025-26, Ebert was named the club’s president, and Countryman said Ebert, who served as her teaching assistant over the past year, was the perfect personification of the club’s mission to provide students with the tools for success.
Countryman also touted Ebert as the Accounting Club’s unofficial “idea man,” always coming up with suggestions for team-building events or new ways to celebrate club members and increase alumni engagement. It was Ebert’s idea for club officers to wear stoles during graduation ceremonies. He developed a LinkedIn page for the Accounting Club to open a line of communication with current students and alumni. Ebert also created what he called the Marcia Countryman Excellence Award, with a plaque he purchased that will be annually awarded to a deserving club member.
“What student does that kind of stuff?” Countryman said. “Grant is definitely leaving behind a legacy at UMSL. He loves the community environment, he loves the community spirit and he loves to share with people that he can touch. He just loves to help others.”
Ebert also brought that desire as a member of the Dean’s Student Advisory Board, meeting regularly over the past two years with College of Business Dean Shu Schiller.
“Grant Ebert represents the best example of growth through academics, leadership and professional preparation while being a student in the Ed G. Smith College of Business,” Schiller said. “He is thoughtful, confident and always ready to serve. Grant has contributed many great ideas and led multiple initiatives that benefit all business students in addition to leading the Accounting Club. I have seen his continuing growth into an excellent leader and young professional.”
That growth was evident on the campus airwaves as well. Last winter, Ebert and his friend Josh Maichel, who was also a master’s student in accounting, saw an announcement seeking DJs for Triton Radio. Having spent so much time listening to the station and noticing people in the broadcast booth that is visible in the MSC rotunda, the two decided to sign up for training, and they soon began co-hosting “The J and G Radio Hour” every Wednesday at 3 p.m.
“It’s pretty neat that we could come in here and play our own music and have kind of a talk show,” Ebert said. “I never envisioned four years ago that I would have my own radio show.”
Though Ebert is prepared to begin his next chapter, he said leaving UMSL will be difficult because the campus became far more than a place to attend classes. Between student organizations, campus housing, faculty mentors and friendships formed along the way, UMSL evolved into a second home.
“I’m going to miss being on campus,” he said, “and just the opportunities that are here.”
