Alexander’s Scholarship Story
Finding His Own Academic Path at LSU
For Alexander Parkhurst, recipient of the Center for Internal Audit General Scholarship, LSU is more than a university — it is a cornerstone of his family’s legacy, shaped by generations of degrees earned at the flagship campus.
“Carrying on the LSU legacy means a lot to me,” he said. “It’s a connecting factor between my family. I can look to my aunt, my uncle, my mom, her aunt or uncle — we’ve all grown up in that same place. We’ve all discovered ourselves in the same place. And LSU has just been a part of our family.”
It wasn’t just the family connection that made LSU stand out to Alexander; it was the academic opportunities and resources the university offered. While LSU had always been on his radar, Alexander explored other options as well. Having lived in both Louisiana and Texas, he felt a unique bond to both places. His twin sister, for example, chose a different path, enrolling at a Texas university close to home. After carefully considering his top choices, Alexander realized LSU’s academic offerings were the perfect fit to propel him toward the future he envisioned.
“I was looking at other places like the University of Houston,” he shared. “But when I compared everything — LSU’s academic programs, campus life, and community — it just felt like home. There was something special about it that made it stand out. It felt like the right place for me, and in the end, it was an easy decision.”
At LSU, Alexander found himself captivated by the intersection of business and technology. He chose to major in business analytics, a field that would offer the opportunity to couple his natural aptitude for numbers with his desire to solve complex problems. The academic challenges of this major have been rewarding, and Alexander credits LSU with helping him hone his skills in ways that will serve him well in his career.
“I’ve always loved solving problems and working with data — the reason I wanted to do business analytics is because I wanted to do statistics,” he said. “But at LSU, I was able to merge that passion with my growing interest in [other] issues. The university offered so many opportunities for me to expand my horizons and explore different fields.”
As part of his academic journey, Alexander also discovered a passion for internal auditing, a field that aligns perfectly with his analytical skills and keen attention to detail. LSU’s internal auditing program, known for its comprehensive curriculum and real-world application, provided Alexander with the knowledge and experience to dive into this specialized area.
He said he views it as an opportunity to combine his business background with a deeper understanding of organizational processes and controls. “With internal auditing, you get to see various aspects of a company — different projects the company is working on, the financials, your view of the company through [the lens of] risk. Coming from my background of statistics, I’m dealing in hard, quantifiable elements. But risk is intangible. It’s like a puzzle piece that fits perfectly with my skill set.”
Alexander quickly saw the value of the program. “It was difficult, but it’s been a phenomenal experience,” he said. An aspect of internal auditing that stood out to him was the varied opportunities it provided to examine different parts of a company.
Another unique feature of the internal auditing program is its internship placement process. Each year, companies from a wide range of industries participate in a networking event during which students are “drafted” by companies based on their skill sets.
“About 15 to 30 companies come to LSU to interview students for internship opportunities,” he explained. “It’s like a fantasy football draft. Companies pick students based on their preferences, and you get the chance to interview.” Through this process, Alexander secured an internship with an oil and gas company in San Antonio. During his summer internship, he had the chance to participate in full-scale audits of specific areas of the company, and he will return this summer.
Receiving his scholarship has given Alexander the financial freedom to fully immerse himself in his studies and internships. As he reflected on the impact of these experiences, Alexander expressed his gratitude, saying, “It really means a lot — not just to me, but to every student affected by scholarships. Thank you to the donors for letting me experience LSU.”