WICPA names college ambassadors at three Wisconsin universities

Posted by AccountingWEB on Oct 10 2010 1024 printer friendly

Kevin Block, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Jill Brown, a student at Marquette University, and Tracy Werner, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater have been named College Ambassador by the Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants (WICPA) Educational Foundation, Inc.

Now in its third year, the College Ambassador Program, which aims to attract students to the accounting profession, is being offered at Marquette University, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater this school year.

One student from each University has been chosen to be the College Ambassador for the school. They will inspire students to consider accounting as a career path through peer-to-peer networking events on campus.

“My goal is to inform students that accounting is more than just numbers and journal entries,” said Block. “Students should be aware of what accountants actually do and the many opportunities an accounting degree offers.”

The Ambassadors receive a $1,200 scholarship from the WICPA Educational Foundation to be applied toward tuition. They also receive a free CPA Exam review course provided by Kaplan CPA Review, as well as a student membership to the WICPA.

In turn, they are expected to commit 15 hours each month to promoting the accounting profession. The students report to a designated professor and also provide written reports each month to the WICPA.

Goals of the College Ambassador Program include:

Inform students enrolled in introductory through junior-level accounting classes about career opportunities in accounting
Break down stereotypes that might deter student interest in declaring an accounting major
Reach out to students who are not currently enrolled in accounting courses to make them aware of the opportunities in accounting
Mobilize college accounting majors to become spokespersons for the CPA profession

“We are excited to promote opportunities available in the accounting profession through the students who have been selected for our College Ambassador Program,” said Gregory L. Ryan, office managing partner with KPMG LLP in Milwaukee and board member of the WICPA Educational Foundation.

“The demand for accountants continues to remain strong due to an enhanced focus on increased accountability, transparency, and controls in financial reporting and continued convergenceor conversionfrom U.S. GAAP to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS),” Ryan said.

The College Ambassador program is funded by the WICPA Educational Foundation through contributions made from WICPA members. The college campuses were selected by a WICPA Educational Foundation Selection Committee. The foundation hopes to expand this program to other college campuses in future years.

About the Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants:

The WICPA is a professional organization for Wisconsin CPAs, with more than 8,000 members working in public accounting, industry, government, and education. Like other professionals, certified public accountants are required to obtain additional education, take a rigorous exam and become certified.

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