40th Anniversary
Posted by Joseph Phillips, Jr. on Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 10:41 AM PDT
There are many end-of-the academic year events, but one that I always look forward to is the Accounting Awards Banquet. This year marked the 40th consecutive year for the event. Forty years - that is an impressive run for the Department of Accounting!!
Dave Tinius was on the podium this year as co-moderator of Beta Alpha Psi (BAP -- the accounting honorary). Since Dave was involved in organizing the first award dinner, he was able to tell us that the first dinner took place in Campion Hall (as did the fortieth) and was organized to commemorate the launch of our Beta Alpha Psi chapter. Dave noted that Campion looks better now than it did in 1973!
Twenty-two different awards were bestowed on our accounting students. Angela Bever, BAP president, received the BAP Leadership Award. Michael Watson, the incoming BAP president, received the BAP Outstanding member Award. Alex Mena received the BAP Community Service Award.
The BAP students involved in the ceremony, such as Angela and Michael, were very poised and professional. They made their faculty very, very proud!
Our BAP chapter had a great year in 2011-12. It was one of seven chapters in the nation to receive the prestigious Gold Chapter Award. They also received two best practice awards at the BAP regional meeting, and one of them will now be competing for national recognition at the BAP national meeting in August (a financial literacy program done with Girl Scouts of America).
Mary Carpenter received the Chair's Award, which goes to the staff member who provides exceptional service to the Department of Accounting. Since Mary is on sick leave, she was not present to receive the award, but the presentation was taped for her viewing pleasure!
One of the critical success factors for our Department of Accounting is the strong support it receives from the accounting professional community. Prior to the dinner, the department advisory board had met and everyone was buzzing about what a great meeting it was. The advisory board is pushing the department to take on a new strategic initiative, and not only that, stepping up to provide support for the project. Advisory board members were joined by other accounting professionals at the reception and the banquet. It was all an impressive display of support from the accounting community.
Despite being on sabbatical this quarter, Department Chair Bruce Koch was there to MC the event. [I have to admit that we ended up asking Bruce to do a lot even though he was supposed to be on sabbatical - I guess that means we cannot really get along without him.] With his self-deprecating sense of humor, Bruce was able to keep the audience engaged throughout the ceremony. Fortunately, he eased up on his normal supply of puns! :}
Congratulations are in order for the Department of Accounting on the occasion of the 40th year of its awards banquet! Talk about sustainability!!