HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GET FIRST LOOK AT AN ACCOUNTING CAREER
National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and Southern Methodist University Offer Week-long Residency Program to Introduce Accounting and Business-related fields as a College Major/Career Choice
DALLAS, Texas (June 6, 2005) -- Choosing a major is a big decision for college-bound high school students. While some know exactly what they want to do, others may still be undecided. That's where the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and SMU's Cox School of Business can help. These organizations have come together to introduce 40 high school students to careers in accounting and related fields through the Accounting Career Awareness Program (ACAP), which will be hosted June 26- July 1, 2005 at SMU's Cox School of Business in Dallas. Interested minority high school sophomores, juniors and seniors are encouraged to apply.
The program is fully-supervised and free to participants with room and board, transportation and curriculum materials paid through donations from leading accounting firms, businesses and professionals that partner with NABA.
Of the more than 60 sophomores, juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who applied for the program last year, only 40 were chosen to participate. While at SMU, this year's participants will have access to the business school's top professors in accounting and finance. SMU Cox will also award five $4,000 scholarships to top participants choosing to attend SMU. The scholarships are $1,000 each year for up to four years provided the student enrolls at SMU and maintains a 3.0 GPA and accounting major. In addition, ACAP is offering a $1,000 scholarship.
"Each year we have the pleasure of getting to know 40 new, bright students and facilitate their awareness of the university experience and rewards," said Steve Denson, Director of Diversity for the Cox School of Business. "This program is a wonderful way to introduce high school students to the expectations they should have of college while preparing them for the challenges and showing them the increased quality of life and earning potential a college graduate will have in today's world."
The week-long program features seminars, workshops and keynote addresses on the accounting profession, plus a tailored curriculum that features an overview of finance and business careers through guest lecturers, SMU Cox faculty and local professionals. Highlights of the week-long residency program will include a tour of the Southwest Airlines' headquarters, a site visit to Deloitte & Touche, and an Executive Roundtable sponsored by Ernst & Young. The program concludes with a banquet on Friday, July 1, 2005 sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Burlington Northern Rail Road, JC Penney, Southwest Search, L.L. C., Dr. Pepper/7-UP, Frito-Lay, XTO Energy Inc., TSCPA, the Dallas Chapter and other business professionals. SMU will provide room and board during the week of study.
ACAP Background and History
The primary objective of ACAP is to increase the number of high school students from underrepresented ethnic groups that attend college and major in accounting and its related business fields. Through ACAP's efforts, students receive educational enrichment experiences and practical help needed for college preparation and a career in accounting. The program also features a financial game geared toward helping the students to incorporate financial planning as a must along with career building and compete for a $1,000 scholarship for seniors only.
ACAP began in 1980 when NABA recognized the need for a program that would direct African-Americans and other underrepresented ethnic groups towards the accounting/business profession. Realizing that preparation for a professional career begins in junior and senior high school, the Seattle Chapter of NABA designed a pilot program that could mark a turning point in the academic lives of secondary students, motivating them to pursue a higher education.
June 2005 is the fifth year for the local program. In 2000, ACAP began in Dallas with 20 students and that number has increased each year. Today, ACAP programs exist in nearly 20 major cities across the United States, including Los Angeles, Calif., Washington D.C., and Chicago, Ill.
Please contact Nora Ramzy, ACAP Coordinator for more information or to apply to attend ACAP at nramzy01@sbcglobal.net for a schedule of events.
SMU's Cox School of Business offers a full range of business education programs, from BBA and full-time MBA to Professional MBA (PMBA), Executive MBA (EMBA), Masters of Science in Accounting, and Executive Education. With educational experiences like the SMU Cox Business Leadership Center (BLC), Caruth Institute of Entrepreneurship, American Airlines Global Leadership Program (GLP), and the Associate Board Executive Mentoring Program combined with an international alumni outreach of more than 28,000, it is no wonder SMU Cox is ranked among the top business schools nationally and internationally by major publications including BusinessWeek, Economist Financial Times, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and U.S. News & World Report. At SMU's Cox School of Business, what happens in the classroom is just the beginning.
