Student Activities
Making a difference
Participating in extracurricular activities makes a difference for students by enhancing their understanding of how to apply academic studies to real-world situations. They also have opportunities to network with accounting professionals and to explore career options. Additionally, our students make a difference in the lives of others when they volunteer for a variety of activities in student organizations and for community service.
IRS: Criminal Investigations Citizen Academy
The Accounting Department and the Accounting Club partnered with the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations (IRS: CI) division to bring this first-time event to Texas State. Thirty students teamed up with 20 IRS: CI Special Agents to investigate simulated white-collar crimes in multiple scenarios. They "followed the money" (and surveilled some "suspects") using real-world techniques and they also learned how to collect evidence and navigate the federal judicial system. The event was suggested by Jacob Pozos (BBA '24), an Accounting Club member who works full-time as a Tax Examiner at the IRS. "Students interested in forensic accounting or fraud examination, many of whom did not know about IRS: CI, got a hands-on experience in a unique career path. IRS: CI is the organization that inspired me to pursue my education in accounting and I am so pleased other students had the opportunity to learn from the Special Agents at the Academy!" Two MAcy students, Anderson Berndt and Victoria Szalapki, portrayed characters in one scenario that depicted a mail fraud scheme. The event was held April 21.
Northside School of Innovation, Technology, & Entrepreneurship
April 4, 2023 marked the 19th consecutive year for the Department of Accounting to give a presentation as part of an outreach program to students at Northside School of Innovation, Technology & Entrepreneurship (NSITE) in San Antonio. At this diversified, magnet high school, students concentrate their studies in the fields of business, CIS, and STEM disciplines. Our "Planning for College" presentations have reached an average of 350 students per year for a total of almost 6,000 students. This year six representatives from the Department of Accounting gave presentations: students Julia Donnelly (BBA '23), and Jacob Pozos (BBA '24) and faculty and counselors: Laurie Brown, Linda Campbell, Bruce Howard, and Ana Hernandez-Acevedo.
VITA Tax Assistance
The IRS has operated the VITA program (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) for more than 50 years, providing free tax help to qualified taxpayers. This includes those who earn $60,000 or less in income, are disabled, &/or are limited English-speaking. These taxpayers receive assistance because of thousands of volunteers, including college students and instructors. Each year, Texas State accounting majors receive required IRS training so they can volunteer to provide this valuable service to our community. Eight students were involved in our VITA program this year with notable contributions from Faith McCoy (MAcy '23), Desiree Blanco (BBA '23), Shawn Arthur (BBA '24), and Seth Turman (BBA '23). Together, all our student volunteers prepared more than 70 tax returns and generated more than $70,000 in refunds for clients. Shawn prepared the most returns and worked the most volunteer hours. This year marked a milestone for Texas State. The University was recognized by the IRS because our VITA clinic has generated a cumulative total more than half a million dollars in refunds for clients.
Accounting Ambassadors
A select group of accounting majors are chosen as Ambassadors each year. When a student is asked to participate in this group, they are distinguished as an active student leader and as a representative of the Department of Accounting. They help organize and host multiple departmental and recruiting events such as Meet the Firms, Mock Interviews, and Spring Fest. This year's Ambassadors include: Blake Carlisle (BBA '24); Gabriela Cisneros (BBA '25); Jacob Pozos (BBA '24); Meelena Spikes (BBA '25); Abigail Sticker (BBA '23); and Katherine Trujillo (BBA '23). Faculty Advisor is Alexandra Hampshire
Accounting Club
Any Texas State student interested in accounting may join the Accounting Club. The organization provides students with insights on how to prepare for interviews and opportunities to meet accounting professionals, and to network with other students and alumni. One of this year's meetings was combined with Beta Alpha Psi and the National Association of Black Accountants and featured a special guest speaker, Russell Golden, retired FASB chair and current Chair of the PwC Independent Assurance Quality Advisory Committee. His topic was Your Career, Your Choices. Some other topics and speakers this year included:
- How to Get & Keep Your Dream Job by Nick Pereira (Tesla); Trevi Kelley (Texas State Comptroller's Office); Anna Tallent, Andrea Reinke, & Paul Truax (Ernst & Young)
- CMA & Intermediate Excel Tips by Mike Lovelace & Brian Butler (Institute of Management Accountants-San Antonio)
- Careers in Fraud Examination & the CFE by Morgan Page, Paulina Rocha Salas, and Sam Cooper (Weaver)
- IRS: CI Careers & Qualifications by T.J. Lato, IRS: CI Special Agent
- AI, RPA & Why Accountants Won't Disappear by Amy Igou (University of Northern Iowa) and Mike Whitmire (CEO, Floqast) and Scott Hayden (Account Manager, Floqast)
Officers
Desiree Blanco (BBA '23), president; Seth Turman (BBA '23); vice president, spring; Bella Calvo (BBA '24), vice president, fall; Joshua Rubio (BBA '24), vice president-communications; Grant Pattison (BBA '23), treasurer; and Drew Mattinson (BBA '24), assistant treasurer. Faculty Advisor is Carolyn Conn
Beta Alpha Psi
As the international honorary and service organization for majors in accounting, finance, and information systems at accredited universities, Beta Alpha Psi provides student members with professional training by experts in the accounting profession and promotes community service. Members also assist the Department of Accounting in producing our Meet the Firms and other recruiting events. Some of our service activities include Bobcat Build and the Great Texas River Cleanup. We also attend the Beta Alpha mid-year conference and meet with other chapters from across the country. We are proud that four of our six officers earned academic scholarships from McCoy College and other sources.
Officers
Hailey Cabaniss (BBA '24) & Sarah Whalen (BBA '23), co-presidents; Jill Bunselmeyer (BBA '23), VP-Reporting; Madison Blevins (BBA '23), VP-Treasurer; Julia Donnelly (BBA '23), VP-Social Media; and Jacob Pozos (BBA '24), VP-Volunteer Events. Faculty Advisors are Laurie Brown and Keith Kebodeaux.
IMA Student Case Competition
The Institute of Management Accountants sponsors an annual Student Case Competition in the United States and in multiple countries around the world. This year, three undergraduates worked together to prepare a submission for the U.S. event. The team included: Elizabeth (Beth) Berry (BBA '23); Toby Small (BBA '23); and Katherine Trujillo (BBA '23). Each year's competition requires teams to evaluate specific issues for a hypothetical business and prepare their recommended strategies and solutions. This year's case involved segment analysis for a resort hotel and development of performance metrics. Toby emphasizes the benefits of competing. "Although we did not advance to the Elite Eight, I am extremely proud of our team's work and dedication. The competition allowed us to explore some of the more complex concepts in cost accounting. Working with a team generated a range of ideas and perspectives and we also fine-tuned our presentation skills."
National Association of Black Accountants
Our NABA student chapter is one of 200 affiliated with the U.S. nonprofit professional association that represents the interests of more than 200,000 black professionals in furthering their educational and professional goals in accounting, finance, and related business professions. All students are welcome to join Texas State's NABA organization to learn more about their profession and to get to know other students with similar interests. The group welcomes all students; membership is not restricted to accounting majors. Highlights of this academic year were presentations from more than 25 businesses, including public accounting firms, investment companies, and technology companies. NABA Day was the first such event that we hosted here at Texas State. It drew more than 70 students, including members of other NABA chapters from nearby universities. During summer 2023, a group of our Texas State members will travel to Louisiana to attend the NABA National Conference.
Officers
Olasubomi (Ola) Adewodu (BBA '23), president; Matthew Applewhite (BBA '23), secretary (fall) and vice president (spring); Xavier Oliphant (BBA '24), secretary; Nia Moffett (BBA '22), vice president (fall); Andres Vizcarra, treasurer (BBA '25); and Kennedy Burrus (BBA '23), social media chair. Faculty Advisor is Jerome (Jerry) McWilliams.