UMSL accounting students took first place early this month at the Best Practices competition. The team included (left) Sharon O’Shaughnessy, Keith Black, Tyler Lawson, Brandon Hanlon and Alisha Barnum.
University of Missouri–St. Louis College of Business Administration accounting students won first place in the Best Practices competition earlier this month at the Beta Alpha Psi regional meeting in Lincoln, Neb. The UMSL team will go on to compete in August against at the National Beta Alpha Psi Convention in Denver.
The UMSL team was made up of seniors Brandon Hanlon, Tyler Lawson, Keith Black, Alisha Barnum and graduate student Sharon O’Shaughnessy. Traci Hodges, lecturer in accounting at UMSL, led the team. First place includes a certificate and $500 for the UMSL Beta Alpha Psi chapter.
UMSL students chose the topic “Helping Others Understand the Financial Information Profession.” The team conducted research, designed a presentation and delivered it to seven community college classes across the region, visiting with more than 100 students.
“The professors were very receptive to our students’ presentation and would like for our chapter to come back to deliver the presentation in future semesters,” Hodges said. “We hope the chapter will continue to do the presentation as a community service and outreach activity.”
The Best Practices Competition was sponsored by Deloitte, a collaboration of independent firms throughout the world that provides audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management and tax services to select clients.
The students competed against other area Beta Alpha Psi chapters, including groups from the University of Iowa in Iowa City and Missouri State University in Springfield. Beta Alpha Psi is an honorary organization for financial information students and professionals.
“I am very proud of their efforts. They took personal time during their spring break to provide this information to over 100 community college students,” Hodges said. “I think it demonstrates their dedication to promoting the finance information profession and their commitment to serving others. Their hard work helps to support our chapter, UMSL and the future finance information profession.”
More information:
umsl.edu/divisions/business/accounting
