Published on November 14, 2018 by Morgan Black  
Beta Alpha Psi

Beta Alpha Psi, an international honor society for accounting and finance students, named its Superior Chapters for the 2017-2018 academic year. Samford University’s chapter, Kappa Pi, housed in Brock School of Business and supervised by accounting instructor Michelle Newberry, was once again included on the list for outstanding efforts during the year.

“Recognition as a Superior Chapter is a significant accomplishment, said Beta Alpha Psi President Alexandra L. Miller in a letter to Dean Howard Finch. “Under the leadership of Michelle Newberry, the Kappa Pi chapter has far exceeded the baseline requirements of Beta Alpha Psi and has excelled in the areas of academics, professionalism and leadership.”

To be considered for Beta Alpha Psi admittance, a student must hold a 3.0 GPA or higher and is required to complete 12 or more hours of professional development and 12 or more hours of community service.

During the year, the Kappa Pi chapter engaged in many professional development events including two accounting career nights; conferences in Birmingham, Alabama and Anaheim, California; resume building and professional etiquette workshops; and presentations about the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, ethical decision making, global mobility opportunities and the Master of Accountancy Program.

For community service, the chapter completed projects such as a Christmas card writing campaign for deployed military members, Project Angel Tree and tutoring. They also volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House through the Samford Gives Back campaign. 

After the 2017-2018 academic year, more than 90 percent of the seniors who are members of the Kappa Pi chapter returned for their senior year with internship offers that will most likely lead to full-time job opportunities following graduation. These internships will take place from January – March of 2019 before returning to campus to complete their undergraduate degrees.

The officers for the 2017-2018 chapter included President Taylor Hartman, Vice President Gabrielle Phillips, Treasurer Greg Buzska, Director of Outreach Elizabeth Southall, Director of Community Service McKay Richardson, Recording Secretary Mary Katherine Stanley, Director of Publicity Nic Connelly and Junior Officer Meghan VanAmburgh.

As a Superior Chapter, the group received a $500 reward sponsored by KPMG and the KPMG Foundation.

“We are proud that our Beta Alpha Psi chapter was recognized as superior,” said Alan Blankley, chair of the Department of Accounting. “This recognition is a great achievement for our students and a testament to their hard work as well as the outstanding leadership provided by Professor Newberry.”

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.