CPP Student Spotlight: Beta Alpha Psi

The College of Professional Programs is very proud to highlight Beta Alpha Psi (BAP), an organization of students pursuing degrees and careers in accounting, finance, and information systems.

EWU’s Beta Alpha Psi, Delta Sigma Chapter (#110), strives to shape the future of financial and business information professions by helping club members develop into ethical, professional, and confident leaders. Membership is open to all EWU undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate students with an interest in accounting, finance, or information systems. 

Beta Alpha Psi members are EWU’s top accounting and finance students! They are driven, passionate, and ready to take their future careers seriously. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with BAP members the past 4 years. I have gotten to watch each of them grow and become more confident throughout their time as members.

–Nikki Schroeder, Faculty Advisor 

BAP has a three-fold focus of presenting available career path opportunities, providing networking opportunities with like-minded peers and professionals, and creating opportunities to give back to the community through organized and individual service events. Despite the pandemic, BAP has continued efforts to connect students with a variety of professionals. 

The mission of Beta Alpha Psi, the premier international honor and service organization for financial and business information students and professionals, is to inspire and support excellence by: encouraging the study and practice of accountancy, finance, and information systems; providing opportunities for service, professional development, and interaction among members and financial professionals; and fostering lifelong ethical, social, and public responsibilities.

There are various ways club members can learn and network with finance and accounting professionals. Every other Thursday, from 5 – 6 pm during each quarter, professionals present topics related to their various fields. “May will be a busy month for our organization,” reports Vice President of Events, Tina Meland. The club is working with EWU Career Center on an event featuring free professional headshots followed by a presentation by LinkedIn. Read more here.  The club will wrap up the month’s activities by hosting the Spring Banquet for all finance and accounting students on Wednesday, May 25. Students can register here: https://ewu.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1037180.

In addition to networking opportunities and career path exploration, members describe other benefits of membership. According to Mike Hays, current Vice President of Membership, “anyone wanting to pursue a career in accounting or a related field can benefit through participation in Beta Alpha Psi.”

Beyond the jobs and networking opportunities provided by the club, it is a community. Having attended a national event virtually, it is very apparent to me that while certain aspects of our chapter are unique, the overall culture of the organization is relatively uniform across the country. This uniformity makes it easy to relate to members from other chapters and alumni of the organization.

–Mike Hays

. . . my communication and leadership skills are continuously improving. I have enjoyed networking with local CPA firm professionals through the chapter’s events. I have had the opportunity to work with a great team this year. The other officers continue to contribute their skills and time to the organization. I love my team and we love to work together.

–Julie Moore

Being a BAP officer on top of doing school and working full time has been challenging, but it is really worth the effort. I was able to network with many firms and have many ideas for my career path…

–Linh Nguyen

Julie Moore, the current club President, has clear advice for EWU students- 

Join Beta Alpha Psi as early as you can if you are interested in accounting or finance. By becoming a candidate member, you will start building your professional reputation, create relationships with fellow members, develop better communication skills, and enhance your university experience.

–Julie Moore

Through networking, service work, and club involvement, members of BAP have clearly formed strong bonds. Current Treasurer Linh Nguyen, like other club members, would like to stay in touch. “The BAP officers have been a solid supporter team for me during senior year at EWU. I have learned so much from each of them and would love to hear about everyone’s journey.” Others, like Mike Hays, also plan to assist BAP as an alumni member throughout their careers. 

To learn more about the Delta Sigma Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, visit: https://www.ewu.edu/cpp/business/student-organizations/beta-alpha-psi/