COAP Puts Minority High School Students on Accounting Track

COAP Puts Minority High School Students on Accounting Track

Another successful year for the Society’s Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) program leaves a group of high school students across New York state thinking more seriously about their futures as accountants.

This year 164 students attended the summer programs to learn practical accounting and business skills, as well as what to expect at college and how to parlay courses into a career.

In recruiting students for COAP from private and public schools, the New York State Society of CPAs focuses on minority groups historically underrepresented in the profession.

The Society supplements this effort to inform high school students about opportunities in the profession with other campaigns, such as chapter-based outreach programs and full-day sessions at NYSSCPA headquarters.

“The committee leading the program at Le Moyne College in Syracuse learned while conducting interviews for COAP that the students had limited knowledge about the accounting profession as a whole,” said Kari M. Dalton, the committee chair. “By the end of COAP, the students felt more comfortable with accounting and had learned about the many opportunities an accounting degree can offer.”

COAP began in 1987 at Pace University and has grown to now include seven New York college campuses. This year the NYSSCPA offered residential programs at Pace University, Hofstra University, Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus (LIU) and College of Saint Rose and commuter programs at Le Moyne College, SUNY Brockport and Westchester Community College (WCC).

The curriculum at the various programs covers accounting concepts, business ethics, college preparation, resume writing, networking, mock interviews, financial statement analysis, case studies, public speaking and how to get scholarships and internships.

In the classrooms and on firm visits, many words of advice and encouragement are doled out to COAP participants.

“Never underestimate where life is going to take you,” said Sophia Cohall, vice president of finance at Marsh Inc. “And then take the time to learn the skills that will take you there.”

Cohall spoke at the Brooklyn LIU campus on the power of effective communication in business and in life.

“COAP is something I wish I had when I was in high school in Brooklyn,” she said.

COAP participants realize their good fortune in having the opportunity to meet other students who are like them and professionals who want to encourage them on the accounting track.

“COAP has made me realize that I need to stay focused in life. Staying around people with good morals, and people who want to go somewhere in life, can help you survive in terms of doing what is positive and avoiding negative environments,” said Tamickqa S. Johnson, an alumnus of COAP’s 2004 program.

The NYSSCPA website includes an extensive description of the COAP program, including an archive of past articles that have appeared in The Trusted Professional. You can find it by going to www.nysscpa.org and clicking on the “Future CPAs” link at the top of the page.