November 1999

COAP Students Reunite

Alumni Events Provide College and Career Advice

By Sanjay Paranandi

To further the goal of providing ongoing college and career advice to its graduates, Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) recently hosted reunions for its 1998 and 1999 alumni.

Sponsored by the NYSSCPA, FAE, academia, and the profession, COAP introduces minority high school juniors to the benefits of an accounting career and helps provide for a more diverse profession. COAP centers around five-day summer residency programs at Pace University in Westchester and Hofstra University on Long Island, where students attend classes in accounting, business, and interpersonal skills taught by CPA role models and visit accounting firms and other businesses. Follow-up programs and mentoring provide the guidance that helps alumni pursue careers in the accounting profession.

Participants from the Pace COAP residency attended an alumni event at the university's Manhattan campus in September; Hofstra hosted its event in October. For COAP '99 alumni, who are now high school seniors, the programs focused primarily on college preparation. Sessions addressed topics such as choosing a college and applying for financial aid and scholarships.

"This event has been a great help to me and will definitely influence the way I approach choosing a college," said Shomari Whyte, a COAP alumnus and Midwood High School senior.

COAP '98 alumni from the Pace residency--who are now in their first year of college--participated in sessions geared directly to them. Topics included time management, resume writing, and interviewing skills, the latter session taught by COAP Advisory Board member Anthony Kendall, who co-chaired the event with fellow member Lynne Byrne and Advisory Board Chair Pat Adams.

At the Pace event, a session on scholarships and internships featured Sanjay Paranandi from the NYSSCPA, Gregory Johnson from the AICPA, Isaac Smith Jr. from the National Association of Black Accountants, and COAP Advisory Board member Pablo Sanchez from the American Association of Hispanic CPAs, each of whom discussed scholarship opportunities available through their respective organizations.

"I never knew there were this many options available to me to help pay for my tuition," said Moriska Selby, an alumna and Washington Irving High School senior.

The Pace program concluded with a session for both classes, "College and Early Career Survival." The panel discussion, moderated by COAP '92 alumnus Damon Duke, now with PricewaterhouseCoopers, featured Gillann Napoloen and Coleen Powell, both COAP alumni currently with Arthur Andersen LLP, and Pace students Joanne Sayers and Antonia Carvalhal-Gonsalves.

Hofstra also hosted an event for the COAP '99 Long Island alumni.

"Our ongoing contact with alumni is an important aspect of the overall impact that COAP has on its participants," said Ed McDougal, Long Island COAP Advisory Board chair.

Hofstra Assistant Dean of Admissions Dean Bennet, the keynote speaker at the Long Island event, spoke about the college admissions and financial aid application processes, and the transition from high school to college. Bennet also answered many questions from students and parents.

In addition to NYSSCPA funding, COAP is supported by donations from individuals, accounting firms, and corporations. See the accompanying article on this page for details on how to contribute. *