December 2000

COAP Program Holds Alumni Session at Pace University

To further the goal of providing ongoing college and career advice to its graduates, Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) hosted a reunion for past 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 Pleasantville 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 October. Sessions for the COAP 2000 alumni focused primarily on college preparation. Sessions addressed topics such as choosing a college and applying for financial aid and scholarships. Alumni currently enrolled in college attended sessions that were relevant to them, such as time management.

“The primary objective of COAP is to increase the awareness of the importance and benefits to be derived from those who participate in the accounting profession,” COAP Chair Dan Stubbs said. “This participation cannot take place unless students successfully transition from high school to college. The COAP homecoming event is a great vehicle whereby we give the students critical insight and information to facilitate their college admissions process.” COAP board members present were Lynne Byrne, who gave the welcome to students when they arrived, Tai Danmola, Robert Rosario, and Richard Medina, who held a session on time management, resume writing, and interviewing skills. Scott Campbell, from the Office of Admissions at Pace University, spoke about the process of choosing a college and George Chin, director of financial aid at City University of New York (CUNY), spoke to 2000 alumni about financial aid and college scholarships.

After separate sessions, all the alumni came together for a joint session focusing on scholarships and internships and a roundtable discussion. The scholarship and internship session, headed by Shawn Bell from INROADS and Recy Dunn from Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO), covered the various internship opportunities available to high school and college students interested in obtaining challenging positions that will help them now and in the future.

The roundtable discussion, which focused on college and early career survival, was moderated by COAP alumnus Damon Duke, currently with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Duke fielded questions to a panel consisting of Pace alumna Elizabeth Diep, Long Island University student Eustace Inglis, Fordham University student Carolina Polance, and New York University student Marco Villegas. The panelists described college life and the challenges of being a student.

Stubbs was pleased with the event’s success.

“Nearly two-thirds of the participants in the Pace University 2000 summer residency attended the homecoming event—a tremendous showing considering that many students have part-time jobs and extracurricular commitments on Saturdays throughout the school year. The presenters from INROADS and SEO were excited by the enthusiasm displayed by the COAP alumni.”