By Kim Patterson, Industry Member Relations Coordinator

Alumni and counselors from the Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) program got a chance to reconnect and put on their dancing shoes on Dec. 26 during an annual holiday party hosted by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Begun by the New York State Society of CPAs in 1987, COAP is a college summer program that exposes minority high school juniors to opportunities in the accounting profession, while providing them with guidance for college preparation. Students reside at or commute to COAP programs on four university campuses, Hofstra University, Long Island University (LIU), Pace University and Westchester Community College. In 2002, 140 students participated in COAP.

The weeklong program combines workshops on accounting, resume writing and interviewing, among other topics, with field trips to CPA firms and private companies. The program also features several guest speakers who give the students a firsthand look into the CPA profession.

During the party, held at PricewaterhouseCoopers’ midtown Manhattan offices, the 2002 students had a good time getting reacquainted with their peers, counselors and older alumni, while discussing their plans for college and how the COAP program will help them as they begin to think about their future careers. The students also networked with COAP advisory board members and enjoyed good food and festivities, which included music, dancing and karaoke.

The COAP program relies on the generosity and support of numerous individuals and organizations, including volunteers, the Academy of Finance, the CPA profession, high schools and colleges, the Foundation for Accounting Education and the COAP advisory boards, of which several members were in attendance. These included C. Daniel Stubbs, chair of the COAP Pace Advisory Board; Ed McDougal, chair of the Hofstra Advisory Board; Roy Weathers, member of the LIU Advisory Board, and Damon Duke, Veda Stanley, Richard Medina, Daniel Hobson, Yvonne Harris-Jones, Steve Mendez, Elizabeth Diep, and Angie Cercone, all with the Pace Advisory Board.

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.

 If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to COAP or volunteer for the program or other student recruitment efforts, please contact William Pape, associate director, member relations, at wpape@nysscpa.org or (212) 719-8420.