NEW YORK, NY, June 27, 2012 – Former New York Governor David Paterson addressed more than 100 area High School students enrolled in an innovative program aimed at attracting minorities into the accounting profession at the offices of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) this morning.

 

Paterson spoke to students from four of the regional Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) programs and urged them to make use of the opportunities and training received during the week-long sessions.

 

“There are opportunities out there that you might not think have value but they do,” Paterson said. “This is a tremendous experience. You are in now a position where you have an option that others don’t.”

 

Students from COAP programs based out of Pace University, Long Island University, St. John’s University and Adelphi University attended the session.

 

Paterson spoke to the students about the status of the economy, government and the overall state of the accounting profession.

 

NYSSCPA President-elect J. Michael Kirkland, Executive Director Joanne S. Barry and a student-representative from each COAP program also addressed the rest of the class.

 

“Your edge is your education,” Kirkland told the students while speaking about the global economy and workforce.

 

The COAP program was created to recruit young people into the CPA profession and is free of change to the students. It was founded in 1987 by the NYSSCPA and the Foundation for Accounting Education in order to help recruit high school juniors from public and private schools in New York and expose them to the benefits of a career in accounting or business.

 

The COAP program is offered at 10 different colleges throughout New York State this year. Over 2,700 students have graduated from COAP programs in New York State since the program’s introduction. More information on the COAP program can be found online at:www.nysscpa.org/futurecpas/coap_description.htm. 

  

 

Representing more than 28,000 CPAs, the NYSSCPA was the first state accounting organization in the nation. Incorporated in 1897, the Society is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to establish and maintain high standards of integrity, honor, and character among certified public accountants.

 

The New York State Society of CPAs is located at 3 Park Avenue in New York City. To learn more about the Society, call 800-633-6320 or visit the Society’s website at www.nysscpa.org.