On Tuesday, May 5, the Holzschuh College of Business Administration hosted 34 students and teachers from four local high schools on campus for the Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) event. The event is sponsored by the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA) and represents an important component of the society’s efforts to increase the number of students interested in the accounting profession.
To build a meaningful and engaging program for participants, industry professionals and Niagara University alumni, as well as Niagara faculty and students, were involved. The program included a presentation on accounting by Joe Winter, associate professor of accounting; a presentation on criminal investigations by IRS agents; a game led by Chris Hugar, faculty fellow of finance; and a panel discussion featuring accounting practitioners and current Niagara University students.
Chris Clarke, paralegal and ethics coordinator representing the NYSSCPA at the event, commented: “This year’s COAP program at Niagara University was excellent. The students were thoroughly engaged by the speakers and their presentations, and it was wonderful to see such great attendance. The New York State Society of CPAs is proud to support an event that does such a great job inspiring the next generation.”
Nicole Krawczyk, a business education teacher at Lew-Port High School, attended the event with her students and commented: “Thank you to Niagara University’s Holzschuh College of Business for hosting the Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) event. Our Lew-Port Academy of Business and Finance juniors who attended the program learned a lot. The guest speakers from IRS Criminal Investigation were excellent, and the panelists were also very informative. We look forward to attending future events.”
Niagara is one of only two universities in Western New York to host a COAP event for high school students. Niagara University’s prestigious Holzschuh College of Business Administration prepares undergraduate and graduate students to become future business professionals that lead with integrity and live exemplary lives guided by Catholic and Vincentian traditions.
