Boise State University’s Beta Alpha Psi Chapter continues to be one of the most innovative student organizations on campus and one of the most active Beta chapters in the United States. In the past year, with only 53 members, the Chapter planned and participated in 1,500 hours of professional activities (a 7% increase over the previous year) and provided over 1,500 hours of service to the local community (a 10% increase over the previous year). The following are a few of the Chapter’s initiatives and accomplishments:
National Conference Kudos: Five Chapter members attended this year’s Beta national conference in Milwaukee. Over 2,000 students from universities across the country attended the conference. For the first time, the Chapter was selected to receive a “Gold Chapter” award. Only 11 chapters were selected from 320 active chapters to receive this highly selective award that is based on the level and quality of chapter activities during the year. For the fifth consecutive year, a Chapter member was selected to participate in “Project Run With It.” Chance Mildenberger, Chapter Vice President, was one of only 72 students selected to participate on a team of four students, each from a different chapter. The teams are challenged to creatively and collaboratively solve a business problem faced by a non-profit organization. In only 36 hours Chance and his team successfully gained an understanding of the nonprofit organization and its issue, formulated a workable solution, and presented the solution to a panel of judges.
An Endowed Scholarship to Support Students: In the fall of 2014, the Chapter established an endowed scholarship fund for accounting students and committed to raise $20,000 over a five-year period. Because the Chapter met this funding goal in a little more than one year it committed in 2015 to raise an additional $25,000. To date the Chapter has raised close to half of the new five year commitment amount.
Reaching Out to the Community: While the Chapter has always been committed to community service, it continued to expand its efforts. The Chapter through its sack meal program launched last year provided an additional 2,500 meals to local homeless shelters this year bringing the two-year total to over 4,000 meals. Under this program, the members raise money to purchase ingredients and then prepare and deliver between 100 and 125 meals per week. The impact of the program was tremendous as it not only filled a vital community need but it also allowed the members to learn more about the needs of the community. This program was just one of our Chapter’s many service initiatives. Other activities include providing support to Special Olympics, Boise Art Museum, Boise Historical Society, Light the Night, Boys and Girls Club, Boise Zoo, and VITA. These service activities help instill a lifelong spirit of giving and service in these future members of the accounting profession.
Financial Literacy Education: In April the Chapter designed and hosted a half-day financial literacy program which provided 40 middle school and high school students tools to help them understand a wide range of age appropriate topics including planning and money management, saving and investing, and paying for college. Parents attending the event with their children praised the event. One parent commented it was really nice to learn more about what she should be teaching her daughter about finance. An admissions office representative observing the event was so impressed she asked Beta to do a presentation for high school seniors later this summer. In addition Beta has been asked to provide a financial literacy component for a new summer college experience program conducted by the College of Education.
CFOs Exposed: In March 2016, the Chapter partnered with Alpha Kappa Psi (the professional business fraternity), the Financial Management Association, and the Treasure Valley CFO Forum to host the annual CFOs Exposed Event. In addition to formal presentations and informal networking, 30 area executives met in small groups with business students—providing students the rare opportunity to talk directly with business leaders at the highest levels. Over 200 students registered for this year’s event.
Regional Conference: In April of 2016, our Chapter sent 19 members to Beta’s regional conference in Spokane. The conference provides participants the opportunity to share ideas with members of 25 chapters from other northwest universities, network with professionals, and attend professional and personal development sessions.
Annual Banquet: The Chapter closed the academic year by holding its annual banquet on April 20, 2016. More than 120 students, faculty, and business professionals celebrated this year’s Chapter accomplishments and selected faculty and students were recognized for their outstanding contribution to the university, profession, community, and students. The featured speaker was Scentsy CFO Reed Brimhall, who shared his thoughts on how to embrace change during ones career.