Accelerated Career Awareness Program Increasing awareness of accounting careers among underrepresented High School students.
Sunday, July 6 - Friday, July 11, 2025 | On-Ground - Residential
The field of accounting has been identified as one of the fastest-growing professions, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor. Yet studies have shown that there has been declining enrollment in accounting and finance among underrepresented students. The goal of the Accelerated Career Awareness Program, part of the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc., (NABA) is to increase the understanding of accounting career opportunities among high school students in underrepresented minority groups.
2024 ACAP Cohort
ACAP began in 1980 when NABA recognized the need for a program that would direct African Americans and other underrepresented groups toward the accounting and finance profession. Through ACAP, students throughout the United States have received educational enrichment experiences and practical help needed for college preparation and a career in accounting.
Read more about the experience of our 2024 students HERE!
2025 Applications are now open! Students must apply and be accepted into the program before registering.
This program is only open to on-ground, residential students only. No commuter options are available.
Recognizing that preparation for a professional career begins in junior and senior high school, NABA designed a one-week summer program for qualified sophomores, juniors and seniors in high school.
All interested students must apply and be accepted into the program prior to registering.
No prior experience is necessary to participate. Our application and at least two counselor/teacher letters of recommendation must be received to be considered.
All travel costs to get to the Pittsburgh area are at the discretion of the chosen applicant.
Important Dates:
Residential Move-In: Sunday, July 6 from 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Orientation (required for all students, optional for parents): Sunday, July 6 from 4:00pm - 4:30pm
Residential Move-Out: Friday, July 11 (late evening)
Class Outlook:
The below schedule is subject to change until the start of the program.
During the week, students will attend classes on careers in accounting and business, personal development and college preparation; tour local companies and CPA firms; and invite their parent(s) or guardian(s) to a banquet in commemoration of their completion of the program.
Breakfast occurs daily from 8:30am - 9:00am.
All students must be in their rooms at 10:00pm each night.
Sunday, July 6:
| 2:30pm - 3:30pm | Check-In / Residential Move-In |
| 4:00pm - 4:30pm | Orientation (required for all students, optional for parents) |
| 4:30pm - 5:15pm | Accounting as a Career Choice Presentation (required for all students, optional for parents) |
| 5:15pm - 6:00pm |
Dinner (required for all students, optional for parents) *Parents dismissed at 6:00pm |
| 6:15pm - 7:30pm | Downtown Scavenger Hunt |
| 7:45pm - 8:30pm | Team Assignments and Team Building |
| 8:30pm - 9:00pm | Evening Reflections Assignment |
Monday, July 7:
| 8:00am - 8:45am | Breakfast |
| 9:00am - 9:15am | Morning Announcements, Housekeeping & Pep Rally |
| 9:30am - 11:30am | The Language of Business (Starting a Business/Case Study) |
| 11:45am - 1:45pm | Travel + Firm Visit/Lunch + Learn: A Day in the Life |
| 2:00pm - 3:00pm | Break |
| 3:00pm - 5:00pm | The Language of Business (Journal Entries/Case Study) |
| 5:00pm - 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 6:00pm - 8:00pm | Ice Cream Social & Networking Tips (Interview Scenarios) |
| 8:00pm - 9:00pm | Evening Reflection Assingment |
Tuesday, July 8:
| 8:00am - 8:45am | Breakfast |
| 9:00am - 9:15am | Morning Announcements, Housekeeping & Pep Rally |
| 9:15am - 10:15am | The Pathway to Accounting |
| 10:30am - 11:15am | Professional Headshots |
| 11:30am - 1:30pm | Travel + Firm Lunch & Learn: Interviewing Skills/Non-Verbal Comm. |
| 1:45pm - 2:45pm | Break |
| 2:45pm - 3:00pm | Pep Rally |
| 3:00pm - 5:00pm | The Language of Business (Financial Statments/Case Study) |
| 5:30pm - 8:00pm | Urban Air Trampoline Park |
| 8:30pm - 9:00pm | Evening Reflection Assignment |
Wednesday, July 9:
| 8:30am - 9:00am | Breakfast |
| 9:00am - 9:15am | Morning Announcements |
| 9:15am - 10:30am | The Art of Public Speaking |
| 10:45am - 12:30pm | Travel & Firm Visit |
| 12:45pm - 1:45pm | Lunch |
| 1:45pm - 2:00pm | Afternoon Pep Rally |
| 2:15pm - 4:15pm | The Language of Business (Ratio Analysis/Case Study) |
| 4:15pm - 5:00pm | Break & Get Ready for Dinner |
| 5:15pm - 7:00pm | Business Etiquette Workshop & Dinner |
| 7:00pm - 8:00pm | On Campus Social Event |
| 8:00pm - 9:00pm | End of Day Reflection Assignment |
Thursday, July 10:
| 8:30am - 9:00am | Breakfast |
| 9:00am - 9:15am | Morning Announcements, Housekeeping & Pep Rally |
| 9:15am - 10:00am | Mental Health Session |
| 10:15am - 11:15pm | Financial Literacy |
| 11:30pm - 1:15pm | Travel + Firm Visit: Lunch and Learn |
| 1:15pm - 2:30pm | Break |
| 2:30pm - 2:45pm | Afternoon Pep Rally |
| 2:45pm - 3:15pm | Scholarship/Financial Aid/College Application |
| 3:30pm - 5:30pm | The Language of Business (Wrap Up/Case Study) |
| 5:30pm - 6:30pm | Dinner |
| 6:30pm - 7:30 pm | Team Presentation Development |
| 7:30pm - 8:00pm | End of Day Reflection |
Friday, July 11:
| 8:30am - 9:00am | Breakfast |
| 9:00am - 9:15am | Morning Announcements, Housekeeping & Pep Rally |
| 9:30am - 10:30am | Team Practice and Record Thank You Videos |
| 10:30am - 11:45am | Team Presentation Final Submission |
| 11:45am - 1:00pm | Lunch with Point Park Alum & Current Students |
| 1:00pm - 3:00pm | Community Service Event |
| 3:00pm - 4:00pm | Week Reflections Essay |
| 4:00pm - 5:30pm | Residential Move-Out + Prepare for Dinner |
| 5:30pm - 7:00pm | Closing Ceremony (required for all students, parents are encouraged to attend) |
View our Sponsors:
Benefits of the ACAP Summer Program
The ACAP Summer Program introduces students to the accounting, business, economics and finance professions through an educational and interactive curriculum involving accounting, business, economics and finance professionals, University faculty and business, government and community mentors.
Other key benefits include:
- Preparing students to pursue higher education (college application process, FAFSA, scholarships)
- Informing students about career opportunities available in accounting, business and finance
- Teaching skill sets relevant to the field of business (interview skills, resume building, dining etiquette, etc.)
- Connecting students with accounting and business professionals and mentors
Welcome to our campus!
All classes will be held on campus at Point Park University.
Address:
Point Park University
201 Wood Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
All students are required to live on campus and must be at least 14 years old.
Each residence hall has multiple points of secure access to student living areas, such as keycards, access codes, and lock and key. Adult resident assistants (usually current Point Park students) live on campus to supervise students who are minors. Each resident assistant is responsible for eight to ten minors.
Meet Malaki Davis
Accounting PPU alumnus working as an internal revenue agent for the IRS.
Meet Xiaohui and Xiaoli Li
2021 ACAP Participant
"Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to participate in ACAP! We learned a lot about accounting and gained much valuable insight into this field. It was really interesting hearing the guest speakers' perspectives and advice on various topics. We will definitely continue to explore and learn more about accounting as a career.“
Meet Alyson Ngo
2021 ACAP Participant
"Thank you once again for this amazing opportunity. I do feel like this program helped me gain a better understanding of accounting and also how the industry operates in general. Not only that but I’ll be sure to broaden my network with the speakers that have taught me so much. Thank you! I appreciate the effort you, Amy, Heidi, and an any other staff members put into this to make it possible. Hope to come in contact with you in the near future!“
As an undergraduate student at Point Park, you’ll have access to opportunities only a world-class city can offer — and few universities can match — for a real-world, career-oriented education. Consider an undergraduate degree from the Rowland School of Business.
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| summercamps@pointpark.edu | |
| Call | 412-392-3456 |
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