At 2024 Accounting Career Awareness Program, High School Students Discover the Possibilities of an In-Demand Profession
"I would recommend ACAP because it's a unique experience. I don't think other camps or programs provide an opportunity to meet so many different professionals like Point Park does."
High school students from Delaware, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania spent a week exploring the career possibilities available in the accounting field as Point Park University hosted its 2024 Accounting Career Awareness Program (ACAP), a summer camp that focuses on experiential learning, networking with professionals and visiting firms throughout Downtown Pittsburgh.
ACAP, an initiative of the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc., (NABA), seeks to increase the understanding of accounting career opportunities among high school students in underrepresented minority groups. Brittney Arnett, MBA, CPA, Rowland School of Business recruiter and community outreach coordinator, has helped facilitate ACAP since its inception at Point Park in 2013.
This year's program included site visits to Ernst & Young (EY), Grossman, Yanak & Ford and Huntington Bank, during which students explored what a day in the life of an accountant is like, practiced their communication skills during mock interviews, learned about accounting's relationship to cybersecurity and discussed marketing strategies and tactics.
Students also participated in learning sessions about career readiness, public speaking, launching a business and accounting skills taught by Point Park staff and faculty, including Rowland School of Business professors Amy Cesario, MBA, CPA, R. Hagen Starz, Esq. and Shannon Gregg, Ph.D. Employees from Maher Duessel, BNY Mellon, Dollar Bank and Grossman, Yanak & Ford also gave on-campus presentations about the accounting field, financial literacy and career pathways. Students also had their professional headshots taken.
An etiquette dinner provided additional opportunities to network with accounting professionals from NABA, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sisterson & Co. LLP and Schneider Downs, as well as Point Park alumni and faculty.
ACAP provides high school students an opportunity to experience college life, as they live in the dorms, dine in the residence halls and see what it's like to live and learn on Point Park's Downtown Pittsburgh campus. Additionally, Point Park students and alumni serve as the ACAP students' camp counselors for the week, allowing them to learn more about the University and what it's like to be a student in the Rowland School of Business. The team of counselors included:
- David Keyser '24, accounting major
- Matthew Harris '24, economics and finance alumnus and MBA student
- Jayme Miller '23, accounting alumna
- Raquel Bryner '25, HR management major and accounting minor
"This is my third year as an ACAP counselor, and I think the best thing I take away from this is sharing my knowledge of accounting with our students and showing them it's not just a desk job – it's fun, honestly," said Keyser, who is an accounts payable/account receivable clerk at SMS Group.
Bryner's favorite aspect of the camp was "seeing the light bulb turn on" for students as they built their accounting skills. She also enjoyed networking with professionals in the industry.
Throughout the week, students work in groups to create an original business idea and demonstrate their understanding of accounting concepts. At the ACAP closing ceremony, students presented their business plans to their families, Point Park staff and faculty and representatives from several Pittsburgh firms. Each presentation included an overview of the business, financial statements and a marketing plan. A panel of judges selected first and second-place winners. The students' businesses included:
- Velvet Occasions Co., a party and event-planning company created by Lyniah McFadden, Charlee Walden, Katherine Williams and Leila Wright, first-place winner
- Mentor Me, a tutoring service created by Bella Hudgkin, Rienna Kohen, Ernest Pace and Alex Patino, second-place winner
- Pure Beauty Salon, a full-service hair salon by Tianna Bell, KaMyah Drake and Nehemiah Nichols
- Youniverse, a clothing subscription and personal styling service by Dashuan Bollton, Anthony Jimenez-Sandoval and Darren Woodard
Read what students had to say about their ACAP experience:
Bella Hudgkin, Fort Cherry High School
"I really enjoyed learning more about the accounting field and the careers you can seek out with that degree. I also enjoyed learning that you can find opportunities studying economics and finance, which is something I'm very interested in. Our visit to Huntington Bank was my favorite part because I really liked learning about cybersecurity. It really made me question whether I want to go into a financial analyst position or if I want to explore something different."
Rienna Kohen, Eastern Regional High School
"My cousin's husband is an actuary at EY, and I mentioned to her that I was interested in accounting. She asked her friends working in the industry what camps I could do. She sent me a list, and I chose ACAP. I enjoyed meeting people, visiting the accounting firms to experience a day in the life of an accountant and getting a first-hand look at the field to see if it's the right fit for me. I learned there are so many different ways to go into accounting. All of the firms we visited were beautiful."
Alex Patino, Central Catholic High School
"I liked the experience of going to different firms and learning about cybersecurity and the other opportunities available in business and accounting. I would recommend ACAP because it's a unique experience. I don't think other camps or programs provide an opportunity to meet so many different professionals like Point Park does."
Katherine Williams, Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School
"I enjoyed getting to network with people from companies located Downtown. It was helpful to see the different sides of accounting and learn more about the possibilities available. I really liked the etiquette dinner. I thought it was really helpful, and I got to network with employees from PricewaterhouseCoopers. I definitely liked getting the feel of what it's like to go to college."
Darren Woodard, Montour High School
"I really enjoyed learning about marketing and how to use social media to attract reviews and promote your business. I also liked learning budgeting tips from Jason Jones from Dollar Bank. It was cool to experience what it's like to live in a dorm. My favorite activity was our trip to Urban Air Adventure Park."
More About Accounting at Point Park:
- Students in Advanced Accounting Course Get an Inside Look at Investment Management with Field Trip to Federated Hermes
- Get Career-Ready with: David Keyser, Accounting Major and Co-Op Intern at SMS Group
- Accounting Major Giulia Follador Spends the Summer in NYC Interning with Big Four Firm Deloitte
More About: faculty, Schneider Downs, high school programs, Pittsburgh, ACAP, Downtown Pittsburgh, BNY Mellon, Rowland School of Business, EY, PricewaterhouseCoopers