The MACPA hosted its third annual High School Leaders Conferences, reaching more than 500 students in three locations, to encourage students to consider accounting as a career choice.

The program evaluations indicate that the Conferences were a huge success. More than 94.5 percent of participating students indicated after attending the Conference they would consider a career in accounting.

Judy Hegelund of Deloitte presents Planes, Trains & Automobiles.

A student from Detroit’s Northwestern High School who attended the day-long event at Wayne State University said: “I enjoyed finding out about an industry that you normally don’t hear a lot about. This Conference also gave me an outlook on what seems to be a successful career.”

The events, offered at no cost to attendees, took place on February 1 at Oakland University in Rochester, February 8 at Wayne State University in Detroit and March 2 at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. This is the first year the event was held at Aquinas.

High school juniors and seniors attended the event along with their teachers, principals and counselors to explore the unlimited career opportunities available to them in business and accounting.

“I liked learning about all of the different areas that accountants can get involved in, instead of working behind a desk,” said a Sterling Heights High School student.

More than 500 students and a total of 70 teachers, principals and counselors participated. This is nearly 200 percent more attendees than last year’s events reached.

Darryl Jackson of DaimlerChrysler presents Accounting Gives You an Edge.

Local CPAs and other business leaders were among speakers who provided an insightful, accurate and realistic representation of what the CPA profession is all about. Speakers included La’Mont Muhammad, KPMG; Steve Moore, Internal Revenue Service; Jeff Gustinis, Ernst & Young; Melissa Force, Walsh College; Paul Bryant, Plante & Moran; Paul MacDonald, Detroit Red Wings;Tim Gortsema, Grand Rapids Griffins and Grand Rapids Rampage; and Jepharya Badie, PricewaterhouseCoopers.

“I enjoyed the speakers and the insight they gave about accounting as a profession,” said a Farmington High School student.

Speakers discussed the potential of a career in accounting; how to use accounting to detect fraud; accounting in the entertainment world; the advantages of a career in public accounting and more.

The events are also designed to help guide students as they make choices on the academic path leading to a chosen profession. A panel of college students and new professionals explained what to expect in college and as they enter the workforce.

Paul MacDonald of Detroit Red Wings Inc. presents That’s Entertainment.

Since its inception in 2003, the High School Leaders Conference has grown significantly. A single Conference was held in its first year and two Conferences were held in 2004 due to their popularity and growth. The 2005 demand necessitated three events.

The 2005 Conferences were sponsored by Deloitte LLP, Ernst & Young PC, KPMG LLP, Plante & Moran PLLC and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. They were presented in partnership with the National Association of Black Accountants – Detroit & Lansing Chapters, Oakland University, Wayne State University and Aquinas College.

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