Minority students catch a glimpse of the business world with ACAP-Ohio

Catalyst (Dublin, Ohio), Sept-Oct, 2006

Presented by The Ohio Society of CPAs and the Ohio chapters of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), ACAP-Ohio gives students the chance to explore the accounting profession and learn what challenges and opportunities are available if they choose to become a CPA or enter the business world.

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"Because of the valuable lessons I learned at ACAP, I now know that accounting is definitely the profession for me," says Taylor Rhodes from Central Catholic High School in Toledo.

This year's class was selected from more than 100 applicants based on grades, essays and letters of recommendation. Program participants stayed in dorms on The Ohio State University's main campus in Columbus, which let them experience college life firsthand.

Throughout the week, students attended workshops conducted by prominent minority business leaders on topics such as entrepreneurship, business ethics and public speaking. They also participated in activities such as a tour of Ohio Stadium and a bowling tournament with NABA chapter members.

As'ya Robinson, a senior at Centennial High School in Columbus, was most interested in the workshop on entrepreneurship, presented by Donald Anthony, president and CEO of the Warrior Group.

"Mr. Anthony helped me to understand the expectations and responsibilities needed in order to run a business. I now have a great idea of what it takes to be successful in the business world," Robinson says.

Students also participated in an essay contest to compete for a college scholarship. Five winners selected from the contest received a $500 scholarship from an ACAP-Ohio sponsor at the closing banquet.

Scholarship sponsors and recipients were:

* The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business

Michelle Neely, Woodward High School, Toledo

* BISYS

Jaclyn Lee, Euclid High School, Euclid

* Ernst & Young

Chanel Porter, Toledo Christian School, Maumee

* Honda of America Manufacturing

Ryanico Reyna, Cardinal Stritch High School, Toledo

* Deloitte & Touche

Kyusun Chung, Dublin Coffman High School, Dublin

"What I learned from ACAP is that diverse opinions and ideas make a good team great. Diversity can take something average and plain to the ultimate extreme," shares Kyusun Chung, a senior at Dublin Coffman High School. Although Chung initially felt uncomfortable as one of the few Asian students in the program, the focus on diversity helped create a welcoming environment.

"I have transformed into a more open-minded and diverse person. I now have the confidence and courage to accept any new situation that crosses my path," Chung says. "And the best thing from this ACAP experience is that I now have lifelong relationships with people who I have always thought were too different from my race and from me."

Corporate sponsorship has been critical to the success of ACAP-Ohio. The support from the Accountancy Board of Ohio; CPA firms; and corporations such as Chase, Honda, BISYS, McDonald's and MDS CPA Review Course make it possible for all of ACAP-Ohio's participants to attend the program free of charge.

This year's five-day program concluded June 29. ACAP-Ohio has impacted the lives of nearly 400 students to date.

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The Ohio Society of CPAs, the National Association of Black Accountants and The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business would like to extend a special thanks to the following sponsors for donating so generously to ACAP-Ohio 2006:

Additional sponsors include:

* Accountancy Board of Ohio

* Ciuni & Panichi

* NABA Cleveland Chapter

* NABA Columbus Chapter

* NABA National

* NABA Greater Southern Ohio Chapter

* The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business

* Nina Jackson

* PPC Tax Advisors

* The Ohio Society of CPAs Educational Foundation

Thank you for your support!