News Releases

Masters of Accounting students volunteer to help Lawrence community

Friday, August 14, 2009

Masters of Accounting (MAcc) students participated in service activities benefitting the Lawrence community as part of this year'sMAcc orientation program. New MAcc students were divided into groups and volunteered at various community locations.

This is the first year the MAcc program has included student participation in community service as part of the orientation. The idea was implemented because it not only benefits the community, but also gives students an advantage when applying for jobs and internships. "Many of the accounting firms, and other businesses, either require or strongly suggest that their employees be involved in the community," said Masters Advising Assistant Mark Best. "Therefore, we thought that it would be a good idea to get the students involved now."

Students volunteered at seven locations in Lawrence, including Centro Hispano, Habitat Restore, Hidden Valley Girl Scout Camp, Social Service League, Trinity In-Home Care, Vermont Towers, and Watkins Community Museum.

"I volunteered at Centro Hispano," said Kara Terstriep, MAcc student from Overland Park. "It was a great way to get to know my classmates on a more personal level. Working as a team and knowing that we were helping the community motivated us to get the job done."

Lisa Ottinger, MAcc program director, and Best visited each volunteer site throughout the afternoon activities. "In visiting the activities of the MAcc service project, it was obvious how much the students' efforts were appreciated," Ottinger said. "From clearing logs to sorting clothes to painting walls and moving furniture, the students worked hard, had smiles on their faces and enthusiastically pitched in to help their hosts. It's amazing how much 80 people can do in 3 hours."

"We couldn't have done this without the help of Paige Blair and the Roger Hill Volunteer Center," said Best. Service activities were coordinated between the MAcc program and the Roger Hill Volunteer Center.

"It was a pleasure working with Mark Best and the Masters of Accounting students; it came as no surprise to me they were both organized and accountable," said Paige Blair, AmeriCorps Member at Roger Hill Volunteer Center. "I was glad to help with the planning of the service day, and hope it inspired new students to continue with volunteer efforts that interest them, as they become acquainted with the many layers of this community."

According to Best, feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive. "It seems like this event will only get bigger," he said. "It benefits the community and students alike. We may even expand it throughout the rest of the year."

In addition to volunteer work, the MAcc orientation included information about the CPA exam and Becker review course, information sessions from career services and students services, and a MAcc student-to-student panel. MAcc students also had a joint lunch with MBA students and Masters of Finance students as part of the orientation to the School of Business program.