The Carr School of Accountancy held the 33rd annual Accountancy Day on Thursday. Firms from around the area met with students before an awards luncheon capped off the event.
Over 35 awards and scholarships totaling more than $75,000 were given to students at the luncheon, plus two people were inducted into the Hall of Honors.
Students got the opportunity to meet potential employers from various firms.
“Accountancy day is truly a blessing for accounting majors, it’s very simple to meet people at firms,” said Clark Smith, a junior accounting major from Huntsville. “I already have an internship lined up for the summer and I get a chance to interview with four firms next spring.”
A recurring theme throughout the day was connections, whether it be the connections students made with firms or the connections that faculty are able to make with alumni and students.
“The faculty here is awesome, and they really care about all our students and their success,” said Josh McGowan, the director of the school of accountancy. “We also get to rekindle relationships with a lot of our alumni.”
Elizabeth Davis, who graduated from TROY in 2015, was recognized as the outstanding young alumnus of the year. She is now a senior manager at Warren Averett.
“It’s such an honor to be receiving this award,” Davis said. “These professors have coached me through this program and I couldn’t have gotten this far without that.”
Laura Stair and Kevin Chapman were both inducted into the school’s Hall of Honor at the event. Stair is a manager at Draffin Tucker while Chapman is the COO and Executive Vice President at Renasant Bank.
Both gave advice to students in their speeches. Chapman emphasized the importance of an accounting degree.
“An accounting degree is one of the most versatile degrees you can get,” Chapman said. “You can do a lot with it – I’m in banking.”
Stair told students that keeping a learning mindset is one of the most valuable things that she’s picked up after school.
“There’s one thing I heard here that didn’t resonate with me until I got into the real world: the learning never stops,” Stair said. “My advice is to stay teachable even after you graduate.”
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