Four UK Accounting Students Selected for Leadership Institute

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 18, 2015) — The annual Kentucky Society of CPAs (KyCPA) College Leadership Institute took place recently at the KyCPA Gratzer Education Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Four students from the Von Allmen School of Accountancy in the Gatton College of Business and Economics represented the University of Kentucky at the program.

The UK students who attended the institute were:

•           finance and accounting junior Drew Brueggeman, of Fort Wright, Kentucky;

•           accounting and finance senior Katherine Dubin, of Harrogate, Tennessee;

•           finance and accounting senior Connor Gingrich, of Burke, Virginia; and

•           accounting senior Rosemary Osbourn, of Lexington.

Brueggeman was very thankful for the opportunity to attend. "I learned a lot of valuable lessons from different accounting professionals across the state of Kentucky. Many of their talks were not limited to accounting and hit home on important life lessons as well," he said. "Overall, it is a great program. I would recommend that every student who is interested in becoming a CPA apply for it."

Osbourn agreed the program was very beneficial. "Participating in the KyCPA Leadership Institute was a great experience and was extremely beneficial to my career goals as an accountant," she said. "We learned not only how to approach and interview, but also steps to take in order to maximize our networking opportunities and have our best foot forward for when recruiting season begins."

The KyCPA College Leadership Institute is a free, one-day event for college accounting majors that helps students develop professional skills and identifies future leaders in the CPA profession. Sessions were designed to provide tools needed to cultivate effective communication and networking skills, and help students perform well during job interviews. The program concluded with a "Meet the Firms" networking reception.

Twenty-one students from nine colleges and universities across the region completed the program this year. Each participant was nominated and recommended by an accounting educator.

The Douglas J. Von Allmen School of Accountancy, part of the Gatton College of Business and Economics at UK, helps prepare its graduates for leadership roles in the accounting profession by offering high quality, fully accredited academic programs.  The Von Allmen School of Accountancy emphasizes strong analytic and communication skills among its students and keeps the accounting curriculum current as the profession changes.

For more information about College Leadership Institute and other KyCPA student programs, visit www.kycpa.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Weston Loyd, weston.loyd@uky.edu, 859-257-8716.