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Beta Alpha Psi Students Compete in Best Practice Competition and Advance to Nationals

Fourteen students from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business Administration presented in the Best Practice Competition at the regional meeting of Beta Alpha Psi on April 6. The competition, which was held in Kansas City, Kan., had three presentation categories including innovation, inspiration and imagination. The UNL Beta Alpha Psi chapter had three teams compete, including one team that won first place and will advance to the national competition at the Beta Alpha Psi Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif., on August 9.
 
“Through this competition, team members earned great experience in implementing special projects and providing and receiving constructive criticism with fellow members,” said Deb Cosgrove, associate professor of practice of accountancy and adviser of Beta Alpha Psi. “They now realize how much more practice and effort is required for presentations to business professionals and can present on that level.”
 
The UNL Beta Alpha Psi, organized in 1976 and based in the College of Business Administration, had a team win the inspiration category of the presentation competition.
 
The first place team was comprised of both undergraduate and graduate CBA students, including Alison Gould, a junior finance and economics major from Alliance, Neb.; Kyla McGregor, a MPA graduate student from Gibbon, Neb.; Sarah Richter, a senior accounting and management major from Omaha, Neb.; Amanda Sambasile, a MPA graduate student from Omaha, Neb.; and John Shurtliff, a MPA graduate student from Grayslake, Ill. Their presentation detailed the organization’s activity to inspire high school and community college students from underserved communities to work towards careers in accounting and finance. 
 
Beta Alpha Psi 2nd place team

Beta Alpha Psi 2nd place team

“Their presentation summarized the impact of their recruiting trips,” said Cosgrove. “The team was passionate about the results they achieved, and was very comfortable with public speaking.”
 
The team that presented in the imagination category won second place for their implementation and presentation of several projects to improve Beta Alpha Psi members’ written communication skills. Team members included undergraduate students Cassidy Cook, a senior finance major from Lincoln, Neb.; Sarah Sirotkin, a senior accounting major from Omaha, Neb.; John Stastny, a senior accounting major from Omaha, Neb.; Katy Steffensmeier, a senior accounting major from Norfolk, Neb.; and Emilie Workentine, a senior accounting major from Geneva, Neb.
 
Beta Alpha Psi 3nd place team

Beta Alpha Psi 3rd place team

The third team representing the UNL chapter of Beta Alpha Psi in the innovation category included Ali Britzman, a junior finance major from Brandon, S.D.; Jeff Oatman, a senior accounting major from Elkhorn, Neb.; Phillip Sanks, a junior accounting and finance major from Appleton, Wis.; and Karissa Wilcox, a MPA graduate student from Lenexa, Kan.
 
Founded in 1919, Beta Alpha Psi is a national honorary organization for accounting, financial and information systems professionals and has over 200 active chapters in collegiate schools of business throughout the country.
Published: May 2, 2013