More than 90 graduates from the School of Accountancy at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business Administration were recognized at the school’s fifth semi-annual graduation celebration on Friday, May 6. The event at the Wick Alumni Center allowed students, their families, accounting faculty and staff to gather and celebrate graduating seniors majoring in accounting as well as graduate students earning their master in professional accountancy (MPA) and doctoral candidates earning their Ph.D.
 
The graduates were presented with gifts and certificates honoring their achievements. Bryan Slone, executive in residence and professor of practice in accountancy, Jina Morris, MPA coordinator and assistant professor of practice, and Dr. David B. Smith, Ray Dein Professor and Deloitte Scholar, presented the graduates with their certificates. Among the more than 90 students honored, 17 earned their MPA and four earned their Ph.D. in business administration with a specialization in accountancy.
 
“As faculty, this is a special weekend,” said Dr. Aaron Crabtree, director of the school of accountancy, associate professor of accountancy and KPMG Fellow. “We create the courses for the students and we know what they have to go through to get a degree, and they have our utmost respect.”
 
Dr. Tammy Beck, associate dean for graduate programs and external engagement, gave the event’s keynote speech. Beck earned her bachelor of business administration in accounting at the University of Texas and has more than 20 years of professional experience as a certified public accountant. Beck related her experience in the accounting world to the graduates.
 
“My accounting degree prepared me well for a wide variety of opportunities and challenges that would come throughout my career,” Beck said. “My education provided a solid foundation of technical and critical thinking skills. But as I later realized, it also provided me an ethical compass to guide my decision making and how I would handle myself personally and professionally.”
 
The event celebrates students becoming alumni and further strengthens their relationship with the School of Accountancy. The school has several initiatives to engage alumni, including its annual publication The Ledger.
 
For more information on the School of Accountancy, visit http://cba.unl.edu/accounting. Published: May 23, 2016