Beta Alpha Psi named OSU's top student organization

Friday, May 29, 2009

By Suzanne Simpson, Spears School communications intern

(May 29, 2009   Stillwater, OK) – The Oklahoma State University Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) organization, an honorary organization for accounting students and professionals, recently received the OSU Outstanding Community Service by a Student Organization award. During the 2009-2009 academic year, BAP performed more than 3,000 hours of service in to the community, the Spears School of Business and OSU.

The award was presented this spring at the President’s Leadership & Service Recognition Reception. BAP has received this award four out of the past five years.

“It was a great honor to be recognized in such esteemed company,” said James Alvey, president of OSU’s BAP chapter. “We have so many great clubs at OSU. There are so many cowboys and cowgirls out there giving it their all in the classroom and the community. It’s a great feeling to know that we add to those efforts, and it was certainly a pleasant surprise to be recognized for the hard work of our members.”

BAP’s members performed numerous community service projects throughout the year. They assisted other OSU students with their finances and accounting coursework and helped teachers at Stillwater’s Head Start program; furthermore, they raised money for United Way, the Mission of Hope and the Red Cross. The members also helped their faculty advisor, Pat Dorr, host his annual Thanksgiving dinner for the community by donating food and time.

“It’s a great feeling, being a member of Beta Alpha Psi,” Alvey said. “Not only are you making lifetime friendships, but you are also participating in substantive activities that improve the quality of life in our school and community.”
The primary objective of BAP is to encourage and give recognition to scholastic and professional excellence in the business information field. This includes promoting the study and practice of accounting; providing opportunities for self-development, service and association among members and practicing professionals; and encouraging a sense of ethical, social and public responsibility.

“Beta Alpha Psi is incredible,” said Jonathan Steele, BAP’s incoming president. “There is so much talent within the OSU School of Accounting that we have been able to consistently improve our organization every year.”

Steele said they plan on being even more successful next year.

“We will definitely continue to improve and administer the many successful programs that have been developed over the past years,” Steele said.

Steele said they also want to bring in more business professionals to educate the members on the current market climate, find new ways to serve the community and the university, improve their technical business skills by helping people prepare their taxes, and create more social activities to improve friendships and build connections.

To learn more about OSU’s BAP chapter, visit their Web site at http://orgs.okstate.edu/bap/.