Chapter leaders and senior members were honored at a year-end banquet.
Beta Alpha Psi, the international honor organization for financial information students and professionals, hosted a year-end banquet on May 5 at the Alamance Country Club to celebrate the chapter’s success, as well as honor the chapter’s leaders for their service. Senior members also received honor cords.
Patty Cox, assistant professor of accounting and faculty advisor of BAP, presented the BAP Distinguished Service Award to Jennifer Kirts ’11, who served as president of Elon’s BAP chapter from 2010-11. Cox stated Kirts is remembered for her “we can” attitude, which led to the creation of a recruitment video for the honor society, sending more than one team to compete at BAP’s regional meeting, and Elon’s chapter receiving “gold” status from the national organization.
In her acceptance remarks, Kirts encouraged members to absorb as much information as they can, to listen and take advice, to trust that the skills they have learned will help lead them to success, and to be comfortable asking questions.
Raghu Tadepalli, dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, followed with the keynote address. He offered advice based what he has learned through personal, professional and academic experiences. Tadepalli urged members to think of business in a larger societal context, as well as the important role of human connections and the ability to persuade people.
“Business skills will get you in,“ Tadepalli said. “People skills get you to the top.”
Tadepalli concluded his address by reminding members that education is an ongoing process of lifelong learning He said he hoped they will capitalize on what they’ve learned from their faculty and peers.
Following Tadepalli’s remarks, Cox recognized the outgoing BAP officers for their service to the chapter. The outgoing officers then initiated the incoming officers into their new roles.
2014-15 BAP officers:
Richard Segal, president
Kevin Smeaton, vice president
Ryan Struble, secretary
Adam Knaszak, treasurer
Kenny Straub, vice president of events
Robert Danis, vice president of service
Michael Visconti, vice president of media
Matthew Zimpelman, financial literacy chair
2015-16 BAP officers:
Ryan Herring, president
Ryan Struble, vice president
Allyson Hanover, secretary
Jacob Orr, treasurer
Caleb Newcomb, special events chair
Amanda Beland, service chair
Wesley Brewer, financial literacy chair
BAP is the premier professional business and financial information fraternity and recognizes academic excellence and complements members’ formal education by providing interaction and networking among students, faculty, and professionals.
– by Alyssa Baxter ’15