Decide to Decide: Your Financial Future Starts Here! Special Information for Anyone Interested in Accounting!

Contact Us at BYUWSOA@gmail.com For More Information!

Freshman & Sophomore Information Session!

On October 23, we hosted an information session for freshman and sophomore women to learn more about the field of accounting! Last year we had themed our event as "Decide to Decide: Your Financial Future Starts Here!". The event was so beneficial and helpful for our attendees that we decided to repeat the event again this year!

The event gave undergrad freshman and sophomore women an opportunity to learn more about accounting and what an education in the accounting program at BYU can do for them! We were lucky to hear from the School of Accountancy (SOA) Department Chair, Dr. Jeff Wilks; the WSOA Faculty Advisor and SOA Professor, Professor Melissa Larson; and our two WSOA Co-chairs, Ashley Wassom and Shalise Knight. They shared their love for the accounting program at BYU and were able to share their experience of how accounting has blessed their lives!

After the program, our attendees, faculty, and committee were able to mingle, ask and answer questions, and enjoy some delicious Coldstone Ice Cream!

Thank you to everyone who was able to come and participate! As always, if you have any questions please reach out to us at byuwsoa@gmail.com!

Junior Core Luncheon

Today we had our first WSOA event of the semester! We had so much fun meeting our new group of junior core ladies and getting to know each other over salads, sandwiches, and strawberries from Zupas. There were WSOA committee members at each table and we were able to answer questions, give advice, and get to know these wonderful new accounting women better! After lunch we had a question-and-answer session made up of our lovely panel. Ashley Wassom (co-chair), Laura Payne (1st-yr MAcc Tax), Marynn Loock (1st-yr MAcc Professional), Erin Cowley (Undergrad Senior), Emma Johnson (2nd-yr MAcc Tax), and Professor Larson answered lots of questions and provided great advice regarding internships, the MAcc, career paths, missions, and our role as women. We look forward to the awesome year ahead of us! 

Our first event was a success! As always, we have a great group of women starting out in the junior core. We look forward to getting to know each other better over the course of the semester! 

Our next event will be our Freshman/Sophomore event on October 23.

Winter 2013 Events!

What a fun winter semester we had last year! With so much diversity in the women in the accounting program, we used this semester to address different circumstances of those of us already in the program.

2012 Winter Events

Missionary Luncheon

Jr. Core Study Break

Acc 200/ 310 Info Session

When President Monson announced the change in age for sister missionaries, we knew that our women would be affected and have questions about how a mission would affect their progress in the accounting program. We met together with women who had mission calls, were considering serving, or had recently returned home from a mission.  As we ate a yummy lunch of Café Rio, returned sisters spoke of their experience serving and how they went about planning around the jr. core and MAcc program.  Professor Larson then spoke on the plausibility of serving and how BYU would accommodate for missions. We served up Cold Stone ice cream to finish off the event, hoping to leave everyone full of understanding, comfort, and, of course, food.

Knowing the junior core students needed another break from exams, we met with these women to give them some time off from studying. We provided tasty treats and social interaction to these study-bound students.

We also held another information session for women taking accounting 200 or 310 interested in pursuing a degree in accounting. The event’s purpose was to let women know about what life is like in the program and how it might be a great fit for them. Brittan Herndon, a student in the junior core, talked about “A Day in the Life of the Junior Core” and spoke about the expectations and realities of life in the junior core. We also had a panel of our committee members to answer questions that the women attending might have about applying to the program, job opportunities, or anything else. After the event we all enjoyed a Cold Stone ice cream sundae bar and mingling with each other. It was an amazing end to a great school year!

Fall 2012 Recap!

 As we begin a new year and new semester, we would like to mention what an awesome Fall semester we had. The number of women in the accounting program has grown from 2011-2012 and we have had wonderful events recruiting more women and getting to know the women who are currently in the program.

2012 Fall Events

Jr Core Luncheon

MaCC and Bachelor students lunch

Jr Core Study Break

Decide to Decide Freshman Event

Alumni Dinner

To recap the semester, we started off with an awesome luncheon with the Jr Core women. The first few weeks can be a bit overwhelming and seem daunting, and this luncheon was a great opportunity for our committee members to share their memories and experiences from the Jr Core and to offer advice and reassurance.

We then had a luncheon with the MAcc and Bachelor accounting female students. During this luncheon, we had the opportunity to hear from Molly Zarbock, a BYU alum. She left us all with her top 10 things to remember…

During the first Jr Core exam week, we met up with the Jr Core women between exams for a “study break”. Everyone met in the Tanner Building for snacks, encouragement, and a much needed break.

This year’s freshman event was our “Decide to Decide” event. As mentioned in a prior post, this event was a great opportunity to inform freshman and sophomore women of the benefits of an education and career in accounting. We had over 100 women in attendance and we’re hoping to see them in the program in the future!

Our 2^nd Annual Alumni Dinner finished off our semester on the perfect note. We are all so blessed to be a part of such an amazing university and program and to have such a vast network of alumni.

2nd Annual WSOA Alumni Dinner

During November, we hosted our 2^nd Annual BYU WSOA Alumni Dinner at the Hinckley Alumni Center. It was a wonderful event that brought current and former women of the School of Accountancy together. We were fortunate to have alumni and female professionals from varying backgrounds and from various parts of the country. We were also pleased to hear from Tina Hill and Dr. Glover.

Freshman Information Session: "Decide to Decide"

On October 25, the WSOA hosted an event for freshman women called "Decide to Decide". The event was an information session for all freshman and sophomore women who have yet to decide a major and may have interest in accounting. We had an awesome turnout -- over 100 interested women were in attendance!

The theme of the event, "Decide to Decide: Your Financial Future Starts Here," was to help inform BYU's women about the importance of financial planning and the amazing opportunities and blessings that come with a BYU accounting degree. Financial literacy packets were mailed to all freshman women in order to give them a "Top 10" things to know when it comes to personal finances and preparing for the future. We were also fortunate enough to hear from Dr. Kay Stice and Professor Melissa Larson. We are so lucky to have such outstanding faculty at BYU who are always willing to help.

Following the program, the women were able to mingle and ask questions while enjoying delicious crepes. We're hopeful that many of these women will decide to pursue a degree in accounting!

Our wonderful committee members helping set-up for the event! Special thanks to all of our lovely ladies for their help.

 We would also like to thank PwC, Ernst & Young, Deloitte, the UACPA, and the AICPA for providing us with awesome literary materials and information packets, as well as some sweet swag!

 We were privileged to hear from Dr Stice and Professor Larson. 

We had an awesome turn-out and a great information session. Everyone had a great time mingling afterwards. The crepes were delicious!

Our awesome co-chairs Emily Zarbock and Ashley Amos and a few of our wonderful Committee members.

If you were unable to attend the event or have any questions about the BYU accounting program and "why accounting?" please don't hesitate to reach out to us at byuwsoa@gmail.com.

Second Junior Core Lunch!

On January 23 we held our second WSOA Junior Core lunch. This was a great excuse to get together and talk about internships, summer leadership programs, missions, and life. All fifty that attended enjoyed Zupas salads, sandwiches, and soups.

This has been an exciting and busy school year for the WSOA. We held five events last semester and will be hosting three events this semester. Our next event will be an Accounting 200/310 Information Session on March 15. We will conclude the year with a farewell lunch for the graduating MAcc and Bachelor's students. Also, look for an article about the WSOA in the next SOA Alumni Newsletter!

First Annual WSOA Alumnae Dinner!

The first annual WSOA Alumnae Dinner was a HUGE success! Many thanks to all the students, faculty, and alumnae who attended the event. Seventy-five students and twenty-five alumnae enjoyed a three course dinner at The Skyroom Restaurant. The event also included a short program where students heard from Liz Weinberg and Melissa Larson about the "Blessings of an Accounting Degree." This event will be held for many years to come. If you want more information about this event or would like to attend next year, please email BYUWSOA@gmail.com.

WSOA Alumnae Dinner

On December 8 at 7pm the WSOA Committee will be hosting the first Alumnae Dinner. We have invited over 40 alumnae and all of the current female students. This will be a great opportunity for current students to learn about post graduation opportunities from alumnae.

If you would like more information or an invitation, please email the WSOA at BYUWSOA@gmail.com

Accounting 200/310 Information Session

On October 20 we held our Accounting 200/310 Information Session! The event was a great success as 65 prospective students were in attendance. This was a great opportunity for prospective students to learn more about the prerequisite courses, the application process, the junior core, and career opportunities. We were lucky enough to have Dr. Stocks kick off the meeting by discussing why we need more women in our program. After the program, prospective students ate lunch and mingled with the WSOA committee members and learned more about the benefits of an accounting education.

Dr. Stocks speaks to students

Emily Wood talks about the application process

Students enjoying lunch after the program

Lunch with the Ladies

The WSOA committee welcomed the newest group of SOA women to our Lunch with the Ladies last week. We invited the Junior Core ladies to join us for a break from studying to eat good food, celebrate completion of the infamous Waren Case, and hear from Jonyce Bullock, a partner at Squire. 

We had a great turnout! The Junior Core women who attended met women in the next levels of the accounting program and asked questions about what to expect for the rest of their time in the SOA. 

Here are some shots of our lovely attendees! 

The event concluded with a few words from Jonyce Bullock. She shared her experiences of entering the work force after her husband was diagnosed with a serious illness. She has since made partner at Squire and is able to support her family while her husband remains home with their children. 

Jonyce expressed gratitude for degree from BYU's accounting program and that it has allowed her to face unexpected challenges that have come up in her life. She was a terrific speaker! We look forward to seeing her at future WSOA events.