The Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants held its fourth Leaders’ Institute for the states’ top accounting students last weekend. Here is a press release from the VSCPA:

The Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) held the fourth Leaders’ Institute for Virginia’s brightest accounting students on June 25–27 at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. With a generous $100,000 gift from accounting and consulting firm Baker Tilly (formerly Beers + Cutler), the VSCPA established the first-ever Leaders’ Institute in 2007.

Specifically designed for the top college accounting students in the Commonwealth, The Leaders’ Institute provides a hands-on workshop program for young aspiring CPAs. The only development program of its kind in Virginia, the Institute provides rising college seniors the opportunity for vital leadership training and real-life skills to successfully transition into the competitive marketplace.

The weekend-long event was attended by 70 accounting students who displayed exceptional academic achievement and a keen interest in business and professional services. The Institute focused on career-building skills and tools of the accounting trade offering insightful perspectives from seasoned professionals. Students were exposed to financial literacy and networking opportunities through interactive break-out sessions like “Business Etiquette” and “I’ve Got a Salary, Now What?”

“The Leaders’ Institute was a fantastic learning experience, and I absolutely enjoyed my time there. I learned about the tremendous amount of resources offered by the VSCPA, and gained a whole network of peers I can learn from as I work on my career path,“ said Minju Park, an American University student with the Kogod School of Business. Park was impressed with the well-planned, informative and entertaining format and even inquired about joining next year’s conference task force.

“The VSCPA is ecstatic about the turnout of students, CPA firms and VSCPA members, and overwhelming response from attendees,” said Bradford R. Jones, CPA, chair of the VSCPA Board of Directors. “With continuous support from Baker Tilly, I’m confident The Leaders’ Institute can gain awareness over time and encourage young people to look toward the accounting profession with its wealth of opportunities and resources.”

In addition to Baker Tilly, the VSCPA would like to thank the following sponsors of The Leaders’ Institute for their support of accounting and business education: Ernst & Young; Becker CPA Review; Cherry, Bekaert & Holland; Deloitte; Johnson Lambert & Co.; KPMG; National Association of Black Accountants; PBGH; RSM McGladrey; RyanSharkey; Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer; and the VSCPA Educational Foundation.