High schoolers gain accounting knowledge in university setting
This year the University of South Dakota has held various camps on campus. Last week 21 high school students attended the 2012 Summer Accounting Institute on the USD campus.
“The institute exceeded my expectations,” said Adam Presler of Sioux Falls. “At first, I thought it would be like school in the summer with a fun event here or there. However, I really enjoyed the work in the classroom and had fun with the outside activities.”
The camp was held from July 15-19 and hosted 21 high school sophomores and juniors from five Midwestern states. The camp is targeted towards students who are interested in careers in accounting and business.
During the event, students took field trips to regional businesses and a nationally- recognized public accounting firm.
Along with the field trips, students attended seminars and lectures on- and off-campus.
The camp wasn’t all numbers and learning though. Students also got the chance to go to Wild Water West in Sioux Falls and go to movies and other activities in the Vermillion area.
“I really enjoy accounting but I thought all we would be doing is accounting work all day,” said Ashley Riewe of Spirit Lake, Iowa. “I was surprised to see we had fun activities scheduled every day.”
At the end of the week, camp participants received individual and team awards. Along with the awards, five scholarships were given out to camp participants to be used for accounting here at USD.
Various companies sponsored this year’s event. Sponsors of this year’s institute included Deloitte, Eide Bailly, KPMG, McGladrey & Pullen Certified Public Accountants, The South Dakota CPA Society, Ernst & Young, Daniel & Jennifer Meyer, Casey Peterson & Associates, Ltd., Jones, Kramer & Haber, LLP, Daktronics, South Dakota Investment Council, Lurie Besikof Lapidus & Company, USD Beacom Opportunity Fund, Ketel Thorstenson, LLP and Williams and Company, PC.
Next years 2013 Summer Accounting Institute is scheduled to take place on July 14- 18. For more information on applying to next year’s institute or attending USD, please contact Erin Cornelsen – [email protected], (605) 677-5499 or visit http://www.usd.edu/business/.
