Every November and December since 2004, dozens of CPAs visit high schools around New Jersey to discuss the opportunities and rewards of careers in accounting. The outreach effort called
Pay It Forward includes videos, a presentation titled "Tomorrow's CPA, Solving the Puzzle", fun facts and information about the NJSCPA scholarship program. We even give away a great prize, usually an iPod or Wii, to one lucky student.
The Society encourages its more than 15,000 members to spend a couple hours of their time talking to students at their local school, alma mater or in their community. In 2009, more than 9,200 New Jersey high school students heard about the accounting profession from NJSCPA members. Watch the
Sneak Peek video to hear from teachers, students and CPAs about the program.
Here's what members have to say about Pay It Forward:
“My wife and I love making Pay It Forward presentations,” confesses Edward M. Oberman, CPA. Edward and Lee Ann Oberman, CPA, share a broad background from having worked at national firms, and the couple now owns its own firm in Turnersville. “We enjoy enlightening high school kids about working in the accounting profession,” he says. “Kids at the schools we’ve spoken at became New Jersey Society of CPAs scholarship recipients because we told them about the Society’s scholarship program.”
Sharon J. Bishop, CPA, has been making presentations since 2004 in a financially challenged, minority school district. “I go because it’s important for these students to know that the accounting profession is an option,” says Bishop. “It’s apparent that no one’s talked to them about college or the college planning process. So I try to tell them as much as they can absorb, including practical things like W-4s, bank accounts and dressing for an interview.”
If you're interested in making a presentation at a local school, contact Mindy Ripp at mripp@njscpa.org or 973-226-4494 x241.