Annual GAAP Spring Break Trip

Over spring break in March, the Great Alaskan Accounting People (GAAP) student organization sponsored its annual spring break trip to visit professional offices in both Fairbanks and Anchorage. This event provides accounting students with exposure to professional careers in accounting, as well as networking opportunities. New for this year, GAAP co-hosted the Anchorage visits with the accounting club at UAA. The School of Management students who participated this year were: GAAP Special Events Officer Kyle Brunger, Destiny Dowling, Olive Hager, Marisa Martinez, Jordan Osowski, Trent Rogers, Shawn Paggi-Howe, and Mathew Wrobel.

The SOM students flew to Anchorage on the 5:30 a.m. flight, and after breakfast the group met up with their UAA counterparts at the offices of Altman Rogers & Co, CPAs. Following that visit, it was on to the ConocoPhillips offices in downtown Anchorage. After a short presentation, the group participated in a “speed meeting” session with senior members of ConocoPhillips’ accounting and finance group. The group finished the day at the offices of BDO, the largest CPA practice in Alaska that also boasts a number of employees who are UAF alumni. Day two started at the offices of the IRS Criminal Investigation offices. Swalling and Associates was the next firm the group visited, and they wrapped up the day at KPMG’s offices in downtown Anchorage.

This excursion provided students the chance to visit an excellent mix of larger and smaller CPA practice offices, as well as governmental and industry employers. The trip is transformative for students since it allows them to explore opportunities that an accounting degree can provide and also talk with recent graduates to learn firsthand about their work experiences.  Coordinating with UAA was a big success all around, providing benefits to both students and the businesses. Students got to network with some of their peers at UAA and employers only had to host one large group visit instead of two smaller ones.

Kudos to GAAP for another successful and educational annual Spring Break trip!