Student Success

The “Gold” run continues for FIU Beta Alpha Psi chapter.

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The Beta Alpha Psi Eta Iota chapter at FIU Business has continued its record of excellence, capturing Gold Chapter Status for the 10th consecutive year.

Innovating new ways to support their members, the chapter developed a series of new or expanded events including “A day with big four,” inviting members to visit the accounting firms of Deloitte, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young. The chapter also introduced a workshop on Alteryx to bolster members’ data analytics skills.

“Our faculty advisor Jimmy Carmenate continuously pushes us to be better,” said Daniel Rodriguez, vice president of professional affairs at the FIU chapter of Beta Alpha Psi. “It’s the local firms and companies we partner with, even nationwide and global companies, and seeing how that culmination of everything is what contributes to us being Gold.”

To place in the KPMG Foundation Gold Challenge, each chapter must submit a video showcasing how the group goes above and beyond to meet the needs of their members. This year, FIU was among 10 universities, out of 328 worldwide chapters, to receive the coveted Gold Chapter status.

The recognition is a point of pride for the members, but so is their impact on each other. They have built a network of support, both professional and personal, to propel each student to their success.

“The growth that our members demonstrate throughout the semester, some of them don't even know what the Big Four are when they start,” said Jose Mejia, president of Beta Alpha Psi at FIU. “And when we come to the end, you see the drive in their eyes because they were able to gain the experience, and they want that for others as well.”

In addition to the academic excellence, professional development, advocacy and ethical practice at the core of Beta Alpha Psi, for members of the FIU chapter the kinship is what fuels them.

“It’s a community for sure,” said Rodriguez. “If it wasn't for Beta, my life would look a lot different just because of the opportunities I've gotten, the friendships I've made.”

The FIU chapter was founded in 1986 and currently has 94 members - from freshmen to seniors - studying accounting, finance and information systems. Its members are also making an impact in the community, leading service projects including feeding the food insecure, playing with kids at the YMCA and a suicide prevention walk.

“It’s such like a beautiful feeling, continuing the legacy of what the previous board members and the club has done for so many years,” said Mejia.

Their advice to other students: find your community on campus.

“Regardless of your major, join some type of club at your university,” said Philip Iacovelli, vice president of service at Beta Alpha Psi at FIU. “If you're not an accounting, finance, data analytics or information system student and you're some other discipline, find a club like Beta that will lead you in the right direction.”