Thirty-three Florida high school students from as far away as Kissimmee and Land of Lakes got a preview of college life and the exciting career opportunities afforded by a degree in accounting. It all took place when they attended the Minority Summer Residency Program (MSRP) July 13-16, 2009, offered by the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA) and facilitated by the School of Accounting at Florida International University (FIU).

And why not?

The School of Accounting in the College of Business Administration at FIU has an active accounting association (FIU-AA) chapter with students happy to volunteer. Faculty members—including the school’s director and a FICPA vice president, Sharon Lassar, and Tessie Brunken (EMST ’86, BBA ’81), assistant director of student services—presented. An advisory board member and a vice president for Royal Caribbean, Thomas A. Burke (MACC ’93), arranged a tour of The Majesty of the Seas and presentations on private accounting. Ernst & Young, which works closely with the school to develop national opportunities for FIU accounting graduates, hosted a tour of their local offices and exposed students to public accounting.

“We want the brightest students to come into the career and to recognize what FIU has to offer, including the many benefits we provide to a diverse student body,” Brunken said.

Students—high school and college—show maturity and dedication.

“It was a great program,” said George Ramos (BACC ’09), a former FIU-AA officer who lined up volunteers as chaperones in the dorms, and who presented on the benefits of joining an accounting association.

“I thought it was awesome to help the students see more about the accounting profession and what it’s like to be at a university,” said FIU-AA member Carolina Urdaneta. “The students were very mature. Everyone knew what they wanted to do . . . something that took me years to find out.”