BKD, LLP, the 10th largest accounting and advisory firm in the U.S., is continuing a long-established relationship with Mays Business School at Texas A&M University with a recent gift of $25,000. These funds will establish the BKD, LLP Accounting Education Endowment, which will impact several areas of accounting education at Mays.
Susan (Ernst)’86 and John McNamara ’86 found more than just an education that led to a great career in their accounting classes at Texas A&M University, they also found true love: the couple became acquainted when they were assigned to sit next to each other in Accounting 427.
As an alumnus, an accounting professional, and a longtime A&M recruiter for his firm, Billy M. Atkinson, Jr. ’72 has a unique perspective on Mays. He says he continues to be amazed at the improvements he’s seen in the school and specifically the accounting program since his years as a student.
Stephen Parker ’88 says that it was the generosity of other Aggies that helped him be successful during his years at A&M. Now, as a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, he is thrilled to have the opportunity to join with his firm to impact the current generation of Aggies.
With tax season adding stress to the lives of many Americans, the accounting department at Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School is lending a helping hand to low income people in the community—and educating students at the same time. The department was recently recognized by the United Way with their Community Impact Award for the class “Special Topics in Tax—Federal Taxation of Low Income Filers: Socio-Economic Forces,” which requires students to spend 54 volunteer hours assisting low income people to file their federal taxes.
Stanley Kratchman, a professor of accounting at Mays Business School, was recently named the recipient of the KPMG Mentoring Award from the American Accounting Association Gender Issues and Work-Life Balance Section. This national award is given each year to a teacher who has impacted the lives of women in accounting.
Improving the quality of education at Mays Business School at Texas A&M University is the goal of the differential tuition proposal, which will take effect in the fall 2008 semester. The plan involves a $610 increase for juniors and seniors in the business school each semester in addition to their university tuition.
According to the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, students from Texas A&M’s Mays Business School scored the highest overall pass rate in the state on the CPA exam (compared to other Texas schools with five or more candidates taking the exam). More than 83 percent of Mays students passed the challenging test, which is the gatekeeper for the field of accounting.
The Business Honors program at Mays Business School celebrated 21 years of excellence on January 31st. The festive gathering was a time to celebrate a milestone in the life of the program, as well as an opportunity to introduce prospective students to what Business Honors has to offer.
Continuing a tradition of support for Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, the Deloitte Foundation, a non-profit organization of Deloitte & Touche USA, has announced their largest individual gift during their 25-year history with the school, with a $500,000 endowed professorship.
