Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State's chapter of the accounting, finance and business information systems honor society is receiving a top international honor.
The 39-member Beta Alpha Psi student organization in the university's College of Business recently was notified of its selection as a 2011-12 Distinguished Chapter.
Founded in 1919 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, BAP now includes nearly 300 chapters worldwide, with a combined membership of more than 300,000. [For more, visit www.bap.org/about.aspx.]
In her congratulatory letter, BAP president Mary Stone also praised the MSU chapter's outgoing co-adviser, accounting associate professor Noel Addy.
"Under the leadership of Noel Addy, the chapter has exceeded the minimum requirement of Beta Alpha Psi and has excelled in the areas of academics, professionalism and leadership," Stone wrote to COB Dean Sharon Oswald.
Addy, a veteran member of the college's Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy, "has provided an invaluable service to your academic institution," Stone added.
Addy, an MSU faculty member since 1991, is a University of Florida doctoral graduate who taught previously at Texas A&M University. He gives up chapter advising duties following his selection for BAP's board of directors, where he will be responsible for administration and development.
Accounting instructor Angela L. Pannell continues as adviser for the campus group that received its MSU charter in 1960.
Current chapter officers include president Claire E. Franks of Olive Branch; vice president Brianna Hill of Booneville; Heather M. Ammons of Madison, recording secretary; Mary Kimble Bridgers of Belzoni, corresponding secretary; and treasurer Nicole E. Rinaldi of Tupelo.
Other chapter leaders include Hollie M. Phillips of Corinth, tutoring coordinator; John Morris of Caledonia, Adkerson Career Fair coordinator; and Roshni Patel of Hazlehurst, activities chair.
All are accounting majors; all are seniors but Patel, who is a junior.