Three members of Beta Alpha Psi received unexpected help when they went to work at the Meals on Wheels event, held in Ann Arbor on Sept. 20.
Governor Rick Snyder volunteered for the day with a few of his aides. First time volunteers Breyan Garcia-Ramiriez, Alicia Prichard and Nicholas Walters had no idea he would be there.
Not even the staff from Meals on Wheels knew that the governor was planning on coming, said Howard Bunsis, BAP’s faculty adviser.
BAP is a national honors organization for financial information students and professionals that formed in 1919 and has local chapters in several different regions and schools. EMU’s College of Business hosts one chapter.
Governor Snyder, a certified public accountant, share some advice about the field with the accounting students at the event.
“After we helped unload the truck, he talked with us further about the accounting profession. It really was an exciting and unique experience,” BAP candidate Nicholas Walters said.
Meals on Wheels is a charity organization that makes food and delivers it to people who have difficulty leaving the house. Somewhere between three and five students from BAP work for Meals on Wheels four to five days of the week.
Though Meals on Wheels is a popular charity, it isn’t the only organization BAP volunteers for.
“We do about 1,000 hours of community service as a club for a given semester among the students,” Bunsis said.
On Sunday, some members participated in the Alzheimer’s Walk at Washtenaw Community College. Later this month, BAP members will join the Walk for Autism in Detroit, and many students participate in Voluntary Income Tax Assistance this winter.
“We do, for free, the tax returns of low-income people in the Ypsilanti community,” Bunsis said.
The students are trained to work on tax returns and take certification tests to prepare. Last year, the organization helped almost 200 people in the Ypsilanti area with tax returns.
BAP also holds meetings every Wednesday, often featuring speakers from different industries. The speakers discuss topics like what a resume should look like and what should go in it, as well as how to dress and act for a dinner meeting.
“It’s a good way to help our students get employed,” Bunsis said. “I’ve gotten to know the recruiters but, in many cases, the people who are giving the presentations are my former students.”
BAP members are primarily accounting students, but it is open to all business students interested in joining
“I would say the most valuable part of being a part of BAP so far is getting to know fellow accounting students,” Walters said. “It's only been two weeks, but I can already detect a difference in my experience here at Eastern. It's allowing me to reach out and connect with students, faculty, as well as potential job opportunities.”
“I’m just proud of the students. It’s all the students, they deserve all the credit. They’re the ones that do the hours,” Bunsis said.
