The Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) National Council awarded the Zeta Iota Chapter at the University of Nevada, Reno as a Superior Chapter for the 17th year. BAP is an international honors organization for financial information majors, which values academic excellence, professional development and community service. BAP chapters achieve superior status through chapter improvements and community service efforts.
The BAP Zeta Iota chapter has been a part of the University campus since 1981. Zeta Iota's consistent engagement both in professional and community events resulted in the Superior Chapter recognition.
Current Beta Alpha Psi Treasurer Mason Moschetti, a fourth-year accounting major and chapter member for two years, attributes the chapter's growth to comradery and collaboration.
"We've seen a lot of growth together,” Moschetti said. “We have great friendships, and that helps us do things easier.”
The Zeta Iota chapter hosts a handful of professional events each semester, including professional lunches, firm tours, the “Meet the Firms” event and a spring banquet. Professional lunches welcome individuals to speak to BAP members on industry-relevant topics about 10 times per semester. The chapter regularly tours prestigious companies such as Eide Bailly, BFBA, Moss Adams and Keystone CPAs. Once a semester, the chapter organizes “Meet the Firms,” a large-scale career fair dedicated to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in accounting, finance and information systems. Every year BAP plans a spring banquet, an end-of-year celebration to honor all the effort put forth by professionals and students.
Along with professional events, the Zeta Iota chapter participates in monthly community service events. Its members frequently volunteer with community-led nonprofits that aim to feed people without housing in Reno, including the Reno Burrito Project, Family Soup Mutual Aid and the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. On campus, BAP routinely partners with the Business Student Council to run events for the Professional Student Closet, a professional clothing closet that runs entirely on donations.
As for what Superior Chapter recognition means for current Beta Alpha Psi President Kate Wong, she believes it represents the chapter's unity in all its accomplishments.
"We strive to provide excellence, opportunities and meaningful insight into the accounting industry, and we could not do that without the support of our members," Wong said.
Wong has been a part of the chapter since the spring of 2022. Wong is a fourth-year accounting major with a triple minor in information systems, business analytics and cybersecurity. Before starting her presidency last semester, she was vice president of professional events and activities. Throughout her time in BAP, Wong watched the chapter experience fluctuations in membership and noted this as a priority when running for president.
"My goal for this presidency is to grow in membership size through restructuring our chapter operations and retaining members for future semesters," Wong said.
For the future, the chapter's executive board has already started restructuring the BAP chapter, reducing community service requirements and reinventing how they go about firm tours.
The chapter's current vice president, Jerod Zboinski, a fourth-year student and BAP member since the spring of 2022, is particularly excited about future community service events.
"I'm looking forward to our community service events that involve local areas," Zboinski said. "Next semester, we'll be speaking to high schoolers at AACT about accounting."
Beta Alpha Psi recruits new students every semester. For organization-related inquiries, contact Wong at renobappresident@gmail.com or via Instagram @renobap.