Grace Accounting Fair Celebrates 10 Years
September 21, 2017 at 5:22 p.m.
By Staff Report-
This year, Tammara Jongkind returned to the fair representing her employer, CapinCrouse LLP.
Jongkind is a 2010 Grace College graduate and senior audit manager at CapinCrouse in Colorado Springs, Colo. She attended the first Accounting Career Fair in 2008.
“As a student, the point of the fair was to learn about the building blocks of the industry,” Jongkind said. “It provided an opportunity to interact with accounting professionals and receive career guidance.”
Although Jongkind did not interview with CapinCrouse representatives in 2008, the career fair was a stepping stone. “I love Grace,” Jongkind said. “I’m a big proponent of the school, especially the accounting department. Dr. (Roger) Stichter and Marsha Yocum set me up well to succeed.
“Grace provides more than an education; it teaches students how to be Christians in the professional world.”
Stichter is professor of accounting at Grace College; Yocum is administrative assistant in the School of Business and facilitates the Accounting Career Fair.
CapinCrouse is a biblically based organization specializing in tax, consulting and audit services for nonprofits, churches and higher education.
As an employer at the fair, Jongkind was excited to interact with current students. “Grace students are key to our success as a business,” she said. “We want to pull from students who are already grounded as Christians. And even if students don’t want to enter public accounting, interacting with someone who has succeeded in the field is valuable,” she said.
During the Accounting Career Fair, students mingled with employers and asked questions about the field. After lunch, employers held interviews with students.
The face-to-face conversations provide connections with potential future employers. “Every year, quite a few students are called to the companies for more intensive interviews and are offered jobs,” explained Yocum. “Juniors who attend may be selected for internships in the spring.”
Ashley Myers is one such junior who wants to find an internship from the career fair. “I hope to find a spring or summer internship that will lead to a full-time job in the future,” she said.
Myers is an accounting major from Nappanee who aspires to be an auditor at a CPA firm. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to meet and interact with potential employers today. I’m hopeful that the connections I made will advance my career,” she said.
Four accounting firms and 30 students from four area colleges participated in the first Accounting Career Fair. In 10 years, participation has more than doubled.
This year, Tammara Jongkind returned to the fair representing her employer, CapinCrouse LLP.
Jongkind is a 2010 Grace College graduate and senior audit manager at CapinCrouse in Colorado Springs, Colo. She attended the first Accounting Career Fair in 2008.
“As a student, the point of the fair was to learn about the building blocks of the industry,” Jongkind said. “It provided an opportunity to interact with accounting professionals and receive career guidance.”
Although Jongkind did not interview with CapinCrouse representatives in 2008, the career fair was a stepping stone. “I love Grace,” Jongkind said. “I’m a big proponent of the school, especially the accounting department. Dr. (Roger) Stichter and Marsha Yocum set me up well to succeed.
“Grace provides more than an education; it teaches students how to be Christians in the professional world.”
Stichter is professor of accounting at Grace College; Yocum is administrative assistant in the School of Business and facilitates the Accounting Career Fair.
CapinCrouse is a biblically based organization specializing in tax, consulting and audit services for nonprofits, churches and higher education.
As an employer at the fair, Jongkind was excited to interact with current students. “Grace students are key to our success as a business,” she said. “We want to pull from students who are already grounded as Christians. And even if students don’t want to enter public accounting, interacting with someone who has succeeded in the field is valuable,” she said.
During the Accounting Career Fair, students mingled with employers and asked questions about the field. After lunch, employers held interviews with students.
The face-to-face conversations provide connections with potential future employers. “Every year, quite a few students are called to the companies for more intensive interviews and are offered jobs,” explained Yocum. “Juniors who attend may be selected for internships in the spring.”
Ashley Myers is one such junior who wants to find an internship from the career fair. “I hope to find a spring or summer internship that will lead to a full-time job in the future,” she said.
Myers is an accounting major from Nappanee who aspires to be an auditor at a CPA firm. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to meet and interact with potential employers today. I’m hopeful that the connections I made will advance my career,” she said.
Four accounting firms and 30 students from four area colleges participated in the first Accounting Career Fair. In 10 years, participation has more than doubled.
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