BAP BEAST OF THE WEEK

Name: JohnRay Akia 
Major/ Year: SenIor majoring in Accounting 
Internship: Currently interning at Myers and Stauffer and will be interning at SC&H over the summer.
 
The regional conference was a great learning experience where I was able to network with many different people in other chapters. It was also a great bonding experience for our group and I will cherish the memories we made for years to come. I was surprised when we won 1stplace for presenting, but felt that we deserved it after all the work we put in. I encourage BAP members to participate next year if they are able to. 
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Name: Ryan Michaels 
Major/ Year: Seniormajoring in Accounting
Internship: Interning at Cohen and Company. 

My experience at this year’s regional conference was great. Some of the highlights included going out to an awesome Italian restaurant with the whole shade and branches crew, and yes, the whole meal was free and covered by Beta Alpha Psi, as well as playing heads up the night before which helped to get our minds off the presentation the next morning. It was especially funny seeing Jayson trying to act out a lizard crawling on a wall, quite a hilarious/disturbing image for sure. Being a Beta Alpha Psi candidate last spring and someone who was able to attend the conference as a spectator, it was a great way for me to network and get to know the current leadership group on a personal level. I highly recommend any sophomores or juniors interested in attending this conference to at least go even if they do not want to present at the competitions- it is a great experience to get involved in BAP. This whole process of attending the regional conference the last two years was a great way for me to personally conquer my fear of public speaking and by winning this year’s competition, I now know I have the public speaking tools required to present in a professional setting at any point in my future career.

 
Name:  Quoc Nguyen 
Major/ Year:  Senior majoring in Accounting 
Internship:  Interning at Ellin and Tucker 
 
As someone who came back for the second time, the experience 2019 regional is still fresh, amazing, and enjoyable. Last year, we placed second I used that as a way to motivate my team to place higher this year. When I first accepted the topic, I really did not think that we would be able to do it, but after assembling the final team consisting of Ryan Michaels, JohnRay Akia and Taylor Walker, I knew that with this amazing team, we would be able to achieve the goal that we had set. Getting this first place was not an easy journey, there were many nights that we had to stay in the library until 12 and days that we had to put our personal time aside for the team. Everything was polished down to the finest details from the content of the PowerPoint, whether the line in the PowerPoint is even on both sides, or if the color match the theme of the PowerPoint, to how to walk up to the judges properly, where to stand when presenting, which hand is used to hand off the clicker, … After finishing regionals, I have created so many memorable memories with all the team members, memories that I will never forget and, the bond between our friendship has become tighter. One of my closest friends once said it’s not the result that matters, but the progress, the things that you’ve learn to get to the result is what matters, and I completely agree with it. Greater things are waiting for us at the annual conference. 

Name:   Taylor Walker 
Major/ Year:   Senior majoring in Accounting 
Internship:  ​Interning at John Hopkins Federal Credit Union

Being asked to participate in part of the regional conference only three weeks prior to the conference would have been the most stressful situation, however the 7 BAP members already involved in preparing for the conference made my transition simple.  The regional team members were extremely supportive and helpful as I tried to learn my place in the regional conference.  Being involved in the regional conference not only allowed me to connect with our BAP members but also BAP members of other chapters and different professional partners who love to support the organization.   Of my 4 years at Towson, the regional conference was one of my most memorable experiences and my number one greatest accomplishment bringing home 1st place.