Student organization awarded distinguished chapter recognition

The 2020-21 members of Gamma Rho

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University’s Gamma Rho chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, an international honor society, has been recognized as a distinguished chapter for the 2020-21 academic year. 

The chapter, housed within the Haworth College of Business, has earned superior or distinguished status from the organization more than 35 times in the past 40 years.

DISTINGUISHED CHAPTER

Beta Alpha Psi is an international honor and service organization for accounting, finance and information systems students. Its mission is to inspire and support excellence through study and practice within the stated fields; provide opportunities for professional and personal growth through community engagement and networking; and emphasize the importance of ethical, social and public responsibilities.

Earning distinguished status is a significant accomplishment. Despite the challenges of a pandemic, the student members of Gamma Rho demonstrated great leadership and reached a substantial amount of professional and community service hours to achieve the designation.

“Earning distinguished status during such a challenging year took a great amount of dedication and effort,” says Dawn Mason, faculty specialist in accountancy and co-advisor of the group. “In addition to meeting the organization’s rigorous distinguished status requirements, the student members went above and beyond in their academic, professional and leadership activities.”

When in-person classes stopped in March 2020, the Gamma Rho chapter continued their efforts by:

• Holding virtual events with employers for chapter members and candidates.
• Offering professional development opportunities through workshops, mock interviews, and resume preparation and critique.
• Prioritizing and meeting on the topic of diversity and inclusion.
• Providing tutoring services for WMU Haworth students.
• Giving back to the community by collecting donations for Goodwill and sending cards to healthcare workers, active service members, veterans and children’s hospitals.

“I am so proud of how these students wholeheartedly took on the challenges of the pandemic and continued to support the community while providing engaging opportunities for members,” Mason says.

GAMMA RHO

Beta Alpha Psi has more than 300 collegiate chapters and has initiated more than 300,000 members since the organization's formation in 1919. The Gamma Rho chapter is actively engaged within the community and across the WMU campus. Visit the chapter’s website to learn more.

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