News Archive

USF Beta Alpha Psi, advisor receive top awards

(August 27, 2013) — Accounting instructor Jennifer Cainas and accounting honor society Beta Alpha Psi received top awards at the national Beta Alpha Psi Annual Meeting recently.

Cainas received the Outstanding Faculty Advisor award, and USF's chapter of Beta Alpha Psi was named a KPMG Gold Chapter for the fifth consecutive year -- one of only two schools internationally to have received this honor since the award's inception in 2009.

The Outstanding Faculty Advisor award recognizes faculty advisors who make substantial contributions to the professional growth and development of business financial information students. Faculty advisors often work many additional hours to be present at various Beta Alpha Psi meetings, community service activities, firm receptions, member initiations, and to meet with chapter officers to plan for the months ahead.

"From the minute she set foot at USF as an instructor, Professor Jennifer Cainas started to impact the lives of students," Beta Alpha Psi members wrote in a nominating letter. "She not only served as an instructor in the classroom, but as a mentor who encouraged and inspired students as well. She has been the recipient of the Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy Outstanding Faculty Award, which is chosen by students, because we recognize that she is responsible for sparking the passion that drew us to the accounting field."

Cainas was one of five advisors to receive the award. In addition to being recognized in front of their chapter and their peers, recipients also received a plaque and a $5,000 cash award from McGladrey in recognition of their achievements

In addition to being named a KPMG Gold Chapter, the USF Beta Alpha Psi chapter also maintained its Superior status for the 39th consecutive year, and is the only chapter to maintain this status for that number of consecutive years. According to Beta Alpha Psi International, "The Gold Chapter status is the highest award level a chapter can receive. The award is given to chapters which continually demonstrate and exemplify the highest values of Beta Alpha Psi: leadership, scholastic success, lifelong learning and development, service, and ethical behavior." Chapters must have been awarded superior status for the current year as well as the previous year to be eligible.