As has been done for a number of years, the Dallas CPA Society again awarded scholarships to several bright and deserving students attending colleges and universities in the Chapter’s geographic area. The students (there are six this year) are either graduate accounting students or seniors majoring in accounting at one of the following schools: University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas at Arlington, Southern Methodist University, University of North Texas, and Texas A&M – Commerce. The recipients are chosen by the Scholarship committee based on an extensive application that is submitted and due diligence that is subsequently performed by the committee members.
Thanks to each of you who have contributed to the scholarship fund either directly or as part of the dues check-off. Your contribution enables the Chapter to continue to recognize and support some very qualified and deserving future CPAs!
We will spotlight one student in each newsletter and give you a little background information about each of them. If you happen to know one of them, please congratulate them for their accomplishments; they, and others like them, are the future of our profession!
Greetings fellow Dallas CPAs,
JESSICA TACKETT, was born and raised in Texas. I have moved with my family throughout the state. In 2004 I graduated Valedictorian from Rocksprings High School in Rocksprings, Texas. In high school, I worked at the local Super S Foods grocery store, and I was the district and regional University Interscholastic League (UIL) accounting champion both my junior and senior years. I was also elected president of both the National Honor Society and Student Council, and I received the title "Most Likely to Succeed." My experiences in the UIL and substituting as an interim bookkeeper at Super S lead me to pursue an accounting degree.
In June 2005 I enrolled in North Lake College where I attended full-time until transferring to Southern Methodist University in 2006. In recent years I have participated in accounting internships with Turner Construction, Deloitte, and Travis Wolff. On May 16, 2009 I graduated from SMU with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and a minor in Psychology. I am attending the Cox Business School's MSA program full-time for the 2009-2010 academic year.
One of my biggest challenges has been raising my four year-old son on my own. Without the support of my family I would not have been able to pursue my education to this point. This support has allowed me to not only earn my Bachelor’s degree but to also take the time to pursue a minor I enjoy.
Ironically, my two favorite courses, Organizational Psychology and Cost Accounting, are indirectly related to my career as a tax accountant. Organizational Psychology has taught me more about the various influences to relationships within the workplace and how companies can most effectively utilize their resources and employees. I found my Cost Accounting course equally as fascinating as I learned about the interactions between a business's products and costs and how this determines its success.
Over the years I have greatly enjoyed my accounting courses and tax internship work which led me to pursue a MSA with a tax concentration. With this concentration in tax, I believe my degree will be an even greater asset to my career.
I have already accepted a full-time position with Deloitte's Lead Tax Services group, and I will begin in the fall of 2010.
