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Wayne Lee, left, and Okorie Ramsey, both of the National
Association of Black Accountants (NABA), pose with MU
student Melissa Hamilton at the organization’s annual
convention in July. As one of 10 students nationwide to
receive the Distinguished Collegian award from NABA, Hamilton
had opportunities to network and attend seminars at the
convention. Photo by Ronald Baker of Solid Image Photographic
Service
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Well-Balanced
Accounting is more than just numbers for
MU senior Melissa Hamilton, an accountancy major with an emphasis
in taxation.
Hamilton’s volunteer work within the
field of accounting is just one of the factors that led to her
recognition as a National
Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Distinguished Collegian.
Only 10 students across the country are awarded this honor each
year.
NABA is a professional organization that
develops, encourages and serves as a resource for greater participation
by African-Americans and other minorities in the accounting
and finance professions. The collegiate
chapter at MU gives students a base within NABA as they
begin looking toward a career in accounting.
“This honor means a lot to me,”
Hamilton says. “I always strive to go above and beyond
the call of duty, no matter what I pursue. As I have had a pleasant
and productive experience at MU thus far, I feel this honor
is a reflection of my journey through my time at MU.”
Hamilton says that she chose to attend the
MU
School of Accountancy because it was one of the first schools
to introduce a 150-hour program allowing students to earn bachelor’s
and master’s degrees in accountancy in only five years.
Her involvement with NABA has given Hamilton
opportunities to serve the local community using skills she’s
gained at MU. As treasurer of the campus chapter, Hamilton composed
written budget proposals and helped coordinate the group’s
volunteer work with the Volunteer Income Tax Association (VITA). NABA members assisted VITA
in preparing income taxes for low-income families during the
busy tax season.
Hamilton also is the vice president of community
service within the Beta Alpha
Psi honorary accounting fraternity and will serve as an
Ernst and Young Accounting Excellence Mentor this fall.
Hamilton’s dedication to service mirrors
her commitment to her studies. She has maintained a GPA of 3.7,
has been on the Dean’s List throughout her three years
at MU and is a member of both the National Association of Collegiate
Scholars and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society.
Dr. Jenice Prather is the faculty adviser
for NABA members and has had Hamilton in class.
“Melissa is a great role model for
all students, especially African-American students, who desire
an accounting career,” Prather says. “She displays
the professionalism, detail skills, leadership skills and ambition
needed to be successful in pursuing her career goals.”
The NABA Distinguished Collegian award provided
Hamilton the opportunity to attend the association’s national
convention in Boston in July. There she participated in a week
of seminars, heard prestigious speakers and spoke with professionals
about their perspectives on the world of accounting.
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Last Update:
March 12, 2007
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