The Epsilon Pi chapter of Beta Alpha Psi at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock was awarded the Distinguished Chapter of the Year award from the organization’s national office.

Beta Alpha Psi, an international honors society in the College of Business, focuses on the recognition and success of financial information students and professionals. The organization is open to students majoring in accounting, finance, and business information systems who have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

This year, the UA Little Rock chapter of Beta Alpha Psi has nine members and 11 candidates seeking membership. Since August, these students have worked diligently to complete the one service, six professional, and five reaching out activities required to obtain the distinguished chapter honor.

“These students are the reason this chapter is successful,” said Cynthia Johnson, UA Little Rock Beta Alpha Psi advisor. “What amazes me is that the students who wanted to restore the chapter back in 2014 knew that they would graduate before the organization was up and running, but their momentum and attitude has continued on with these students.”

According to Johnson, Beta Alpha Psi was disbanded from the university in 2007 as a result of low student interest and a lack of desire by faculty members to run the organization. In 2014, however, students saw the need for the honors society and worked toward renewing the organization.

“A lot of the reason our students wanted Beta Alpha Psi was because recruiters and people in the accounting profession look for the top students who are active on campus and complete service and professional projects,” Johnson said. “That’s what this organization is all about.”

This year alone, the students in the organization have completed 12 projects including speaking with at-risk youth, hosting a financial literacy workshop, and hosting a continuing professional education event.

“The students enjoy participating in these events because they get to actually be around professionals and get to see what professionals do in their fields,” Johnson said.

The organization is now looking to recruit online-only students through the use of Blackboard, which will give non-traditional students the opportunity to be involved with the on-campus organization.

For more information about Beta Alpha Psi, contact Johnson at cljohnson1@ualr.edu.