In yet another strong showing for our Cal State Fullerton College of Business and Economics students, a group of business students took second place at a community-focused competition at the annual meeting for Beta Alpha Psi, an international organization for accounting, finance and information technology students.
Business Titans competed against their counterparts from around the world.
The winning team consisted of Tiffany Vo ’25 (accounting and finance), Catheryn Ngo ’25 (accounting), Ameerah Hirji ’26 (accounting and business analytics), Durga Devadeth ’26 (accounting and finance), and Trinity Tran ’27 (accounting and finance).
Trinity Tran shared with us the significance of this high-ranking finish and how a CSUF business education propelled her and her teammates.
What is involved in this competition? What is the criteria for selection?
The Beta Alpha Psi Best Practices Competition, sponsored by Deloitte, is an opportunity for BAP chapters to showcase advancements towards goals set by the BAP overseeing body and inspire replication by other chapters.
For the 2023-2024 school year, the topics included Innovation in Your Chapter, Empowering Professional Relationships and Empowering Community Service. Winning chapters are selected by a panel of judges consisting of BAP board members and professional partners.
To advance to the final international competition, chapters must first secure first or second place in a preliminary regional competition.
On Feb. 17, 2024, the CSUF BAP Delta-Beta Chapter placed first among nine teams in the West Coast conference held in San Diego in the Empowering Community Service category.
On July 27, our team competed again against eight other finalists to place second overall in the Annual Conference held in Orlando.
For our innovative service activity, our chapter’s mission was to elevate local high schools in disadvantaged communities through the power of financial literacy. By providing in-person workshops directly at high school campuses, we hoped our events could serve as a launch pad for young students to improve money consciousness and avoid financially vulnerable situations in the future.
Our workshops introduced various financial literacy concepts, including budgeting, setting financial goals, credit management, loans, preventing identity theft, and more. In addition to incorporating interactive activities to engage our students, we also provided a budget framework for student implementation and a digital brochure with a summary of the topics discussed.
How did your CSUF business education prepare you and your team members for this achievement?
While creating the curriculum for the workshops, our team integrated business principles learned from courses in accounting, finance, and other areas.
Furthermore, experiential learning opportunities at CSUF equipped our members with the teamwork, leadership and communication abilities needed to design and execute our financial literacy workshops. Leveraging experiences from internships and involvement in on-campus organizations like Beta Alpha Psi and the Business Honors program, our members were able to expand upon the material and build stronger connections with our students.
Additionally, the support and guidance from our professors and mentors were invaluable. Their expertise and encouragement fostered a learning environment emphasizing critical thinking, problem-solving, and a commitment to community service. This holistic approach to education ensured our team was well-prepared to excel in the competition.
What words of inspiration could you give to your fellow Business Titans?
A year ago, I never could have imagined our passion project would grow into an internationally recognized service initiative, impacting over 140 students in Orange County. However, working with my team members and the Delta-Beta chapter has shown me just how powerful patience, empathy, and leadership can be.
I’ve learned that making a difference doesn’t require anything extraordinary; all it takes is a heart pointed in the right direction to build a more promising future for our community. To all Business Titans, believe in the value of your experiences, the strength of your passion, and the positive impact you can create.
How does Beta Alpha Psi help students succeed? Why should business students get involved?
We are a professional organization on campus aimed at helping accounting, finance, and information systems students obtain professional, networking, and communication skills. With over 100 active members and a large alumni network, we provide a tight-knit community for like-minded students to create close connections, explore unique professional opportunities, and refine their business acumen.
Members have access to academic resources, career readiness workshops, leadership opportunities, and exclusive recruiting opportunities – all designed to prepare them for successful careers in business. Moreover, we host peer mentoring, social events, and community service activities to help students expand their professional network and grow stronger ties with their peers and local community.
