It may not have been Los Angeles or Barcelona, but a robust spirit of goodnatured competition filled the Peterson Recreation Center on March 31 when the Accounting Olympics returned to Providence College.
The daylong event brought together more than 100 PC accountancy majors, accountancy alumni, professionals from the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche, LLP, and Department of Accountancy faculty members.
The students spent their Saturday participating in 10 “Olympic-style” events like “Putt to Professionalism,” “Closing the GAAP,” “Coffee Run,” “Audit Bag Toss,” and “Jeopardy.” Wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the PC Friar logo and “Accounting Olympics 2007,” they worked in teams of freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors to outwit their opponents and to garner the best times and results in events. Each cross-class team represented a different country.
The day included Olympic-themed music, food, medals, and prizes, all provided by Deloitte. The students even participated in a loud, Olympic-style closing ceremony parade—toting country flags they had created—around the Peterson Recreation Center.
The Accounting Olympics were coordinated by the accountancy department, the student-based PC Accounting Association, and professionals from Deloitte’s Hartford, Conn., office. The final details of the Olympics were ironed out by Margaret P. Ruggieri, C.P.A., assistant professor of accountancy and faculty advisor to the Accounting Association, and Conor McManus ’07, association president.
Numerous accountancy alumni returned to watch and assist in running the various events. In addition to Deloitte partners C.O. “Guy” Peterson, IV ’89 and Susan Svitila Esper ’91, other graduates included Lisa Amara ’01, Kevin Kiernan ’03, Ryan Fenton ’05, Dan Gonsalves ’05, and Gregg Treml ’05.
The winning team in the Olympics was Sweden and comprised Ryan Brunell ’07, Elyse Roberts ’07, Elizabeth Gumkowski ’07, Meghan Maguire ’08, Jennifer Ojala ’08, Paul Vasquez ’08, Margaret Watt ’08, Kate Larsen ’09, Jenny Arvanaghi ’10, Lise Marie Curda ’10, and Daniel Fisher ’10.
Awards to the first-place team were portable sling chairs. The second- and third-place team finishers received athletic bags and sling bags, respectively. Deloitte gave all of the participants water bottles and presented faculty members with thermal travel coffee cups.
A chance to showcase, network
The Accounting Olympics were a poignant opportunity to spotlight the accountancy profession and to expose undergraduates to professionals in the field, said attendees and participants.
“The students really had fun with the different events and were provided another opportunity to meet alumni working in the profession. Deloitte did a fine job in helping coordinate the Olympics and providing a memorable experience for our students,” said Dr. Patrick T. Kelly, assistant professor of accountancy and department chair.
“Not only did I meet many underclassmen accountancy majors,” said Tiffany Foynes ’07, “but it was also a chance to network with Deloitte employees. There was a good mix of physical and mental activities.”
Another accountancy major who participated, Gregory Hartwell ’07, said, “My non-accounting friends gave me a hard time for participating, but, although it may seem a little dorky to say, I had a good time. I am glad that I competed.”
Foynes and Hartwell are two of eight members of the Class of 2007 who have been hired for positions with Deloitte in either Boston, Hartford, or New York City after they graduate, according to Carol A. Hartley, C.P.A., assistant professor of accountancy. Hartley, who noted that six other accountancy majors will have internships this summer with Deloitte, added that 83% of the accountancy majors in this year’s graduating class have accepted professional positions with one of the “Big Four” firms of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, and KPMG LLC.