CPA Scott Adair discussed the New York State Society of CPAs Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) program Monday on News 8 at Sunrise.

For the last 30 years, the NYSSCPA has operated the free, three to five day college exploration summer program which introduces youth – specifically those in groups historically underrepresented in the accounting profession – to the possibilities of becoming a CPA.

This year, COAP will be held at nine college campuses across New York with up to 30 students at each site, including RIT.  The program is targeted to high school juniors.  The RIT program begins Sunday, June 26 and goes through June 29.  The deadline to apply for the RIT program is May 13, click here.

During the program, students stay on campus in dorms and take part in a curriculum of business and personal development courses including mock interviews, resume tips, and dressing for success.  Students also have the opportunity to visit corporations, accounting firms, and government agencies to gain exposure to the day-to-day business world.

Participants in the COAP program are eligible to apply for a COAP College Scholarship, which provides $2,000 per year for up to five years for students studying accounting and a college or university in New York State with the intention of becoming a CPA.

The program has graduated more than 3,500 students since its inception.  In the past six years, it has paid out over $1 million in scholarship funds to COAP students.