HAYS, Kan. -- Students in the
Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting at Fort Hays State University
received real-world accounting experience recently in Topeka.
Marjorie Flesher and Misty
Patterson, Hays seniors,
under the supervision of Cole Engel, instructor of accounting, worked with the
Kansas Cavalry organization to compile financial statements to maintain their
non-profit organization status.
"Until a few years ago, they
had paid an accounting firm to get all the documents ready," said Engel.
"President Hammond is on the board of directors, and he put the idea
forward that a group of students could complete this task as a service learning
project." Dr. Edward H. Hammond is the FHSU president.
Students do all of the work, and
Engel reviews the results.
"Up until now, these students
have been able to check their answers with an instructor or a check-figure in
the back of the book," he said. "This is a great confirmation of
their skills, because there is no check figure: The only answer is what they
say it is."
Not only is this project a great
test of the skills learned at FHSU, but, said Engel, it's fun, too.
"To us accounting people,
making everything balance and getting the right numbers is exciting," he said.
It is also a great networking
opportunity for the students involved.
"A lot of local businesses are
involved in the Kansas Cavalry organization," said Engel. "This is a
good opportunity for students to get their name out there in the business
community."
According to its Web site, the
Kansas Cavalry is an organization composed of volunteer business, education and
economic development professionals who use their knowledge and credentials to
promote Kansas as an attractive location for business.
For more information about the
Department of Economics, Accounting and Finance, visit the Web site at
http://www.fhsu.edu/efa. The Kansas Cavalry Web site is
http://www.kansascavalry.org.