High School Students to Participate in Accounting & Information Management Academy

July 13, 2016

Twenty rising high school juniors from across Tennessee will participate in the Accounting & Information Management (AIM) Academy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business on July 16-20.

Highlights of the program include a Jeopardy-style game, in which students join teams to compete and test their knowledge, scheduled for July 20, and a financial literacy workshop entitled “It’s Your Money!” to be held on July 18.

The students, who have an average GPA of 3.6, were selected through a competitive process requiring essays, transcripts and letters of recommendation. The mission of the academy is to expose underrepresented students to the dynamics of the accounting world.

“The curiosity these students demonstrated in their applications was profound,” said Janice Branch, coordinator of academic support and engagement in the college’s Office of Access and Community Connections. “They were very specific in wanting to learn about accounting and their desire to attend the University of Tennessee.”

Now in its second year, the AIM Academy is sponsored by Dixon Hughes Goodman, a top-20 public accounting firm, and is open to rising high school juniors.

“We’re proud to partner with UT and the AIM Academy,” said Heather White, a campus recruiter with Dixon Hughes Goodman. “We are able to build relationships with best-in-class, high-potential students and introduce them to the accounting industry.”

During the program the students will learn about college admissions and financial aid, the foundations of accounting, business etiquette, professionalism, team building and financial literacy, as taught by Haslam faculty and Dixon Hughes Goodman staff members.

“These students will gain a solid foundation in accounting principles, financial literacy and college preparation, setting them on a path toward lucrative and meaningful careers,” Branch said.