Business conferences raise over $400,000 for accountancy scholarships

The Gem State Tax Symposium and Gem State Business and Accounting Conference host hundreds of accountancy professionals on campus each year and have raised over $400,000 for student scholarships in the last decade.

The Gem State Tax Symposium and Gem State Business and Accounting Conference - celebrating 11 years and presented by the College of Business and Economics accounting department - offer accounting professionals the opportunity to gather, earn Continuing Professional Education credits and support Boise State students. Over the last decade, the conferences have raised over $400,000 for student scholarships.

Accountancy department lore says that the two conferences began thanks to the friendly rivalry between two of the department's main disciplines: audit and tax. And ever since, the conferences have done a world of good for both the accounting community and Boise State students.

"These conferences aren't just about staying up-to-date on the latest trends. They're also about supporting the next generation of accounting talent through scholarships," said Troy Hyatt, accountancy chair and associate professor. "By attending, participants are not only investing in their own careers but are supporting the future of the profession."

A shared vision

In 2013, Bill Lathen, emeritus tax professor and former College of Business and Economics dean, wanted to create a sustainable scholarship fund for accounting students before he retired. He landed on the idea of a Tax Symposium, an event that would gather local tax professionals to learn from industry experts, earn Continuing Professional Education credits and contribute to scholarships. Bill partnered with the University of Idaho College of Law, which was expanding its programs in Boise at the time. The first symposium was held on June 12, 2014.

Around the same time, Dan Fox, a former accountancy lecturer and Beta Alpha Psi faculty advisor, shared a similar goal of increasing accounting scholarships. Inspired by the success of the first tax symposium, he envisioned a conference for other accounting professionals. Deloitte, one of the "Big Four" CPA firms in the Treasure Valley, already held an annual CPE conference, so they agreed to partner with the accounting department and move the event to Boise State on Dec. 19, 2014. Proceeds benefited an endowed scholarship fund.

A decade of learning and giving back

Weather permitting, lunch at the Gem State Tax Symposium is held outside in the Idaho Central Credit Union Plaza, where participants can network and enjoy the beautiful surroundings while listening to a string quartet from the Boise State music department.

The Gem State Tax Symposium is held each year in May or June after the tax season rush. It's an all-day event with around 100 participants that brings top national and Idaho speakers to Boise State to discuss current tax issues, law changes and policy issues.

Over the last several years, it's been organized by Mark Cowan, distinguished professor and director of the master of science in accountancy-taxation programs, alongside an advisory board made up of tax professionals from CPA firms, law firms and major corporations, as well as other tax professors at Boise State and the University of Idaho. The symposium continued its partnership with the University of Idaho College of Law and provides participating tax lawyers with Continuing Legal Education and ethics credits. Proceeds fund the Symposium Scholar awards for accountancy graduate students. It was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic but will celebrate its 11th year in 2025.

"Planning the symposium is challenging because we cater to tax professionals who have various levels of experience and work in a variety of settings," Cowan said. "Participants range from small CPA firms to the Big Four, from multinational corporations to government agencies, and from entry-level staff to seasoned professionals. But the benefits of bringing this diverse group together to learn, network and support students is worth it."

The Gem State Business and Accounting Conference is held annually in December, and provides the latest updates and perspectives on business, accounting, and financial reporting matters relevant to private and public companies. The December date also provides professionals the opportunity to augment their CPE credits by year's end. The conference started as a full-day event but has evolved into a half-day event with around 200 attendees. Hyatt collaborates with Deloitte to organize the event and the partnership means all registration fees go to the Beta Alpha Psi Endowed Scholarship Fund, which awards merit-based scholarships to undergraduate and graduate accounting students.

This year, the Gem State Business and Accounting Conference will be held on Friday, Dec. 6. Registration is now open and available here.

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