UNews - Ryan Parks

Dhillon School of Business alum makes top one per cent on CPA exam

caroline.zentner — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 20:47:32 +0000

Ryan Parks (BMgt ’17) scored in the top one per cent of candidates writing the Chartered Professional Accounting (CPA) Common Final Examination and was one of four Alberta writers named to the National Honour Roll.

“CPA Alberta called me a week before results were publicly released to give me the good news but they told me I was not allowed to tell anyone,” the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Dhillon School of Business alumnus says. “I was at work at the time and had to pretend like nothing had happened, all the while having the most ridiculous grin plastered across my face. I felt good about the exam, but I had no idea that I had done so well.”

Ryan’s success doesn’t surprise Dhillon School of Business Accounting professor Dr. Carla Carnaghan.

“Ryan always worked hard and performed well both as a student and as my teaching assistant,” she says. “I am delighted he pursued the CPA designation, and his success is well deserved.”

The Common Final Examination (CFE), the three-day exam that candidates write to demonstrate their competency in accounting, is just one step of many to becoming a Chartered Professional Accountant. Parks started with a degree in accounting, then secured a job through his co-op position at public accounting firm BDO in Lethbridge.

Parks then worked on completing required modules through the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP), working on two modules at the same time.

“That was a huge time commitment, but BDO was willing to let me take time off every day to work on my assignments,” Parks says.

The hard work paid off and Parks was able to write the CFE a full year earlier. To prepare for the CFE itself, Parks took approximately two months off work to study and hone his case-writing skills.

Parks says he now only needs to complete a certain number of hours in assurance-related services at his job, and then will be able to apply for membership as a CPA. Being so close to the membership finish line, Parks has some advice about perseverance for other students going through the process.

“Through the CPA PEP you will receive feedback from facilitators on the work you submit. Never get discouraged when the grades you are getting back from your assignment aren’t what you hoped they would be. Just learn from your mistakes and move on,” says Parks.

They’re encouraging words from a CFE writer in the top one per cent of the 6,163 people who wrote the exam.

Call Centre wrapping up season with simple message - Thank You

trevor.kenney — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 18:20:51 +0000

In downtown Lethbridge, on the second floor of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Dr. Foster James Penny Building, you’ll find a team of students, donning headsets, armed with stamina and ready to dial the numbers of U of L alumni and donors.

The student team has made calls to 20,000 alumni, raising more than $57,000 in gifts and pledges.

This team of 28-callers is a representation of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ itself; each with varying backgrounds, diverse majors and unique motivations, but bringing a shared passion for the U of L with a goal to raise support for the institution.

Unlike what you’d expect to see in a call centre, there is a unique buzz and energy as the students engage in conversation, asking alumni what they remember from their years studying or if they have any words of advice they’d like to offer. In turn, details around exciting campus projects and initiatives are shared.

Depending on who has been called, students will often also explain how crucial donor gifts are for the ongoing efforts of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and ask for support. For Ryan Parks, one student caller, it’s a personal question that is rooted in gratitude.

“I have been really lucky to receive a lot of support through scholarships. I feel like it has less do with what I’ve done, but rather what other people were willing to do for me by giving,” he says. “There are so many financial stressors and other stressors going on in life, and I’m sure those are still there when you graduate and possibly even more, but at a time when you’re trying to find yourself and get on your own two feet, it’s really helpful to not have to worry as much about money. I really can’t express how much that support means; I say thank you a lot.”

Nearing completion for the semester, the student team has made calls to 20,000 alumni, raising more than $57,000 in gifts and pledges. While that alone is an impressive outcome, the numbers tell only part of the success story.

“The students are having a lot of great conversations with alumni. The value goes well beyond the dollars raised,” explains Kathy MacFarlane, manager of development programs at the U of L. “ We are very pleased with the gifts we are getting and equally important the connections we are making with alumni.”

Rhys Hakstol, another student caller, recalls when he first recognized this aspect of his role.

“I had a conversation during my second shift where I talked to a guy for 45 minutes. He told me all about his life – he was a cancer survivor and was going back for his third degree at the U of L and was deeply connected to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ,” recalls Hakstol. “At the end of the call, I asked him if he’d like to make a donation. Because of his medical bills he wasn’t able to, but that’s when I understood that we’re not here to just get money, we’re here to listen and talk to people, too."

Hakstol will cross the stage at convocation this spring with a bachelor of sciences degree, and jokes about how he’s looking forward to hassling the student callers on the other end of the line next year. But with all kidding aside, he’s already given thought to how his role will change as he moves from being a student to a member of the U of L’s more than 37,000 alumni worldwide.

“I won’t directly see the ramifications of the donations we’ve received, but I think ultimately building a better university is good for southern Alberta as a whole and helps make our school one we can all be proud of,” he says. “When alumni show their support, it’s a vote of confidence in what the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is doing. It’s cool to be playing a part in helping projects go forward that will benefit future generations of students.”

Talent field finalized for Mar. 26 performance

trevor.kenney — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:43:49 +0000

The student organizers of the Lethbridge Has Talent Kids Help Phone fundraiser have chosen the final lineup of performers for their event, which takes place Saturday, Mar. 26 at the 1st Choice Savings Centre gymnasium.

The performers represent a varied selection of talented people from across southern Alberta. More than 90 people auditioned for 20 available spots in early March. The finalists are vying for cash prizes of $500 for first place, $250 for second place and $100 for third place.

A project of the 2011 Integrated Management Experience class at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Lethbridge Has Talent aims to showcase the best of local talent for a good cause – Kids Help Phone.

In alphabetical order (based on last name, group name, or last name of first person in group), the performers are:

FeiFei Du -- Play Classical Guitar
Angelica Doucette -- Play Guitar and sing
Olivia Earl -- Sing
Tyrel Hawke -- Play Piano & Sing
Rio Ingrao -- Violin Solo
Elisha Landayan – Sing
Shalisa Liesch -- Play Guitar & Sing
Kassidy Marchuk -- Sing
Jill MacDougall -- Sing
Jared Megee -- Classical Cello
Yumeka Ogita -- Play Classical Piano
Jordan Ostrom -- Play Guitar and Sing
Amy Qian -- Play Classical Piano
Shocked Standards – Rock Band
Tristan Skretting -- Play Guitar and Sing Original Song
Mariya Soetaert -- Play Guitar and Sing Original Song
Rudy Stoesz, Ryan Parks, Alan Iwaasa, Max Chambers Dumont -- Quartet Singing
Kiana Unger -- Dancer
Haley Van Rijn -- Dancer
Kurt Young & Jamie Medicine Crane -- Traditional Native Dancing & Singing

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for Saturday's final performance, and the program begins at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students/seniors/children over 6. A Family Pass (three or more) is priced at $20. Tickets are available all week in the Markin Hall Atrium, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall Atrium and also at the door on the day of the show.

More than $5,000 in Silent Auction items are also available for bidding. Kids Help Phone is Canada's only bilingual, 24-hour, toll-free, confidential and anonymous phone and online counselling, referral and information service for children and youth.

In a typical year, more than 10,000 trained volunteers across the country help kids in need from almost 3,000 communities more than two million times.

Judges for the event include Brent Books, a morning radio host on Country 95.5 FM; Allison Hawkins, a musician, singer and news reporter at Global TV Lethbridge; Dory Rossiter, a CTV Lethbridge weather and community activity reporter. Quinn Ohler, a reporter and news anchor for Global TV Lethbridge, will serve as the event's host.

UNews - Ryan Parks

Dhillon School of Business alum makes top one per cent on CPA exam

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Call Centre wrapping up season with simple message - Thank You

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Talent field finalized for Mar. 26 performance

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