INSPIRE Business Camp Recap

A Day at INSPIRE

Accounting for the Future!

Hosted by the KSCPA, Kansas colleges & universities and businesses interested in accounting career development for Kansas high school students

See Photo Albums & Agendas from Past Camps

Accounting's Biggest Stakeholders in Kansas, You the Students
Exciting things are happening in the career path of accounting. As demand for accountants grows and the profession evolves, opportunity is everywhere. Reshaping what accounting was into what it could be starts with creating a future-ready workforce. The KSCPA INSPIRE Business Camp is the ideal environment to get feedback and insights from accounting's most significant stakeholders, starting with you, Kansas high school students looking for a promising career.

Collaboration is Key
The accounting career path is ripe with opportunity. Accountants are in demand, with demand projected to grow in the coming years. This surge creates endless options and vibrant futures for those on the accounting career track. The Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants (KSCPA) opens this door to Kansas high school students through the INSPIRE Business Camp. The camp introduces Kansas high school students to the vast array of career opportunities in the accounting profession. It is a collaborative effort that brings together Kansas high school educators, collegiate faculty and students, future employers, and impactful speakers in the business sector, specifically in accounting.

"I want you to have the success you dream of!"
Our 2025 camp started with an energetic and inspiring conversation with Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, CEO of KET Solutions LLC. She shared her journey into accounting. The obstacles she had to overcome to get to where she wanted to be. The people who inspired her to think big, not take no for an answer. Continue pushing through the barriers because the result is worth the effort.

A Panel of Peers
High school students had the opportunity to hear from a panel of current accounting students from various universities, large and small. The college students shared their paths, lessons learned, and advice they wish they had been given. The session ended with a Q&A session for students to ask any unanswered questions.

"Find your meaningful work. Find the work that will give you energy."
Carla McCall, Managing Partner of AAFCPAs & AICPA Chair, shared the not-so-linear path that led her to where she is today. She emphasized the importance of being open-minded and trying new things. Exploring options, seeing what fits and adapting as you discover who you are and who you want to be. Often, there are unexpected twists and turns. Don't be so focused on the result that you miss the important lessons along the way.

Building a Network
Team building was encouraged throughout the day. Team leaders representing accounting, whether from academia or the profession, were seated at each table to foster conversation and engagement. Students were seated with students from other high schools to expand their network beyond their peers. Interactive games and challenges were incorporated to encourage students to share and learn together.

Participants visited accounting career exploration booths to see where a career in accounting starts and where it can lead. At the booths, students talked to collegiate faculty, students, and future employers.

Many high school business educators brought a group of students to the camp so conversations could continue and be expanded upon in the classroom. The day culminated in future-ready roundtables to identify takeaways and next steps for students as they plan for their futures.

Building the Profession Together
The camp and accounting profession both have bright futures with endless possibilities. The Kansas Society of CPAs looks forward to continuing to serve as a conduit for connecting students, educators, and employers through the accounting pipeline. Learn more about the INSPIRE Camp, KSCPA (Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants), and the Accounting Career Track at www.kscpa.org/inspire-business-camp. 

We are beyond grateful to the Wichita State University staff for graciously hosting this year's event. We would also like to thank the organizations that sponsored and participated in the event. Universities: Emporia State, Fort Hays State, University of Kansas, McPherson College, Southwestern College, and Wichita State and Sponsors: Adams Brown, Deloitte, Goering & Granatino, KSCPA Educational Foundation, Pinion, Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk and Loyd, and RCM. We couldn't have done it without their involvement and support!

The Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants is a  2,000+ member association dedicated to supporting and developing its members while promoting the accounting profession. Learn more by visiting www.kscpa.org.