While accounting concepts can feel abstract in the classroom, with debits, credits, and tax codes dominating the conversation, Colorado Mesa University’s (CMU’s) Accounting Club bridges the gap by offering students authentic professional experience and a connection to their community.

The CMU Accounting Club’s motto could easily be “small ripples create big waves.” What started as a modest student organization aimed at bringing together aspiring accountants has evolved into a dynamic, professionally focused community that connects students to the broader accounting profession across the Grand Valley, the state of Colorado, and beyond.

From networking with partners in Denver’s major accounting firms to preparing tax returns for low-income families through the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, CMU’s Accounting Club creates hands-on, high-impact experiences that shape both professional skills and community values. 

In the winter 2025 issue of NewsAccount, now available online, Dr. Gary Hypes, JD, MBA, CPA (WV), CFE, who serves as the club’s faculty advisor, details some of the club’s activities, which reflect CMU’s Maverick spirit — bold, practical, and community driven.

Building Bridges Beyond the Classroom

Each fall and spring, the club takes its annual Mavericks in the Mountains professional exploration trip, rotating among destinations such as Denver and Salt Lake City. These multi-day trips allow students to meet with professionals at public accounting firms, private companies, and government agencies. 

The trips give students a front-row seat to see how accounting skills translate into diverse roles, from audit and assurance to tax, advisory, and forensic accounting. At the same time, participants have the opportunity to reflect not only on what career path they may choose, but also where they might like to live. The trips also serve as a tool for building networks that frequently lead to internships and job offers..

Meet the Firms Night: Launching Professional Futures

Each November, the Accounting Club co-hosts Meet the Firms Night (MTFN), CMU’s largest annual recruiting event for accounting students. The event brings together accounting firms, corporate employers, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations from both the Western Slope and the larger Front Range. Students meet in person with partners, managers, and recruiters to discuss internships and full-time opportunities.   

Learning Through Service: The VITA Progam

Underscoring the importance of giving back to one’s community, CMU Accounting Club members participate each spring in the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Club members prepare and file federal and state income tax returns for local residents — particularly low-income taxpayers, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.

Students undergo IRS training and certification before volunteering their time to serve members of the Grand Valley community. Under faculty supervision, they complete tax work with professionalism and accuracy, learning about not only tax law and compliance but also empathy, confidentiality, and civic duty.

Hypes notes that the VITA program transforms students into problem solvers and trusted community members while also creating the opportunity to build connections with local CPAs who volunteer their time with VITA. Many students describe VITA as the most meaningful part of their accounting education. For some, it even shapes their career paths, inspiring them to pursue tax practice, public service, or nonprofit accounting. 

The larger Grand Valley community feels its ripple effect as well: The 2025 filing season saw a 150% increase in completed returns over 2024.

The Ripple Effect

When CMU Accounting Club students graduate, they leave with more than a degree. They leave having sent a ripple that extends into firms, board rooms, nonprofits, and government offices throughout Colorado and beyond. Their experiences collectively shape them into confident, ethical professionals. Each ripple contributes to the vitality of the accounting profession on the Western Slope — and to the larger wave of integrity and service that defines what it means to be a Maverick.

To learn more about the CMU Accounting Club and how its endeavors help prepare students for an accounting career while also boosting the profession’s talent pipeline, check out the winter 2026 issue of NewsAccount. 

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The COCPA Emerging Professionals Initiative Committee (EPIC) unites students and emerging professionals through events, resources, and programs to support your professional growth. For more information, visit the EPIC home page.