MSCPA Honors MC's Sandra Parks
"We love her to death," said Jack Coppenbarger, executive director of the 2,600-member organization of Mississippi CPAs. A longtime member of the Jackson-based association, "Sandra is always there for us," he said. "She's been very active in our association."
Parks, who lives in Clinton, will be recognized for the honor at the organization's summer convention in Destin, Fla. in June 2008. The group's Awards, Education & Scholarship Committee accepted nominations for the award for 2007-2008. She was recently notified of the honor.
Parks received her bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Mississippi and holds a master's in business administration from Mississippi College. The CPA teaches elementary accounting and cost accounting at MC and has long been an active supporter of student organizations. Parks also teaches intermediate accounting and has spent most of her life teaching auditing and CPA review - auditing. The Mississippian joined the MC faculty in 1976. "I am indeed honored to be this year's recipient of the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants' outstanding educator award, but the goal of my life's work is not for accolades, but for the sheer pleasure of seeing our students excel in the workplace and in life."
Earlier this fall, Dean Marcelo Eduardo and other MC professors gathered to congratulate Parks on her achievement at School of Business headquarters at Self Hall. Some of her admirers include accounting professor Sheree Corkern, one of her students more than two decades ago. "I have always been impressed with the professional way in which she carries out her duties," Corkern wrote in a letter nominating Parks for the award. "She has gained respect of the faculty members and students by working hard and treating people fairly."
Parks, who worked in public accounting for a decade before coming to MC, "is an excellent teacher and is engaged in service to the profession and to her community," Corkern said.
Parks is a vital part of the success for MC's growing School of Business. It is the biggest school at the Christian university with 750 undergraduates and 190 graduate students. Enrollment is growing at the rate of eight to 10 percent annually, Eduardo said. A $1.2 million renovation of 45-year-old Self Hall on College Street should be completed in August 2008 thanks to the school's Continued Excellence Campaign.
PHOTO (l-r): Wayne Nix, MC assistant accounting professor; Jacqueline Jones, MC associate accounting professor; Sandra Parks, MC accounting professor; Sheree Corkern, MC accounting professor; Marcelo Eduardo, MC School of Business dean; and Mark Morgan, MC accounting instructor.
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