Last Friday September 13 2013, the Association for Accounting Students (“Asociación de Estudiantes de Contabilidad”) from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Chapter, celebrated their initiation ceremony in Edificio Sila María Calderón. This eminent association from the School of Business, dressed in semiformal wear to perform the protocol of initiating new members and directives for the year 2013-2014. The decoration of the activity was simple, yet very elegant.
The white table cloths with goodie bags, pens and notebooks gave it a professional look but with a charm that matched very well with the white floors, walls, and high ceilings of the building. The night was hosted by Professor Juan Martínez who gave the introduction, welcome and presented the new directive for the year. Following him and the national anthems, the vice president of the AEC, Emmanuel Cruz who gave a reflection about leadership using the quote “The one who wants something, finds a way, he who does not, finds an excuse”. Aníbal Jover, the President of the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Puerto Rico, took the mike after Cruz and gave a motivational speech about the great opportunities that come from being part of the prominent association with a baseball analogy telling the young crowd “There is no reason for not having success”. Dr. Angel Rivera, a management professor from the faculty, was the guest speaker for the night. Rivera draught students to ask themselves: “what type of professional will I be?” Subsequent to all the messages, the process of shifting directives began with the speech of last year’s president, Emmanuel Candelario and the acceptance and pledge of the new president, Alberto Bonilla.
Bonilla stated during his dialogue: “I do feel pressure, but it is a good pressure that drives me into doing new and better things”. Afterwards, the new president proceeded to the pledging of this year’s directive and members. The certificates were handed in groups of three until every name was called. Bonilla then conducted the closing of the ceremony and ushered everyone to the banquet area. When asked about the formal procedure, the external public relation specialist, Carla Paola Ruiz affirmed: “It was a very successful activity. The food, the music and decorations were excellent. But most important, the members really seemed to have enjoyed it.” Alberto Bonilla also gave us his point of view saying: “I am very happy with the number of members that registered and I see a lot of them already socializing which is one of the goals for the year. My objectives with the association are: to win the chapter competition, be noticed in the School of Business and to ultimately, develop professionals”.
Executive Committee 2013-2014:
Alberto Bonilla – President
Emmanuel Cruz – Vice-President
Anais Negrón – Secretary
Andrea Del Valle – Treasurer
Angel Díaz – Financial Analyst
Reinaldo Pereira – Intern Public Relation Specialist
Carla Ruiz – External Public Relation Specialist
Angel Suarez – Activities and Promotions Director
Alice Abboud – Historian and Operation Manager and Logistics
Alexandra Masa – Community Service Activities Director
Pictures by Matos Photography