Student Attends the IMA Leadership Experience

Scranton graduate student among the six students chosen to attend the Institute of Management Accountants Student Leadership Experience.
University of Scranton graduate student, Nicholas Varriano was among just six students worldwide selected to attend the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA®) Student Leadership Experience in San Diego, California, earlier this semester. Varriano, left, is pictured with Harry W. Zike, CFO of Chinook Sciences, member of the IMA Global Board of Directors and a 1976 graduate of The University of Scranton.
University of Scranton graduate student, Nicholas Varriano was among just six students worldwide selected to attend the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA®) Student Leadership Experience in San Diego, California, earlier this semester. Varriano, left, is pictured with Harry W. Zike, CFO of Chinook Sciences, member of the IMA Global Board of Directors and a 1976 graduate of The University of Scranton.

University of Scranton graduate student, Nicholas Varriano of Staten Island, New York, attended the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA®) Student Leadership Experience in San Diego, California, earlier this semester. This highly-selective experience included only six students from around the world.

This annual event provides students with a unique and exclusive experience focused around governance and leadership, and it provides students the opportunity to network with several top, senior executives. Over the course of three days, students attended several networking events and IMA Committee meetings, as well as a IMA Global Board Meeting. According to Varriano, it was an “unforgettable experience.”

 “It was an honor and a privilege to have been selected for the IMA’s Student Leadership Experience,” said Varriano, who earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Scranton in 2017. “It was invaluable to network with professionals, learn more about the accounting field, and gain further insight into this rapidly changing industry.”

During the application process, students were required to obtain a nomination from a professor. Not only did Varriano receive the required one nomination for his application, he received many.

“Nicholas is an exemplary student and individual,” said Faculty Specialist Ashley Stampone, who is the faculty advisor for the University’s IMA Student Chapter. “It was no surprise that the IMA’s Student Leadership Experience Selection Committee chose him. Nicholas is not only a student leader, he is a role model to his fellow classmates. He continuously helps his peers to improve professionally and personally.”

The IMA’s Student Leadership Experience Selection Committee comprised of a CFO and former chair of the IMA, a senior manager from Deloitte, the dean of the University of Massachusetts Lowell Business School, and professors from various universities and colleges.

Only students from IMA Higher Education Endorsement Program member schools could attend this experience. The University of Scranton received its endorsement in November 2017. Currently, just 36 colleges in the U.S. are endorsed by IMA.

Globally, IMA supports the profession through research, the Certified Management Accountant (CMA®) program, continuing education, networking and advocacy of the highest ethical business practices. IMA has a global network of more than 80,000 members in 140 countries and 300 professional and student chapters.

Varriano is a graduate of Monsignor Farrell High School and was a dean’s list student as an undergraduate at Scranton.

After earning his graduate degree from the University, Varriano will start with Ernst and Young (EY) as an audit associate in the fall of 2018.

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