This is part of #EberlyAmazingStudents, a series from the IUP Eberly College of Business and Information Technology that focuses on students who are involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities.
The IUP Eberly College of Business and Information Technology today features junior accounting major Macey Phillips, who chose to attend IUP because it was her local university.
Macey was born and raised in Indiana, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø. She grew up attending IUP-related events, and knew from the first time that she attended a homecoming parade that she wanted to be a future IUP student.
"I am thankful every day that I have chosen IUP," said Macey. "The campus is inviting and well maintained. My father received his undergraduate degree in 1991 and received his MBA in 2019. My family also has a long history of attending IUP, and I was very happy to continue the family tradition.
"After completing my first year at IUP, I decided to transfer to the business college and major in accounting. I was fortunate to have been able to join the Business Honors Program. During my time at Eberly I have found the faculty, staff, and administration to be extremely welcoming and excited for me to join their program.
"The facility is modern and well maintained, the courses are interesting, and each highly qualified professor shares their passion for their subject with students. I appreciate the opportunity to get to know other students through the cohort model.
"Eberly administrators, staff, and faculty are committed to making connections for students with alumni and other business professionals from a wide range of areas. I believe that, with my education from Eberly and the connections that it provides, I am being very well prepared for internship and job opportunities."
Regarding her experience with the transition due to COVID-19, Macey said, "I was very worried about the transition to online from classroom instruction; but my professors at Eberly were very helpful and understanding, and were working through the transition themselves! I put a lot of effort into ensuring that I finished off my semester in a positive way, despite being off campus.
"I believe that for someone to succeed there needs to be effort, not only in their studies, but also in everything they do. My favorite quote, and what I base my work ethic on, is, Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment,' by Mahatma Gandhi. This just continues to remind me that the outcome isn't always the most important aspect of doing something, but through an appropriate effort of preparation you will achieve your desired outcome."
Macey enjoys attending IUP basketball, alpine skiing at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, and snowmobiling in the winter months.
She enjoys just about anything that can be done during the summer months, including, but not limited to, kayaking, biking, swimming, and hiking. Macey enjoys cooking meals with her family and cooking in general, appreciating the flow of work involved in making a great meal.
During the summer, Macey works as a crew person at the local McDonald's. During the semesters, she works in the Eberly College Dean's Office, where she has the opportunity to work with students, faculty, and administrators. "Both jobs have taught me excellent interpersonal skills and have allowed me to appreciate the importance of serving others within differing business environments," said Phillips.
Macey plans to pursue both her CPA license and an MBA degree.
About #EberlyAmazingStudents
The #EberlyAmazingStudents series features students who are involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities. Associate Dean Cyndy Strittmatter is overseeing the project. "We are proud of our students who balance their academics with extracurricular activities and recognize the commitment that it takes to excel at all levels. We look forward to sharing their accomplishments with the IUP community and beyond!"