Grambling’s chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) is holding its annual banquet on April 20 to help raise money for Grambling State University accounting students who are attending professional conferences in 2015. Much of the proceeds will help students attend NABA’s annual Southwest Western Region Student Conference in October. Around 25 to 35 of Grambling’s accounting students attend this conference every year, and it helps them gain valuable skills designed to enhance communication and interpersonal skills in a professional environment.

“A lot of professionals from accounting firms come, and there are various professional development seminars. Students also talk to career recruiters, and some get interviews for full-time jobs and internships. Some students are awarded scholarships,” said Nonso Okpala, faculty adviser to NABA.

It can cost more than $2,000 to provide transportation for NABA students and their faculty chaperones to attend the conference. In addition, there are still registration fees, lodging, meals and gas costs to consider.

The banquet will be held April 20 in the Betty E. Smith Nursing Building in Room 168 at 6 p.m. The guest speaker will be Dr. Janet Guyden, the interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at Grambling State University. The banquet will celebrate NABA’s accomplishments throughout the 2014-2015 academic year and honor special award recipients.

Tickets are $10 for students and $20 for the general public. If you would like to purchase a ticket for the banquet or donate money to help NABA’s students, please contact Shareika Benjamin at shareika_benjamin@hotmail.com or Nonso Okpala at (318) 274-6288 or okpalan@gram.edu.