UT Tyler Beta Alpha Psi Chapter Recognized with National Honors
August 7, 2026 | Hannah Buchanan
Students from The University of Texas at Tyler’s Beta Alpha Psi–Mu Kappa Chapter were recognized during the 2026 Beta Alpha Psi
Annual Meeting. The chapter also received “Gold” distinction for professional and
service activities during the 2025-26 academic year.
At the meeting, students networked with national and international peers, learned from nationally recognized accounting and business leaders and competed in prestigious national events that showcased both their technical knowledge and leadership abilities. Three Mu Kappa members were also selected to compete in Project Run With It, a nationally recognized consulting competition sponsored by the Baker Tilly Foundation. The competition pairs outstanding Beta Alpha Psi students with nonprofit organizations seeking innovative solutions to real organizational challenges.
“The international conference was more than just a conference –– it was an opportunity for our students to compete, collaborate and discover what is possible when preparation meets opportunity,” said chapter co-adviser David Marks, UT Tyler senior lecturer in accounting. “Our group gained new professional relationships, expanded perspectives and the confidence that comes from competing, and succeeding, on the international stage. Their efforts resulted in multiple international championships and reinforced the strength of UT Tyler’s accounting, finance and information systems programs.”
UT Tyler student participants, listed by hometown, were:
LONGVIEW – Connor Maxwell, national reporting officer.
MARSHALL – Lydia Lopez, vice president of membership.
MINEOLA – David Amador, vice president for special affairs/activities.
TYLER – Matthew “Jace” Brooks, vice president of service, and Rodney Hayes, president.
WHITEHOUSE – Miriam Ledlow, internal communications officer.
MISSISSIPPI – Melanie Spencer, treasurer.
Maxwell and Spencer earned “Gold” in the Becker Professional Education Community Impact Competition. Their challenge was to design a presentation that teaches high school students about entrepreneurship, accounting and financial literacy.
“We wanted to create more than just a presentation,” said Spencer, a UT Tyler senior. “We wanted to build something that students could actually connect with–something that would grab their attention, inspire them and show them that their dreams are possible. The best part is knowing that our presentation is now being shared across high schools, reaching thousands of students.”
As part of the PRWI competition, Brooks helped Junior Achievement of Central Maryland strengthen alumni engagement, with his team earning first place for their non-profit. Ledlow also captured a first-place finish with her team by developing a consulting solution for the Digital Harbor Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding digital literacy. With her team, Lopez assisted The Well, a non-profit dedicated to helping families. Although she and her team did not place first, she gained valuable professional insights.
“Working alongside talented students from across the world to develop solutions for a non-profit organization challenged me to think critically, collaborate effectively and apply what I’ve learned in a meaningful way,” added Lopez, a UT Tyler junior.
Beta Alpha Psi is an international honor organization for financial information students and professionals. Founded in 1919 at the University of Illinois, it operates more than 300 chapters globally at accredited universities, recognizing academic excellence while fostering professional development and ethical leadership. UT Tyler’s chapter, founded in 2009, is housed within the Soules College of Business. For more information, visit uttyler.edu.
With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 11,500 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.