Andrea Hoffman loves Google calendar. Why? Because it helps her keep track of the many activities and commitments she has. And there are plenty of them. Andrea not only serves as president of her IMA^® (Institute of Management Accountants) student chapter on the campus of Culver-Stockton College, but she’s also the treasurer and secretary of the IMA professional chapter in nearby Quincy, Ill. She’s also on the executive board of her sorority, works a part-time job, and has achieved an impressive 3.8889 GPA. It’s no wonder that she was named the recipient of this year’s Student Cameron & McLeod Memorial Scholarship (SCMS), which recognizes an outstanding IMA student member.

Andrea’s journey to go-getter began early, when as a high-school student in Canton, Mo., she was involved in numerous activities, including sports and 4H. When she was a junior, she took a dual enrollment course in accounting and found that she liked it – a lot. Growing up in Canton, her decision to attend Culver-Stockton, located in that town, was an easy one.

Andrea, a senior who will graduate in May 2020, is currently a triple major (!) in accounting, finance, and marketing. She enjoys all three and isn’t exactly certain of her career path but hopes to eventually do something related to management in banking. She’s participated in several internships, which have expanded her skills, and she plans to start preparing to take the CMA^® (Certified Management Accountant) exam in Spring 2020.

An important influence on Andrea over the years has been Professor Dell Ann Janney, the IMA campus advocate and faculty advisor for Culver-Stockton’s student chapter. 

“The very first day of accounting class, in the fall of my freshman year, Dr. Janney encouraged me to attend our student chapter meeting,” Andrea says. That day, Andrea volunteered to be treasurer – the next year, it was secretary and this year, she’s president.

Because she believes in volunteer service, Andrea stepped up to another leadership role recently: treasurer and secretary of the IMA Quincy Chapter, the parent chapter of the student chapter. That opportunity also came thanks to Dr. Janney, who previously served as president and continues on the board as a director. She asked Andrea if she was interested and she agreed.

It was a good decision. Says Andrea, “Being involved in the parent chapter has been such a great experience. I’ve had the opportunity to network with some amazing professionals. I also have open access to asking questions, and many times I’ve reached out to get advice and insights.”

Thanks to her scholarship award, Andrea this past June was able to attend IMA’s Annual Conference & Expo in San Diego, a city where she had never been. She also recently attended the Student Leadership Conference in Charlotte, where she did an “Instagram takeover” on social media.

For Andrea, IMA offers “endless learning opportunities” and she doesn’t just mean for herself. She explains: “Not every member can attend conferences like these in person, so one of the things I like best is coming back and sharing what I’ve learned with others.”