By CASSIE SLANA
Reporter

(WARRENSBURG, Mo., digitalBURG) — The Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants named Janice Klimek Missouri’s Outstanding Accounting Teacher of the Year for 2015 during a ceremony Nov. 12, 2015.

“I was humbled,” Klimek said. “I guess we make a difference in so many ways that we don’t even realize, so, it was great.”

Klimek is a professor in the UCM School of Accountancy and graduate program director whose continuous contribution to the university’s accounting program since being hired in 2001, has led to this recognition.

“She has been very instrumental in helping our overall program to develop over the last decade,” said Steve Popejoy, fellow member of the MSCPA and head of the accountancy program at UCM.

As the director of the department’s graduate program, part of Klimek’s focus is on raising recognition and awareness of the program itself. A component of her work has involved the development of curriculum for the 150-hour program. Students in this program acquire their Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and are on track for transition into the master’s program in accountancy, to complete within the span of roughly five and a half years.

Jo Koehn, professor in the school of accountancy, nominated Klimek for the award. Koehn won the same award when one of her students nominated her in 2014.

“It seemed like an incredible honor to me,” Koehn said. “The recognition makes you feel like what you do is valued and noticed, and it humbles you all at the same time.”

Popejoy said the sequential recognition reflects well on UCM’s program.

“We are up against larger schools like the University of Missouri, Missouri State University and Washington University,” Popejoy said. “Our program is highly respected (with) the top tax program in the Kansas City area.”

Klimek’s nomination received support and special recognition from her colleagues.

“(Members of the program) look up to Klimek as a leader in the department,” Popejoy said. “She has set the tone for the entire program.”

Taylor Burnett, Klimek’s graduate assistant, had a firsthand account to Klimek’s teaching method and mentoring.

“Something she does really well is use real-life examples,” he said.

Burnett is also involved with the volunteer income tax assistance program, which Klimek supervises.

“She’s really taught me the value of hard work and the benefits of becoming involved,” Burnett said. “She bridges the gap between being a teacher and being a mentor, and has been one of the highlights of my time here at UCM.”