Advanced Accounting Class Tours U.S. Steel Headquarters in Downtown Pittsburgh Friday, March 18, 2022

One of the benefits of Point Park University’s location in Downtown Pittsburgh is its close proximity to a variety of businesses and organizations related to the fields that students are learning about in the classroom. Fortune 500 companies are just steps away from campus.

Students in the Rowland School of Business’ Advanced Accounting class made the most of this advantage recently as they toured the world headquarters of the U.S. Steel Corporation with Kevin Lewis, vice president of investor relations and corporate financial planning and analysis.

"Going to U.S. Steel really bridged the gap between what I am learning in the accounting program and how it directly transfers to the real world,” said Dontae Robinson ’22, an accounting major and Pittsburgh City Charter High School alumnus who aspires to be an auditor and Army officer in the U.S. Army Reserves. “We had the chance to speak with top executives to discuss a real-life, multimillion-dollar business acquisition. It confirmed to me that an accounting degree from Point Park brings students a lot closer to being an employee, like the executives in that very room."

Jayne Olshanski, MBA, CPA, assistant professor of accounting, said Lewis discussed with students the company’s recent acquisition of Big River Steel.

"U.S. Steel Corporation is an icon of Pittsburgh and a symbol of our city's industrial roots and culture,” Olshanski said. "Our students were completely engaged in the U.S. Steel team's presentation and gained valuable insight into the interplay between acquisition strategy, negotiation challenges and accounting complexities."

Read more about students' takeaways from the trip below:  

Students arrive at the U.S. Steel Tower. 
Photo by Nathaniel Holzer '22. 

Madison Shick ‘22

Major: Business management, entrepreneurship concentration
Minor: Accounting
Hometown: West Middlesex, Pa.; West Middlesex High School
Dream job: Business owner

"This field trip enhanced our classroom experience in such a positive way. We discuss relevant problems and learn from our textbook in class, but going to an actual company and listening to professionals talk about their work was enlightening. We got to learn the behind-the-scenes of their biggest purchase to date."

Megan Locke ‘23

Major: Accounting
Hometown: Perry, Ohio; Perry High School 
Dream job: Certified public accountant  

"Before the trip, I didn't know very much about the steel industry, so I appreciated gaining insight into how their processes work. We learn about companies going through mergers and acquisitions in Advance Accounting all the time, so it was really cool to have a real-life example explained to us."  

Ian Flavin ‘22

Major: Business management, general management concentration
Minor: Accounting
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.; Shaler Area High School
Dream job: Business owner

"I enjoyed being able to go to a Pittsburgh-based company to see what we are learning in the classroom and how it applies in the real-world, while talking to professionals working in the field. We can grasp concepts from the examples we discuss in class, but a real-world case is always more fun and interesting and presents more learning opportunities. 

"I'm only an accounting minor, but I can still see how valuable Point Park's accounting program is. The professors have industry experience and can provide more relevant examples and work based on that experience. The professors want to see you succeed and excel, and they are more than willing to help you achieve your goals." 

Read about previous accounting field trips in the stories linked below:

• Advanced Accounting Students Tour PNC Tower and Network with Executives
• PPG Invites Advanced Accounting Students to Tour its Headquarters

More About: faculty, Student Accounting Association, accounting, Downtown Pittsburgh, business management, Pittsburgh, student trips, Rowland School of Business