Friday, October 23, 2009
USI accounting team wins second in statewide competition
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Betty Vawter Senior Editor, News & Information Services 812/480-1873 The team made an oral presentation in Indianapolis October 16 and was recognized that evening at the organization's CPA Celebration at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. As second-place winners, each of the USI team members received a $750 award from INCPAS. The team from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis finished in first place the team from Indiana University Bloomington finished in third place. The 2009 USI team included Matt Garza, a senior accounting major from Evansville, Jamie Perry, a junior accounting major from Winslow, Indiana, Anna Shade, a senior accounting and finance major from Henderson, Kentucky, and David Ubelhor, a senior accounting major from Evansville. Ubelhor was a member of USI's first-place team in 2008. Jeanette Maier-Lytle, USI instructor in accounting, was faculty coach of the accounting team for the sixth year. The USI team qualified as one of six finalists to give an oral presentation after preparing a written case study. Other teams in the finals represented Bethel College, Purdue University Calumet, and Saint Mary's College. The case study for this year's competition required the teams to evaluate the effect of the economy on a CPA firm. They researched and made recommendations on issues such as recruiting, employee morale, client relations, and efficiencies. Team members posed as partners in a fictitious accounting firm to deliver a 20-minute presentation in the final round of competition. A 10-minute question-and-answer session followed the presentation. Maier-Lytle said the judges indicated that a minuscule difference separated first and third place in the competition. USI teams brought home first place in the competition five straight years from 2004-08. "Our team excelled again this year," Maier-Lytle said. "The students did an excellent job in the question-and-answer session and gave a first-rate presentation." Prior to the competition, the USI team practiced in a formal setting in front of representatives of the BKD accounting firm in Evansville. The INCPAS case study competition is designed to challenge students with a practical project requiring them to use their knowledge, skills, and judgment. It provides the kind of practical experience they might use as CPAs in today's business world. |
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