February 18, 2013

Area students fare well in Accounting Challenge

by Nathan Maul

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Hundreds of students from local high schools and community colleges competed in the 15th annual Accounting Challenge at Southern Illinois University Carbondale on Feb. 8.

Participants from 22 schools met at the Student Recreation Center for academic and team-building activities.  The students participated in individual academic competition and then teamed up for the challenge. 

Their group task was to build a protective case for three cherry tomatoes using only a half piece of construction paper, four sheets of regular paper, and three feet of masking tape.  Teams had a short time to assemble their best efforts.  Then, a hammer was dropped onto each cherry case to test its strength.

The event was split into two categories: Accounting 1 and Advanced Accounting, and they were divided into team and individual competitions.  Along with bragging rights, the winning teams received awards and the top individual finishers earned scholarships opportunities. 

Winners of the team contest, listed by category, with school, were:

Accounting 1

1. Flora High School -- Jadon Bennett, Kyndra Wyman, Rebecca Brown, and Trey Thompson; 2. Crab Orchard High School -- Donovan Barger, Lexy Barnett, Kelly Johns, and Kaitlin Pennington.

Advanced Accounting

1.  Marion High School -- Grace Boyd, Andrew Shafer, Stephen Kirby, and Allie Adams; 2.  Mount Vernon High School -- Rachel Burns, Courtney Scarbrough, and Marissa Uhls.

Winners of the individual competition, listed by category, with school, were:

Accounting 1

1. Hannah Bute, Flora High School; Second: Andrew Wellen, Hamilton County High School; 3. Colleen McMahon, Flora High School.

Advanced Accounting

1.  Kyle Adams, Carterville High School; 2. Sravni Kolli, O'Fallon High School; 3. tie, Christina Wilson, Carrier Mills High School; Carsen Cash, Marion High School.

Community College

1. Connor Zelasko, Kaskaskia Community College.

The Accounting Circle, which includes alumni and friends of the College of Business’s School of Accountancy, and the school itself, sponsor the Accounting Challenge.

For more information about the School of Accountancy or the Accounting Challenge, contact Marcus Odom at modom@business.siu.edu or 618/453-1408.