Students perform tasks at the Accounting Challenge at SIU Carbondale.

Hundreds of high school and community colleges from across the region participated in the 2026 Accounting Challenge. (Photo by Erasmus Tornye)

February 02, 2026

SIU 2026 Accounting Challenge winners announced

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Hundreds of high school and community college students from across the region and beyond converged on Southern Illinois University Carbondale recently for a unique competition, the 28th annual Accounting Challenge.

The day began with an academic competition, with students taking one of three accounting tests, based on their accounting background and experience. The top three scores from the Accounting I, Advanced Accounting and Community College exams won scholarships for up to $500 that they can claim if they come to SIU and major in accounting.

Then, participants broke into four-person groups for the team challenge, vying for trophies and bragging rights by taking on a one-of-a-kind test of their imaginations, creativity and ingenuity.

Scholars extraordinaire

Students from Cairo, Centralia, Collinsville, Flora, Hamilton County, Jackson (Missouri), Marissa, Massac County, O’Fallon and Pinckneyville high schools competed along with contestants from Illinois Eastern Community Colleges.

Winners of the academic scholarship competition, listed with school and potential scholarship earnings, include:

Accounting 1

  • First place, $500 – (tie) Colby Lehde, Mia Lee, Gus Feldker and Sadeel Alqadi, all of O’Fallon Township High School.
  • Second place, $300 – (tie) Lindsay Jackson and London Glenn, both of O’Fallon Township High School.
  • Third place, $250 – (tie) Cy Shelton, Kylie Guetterman, Malia Frederking and Dylan Carter, all of O’Fallon Township High School.

Accounting 2

  • First place, $500 – Caelen Harper, Flora High School.
  • Second place, $300 – (tie) Grant Davis, Centralia High School; Parker Helm, Flora High School; Luke Mayer, Centralia High School; Kristen Pipher, Flora High School.
  • Third place, $250 – (tie) Lorren Niederhofer, Centralia High School; Payton Scroggins, Flora High School.

Community College

  • First place, $500 – Jessica Wagner, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges.

Designing a win

Next came the big test, conceived as it has been nearly every year by W. Larry Busch, art and design program emeritus acting chair/associate professor. He challenged the small groups to create a tower and place it on top of an unattached empty box with a 2-inch washer balanced atop, then carry their creations around the ballroom without anything falling off. If the tower or washer fell, the teams had to start over.

But these weren’t just any towers. Busch gave each group just four manila folders and six feet of masking tape with which to craft the box carrier towers. The goal was to build the tallest tower and make the circuit the fastest. Under Busch’s watchful eye, the teams tried and tested, crafted and re-created and then put their towers to the test amid ample laughter, hype and rivalry.

“This competition is always so fun,” said Benna Williams, associate lecturer. “It gets the students thinking outside the box, learning how to work together and make adjustments on the fly.”

She expressed appreciation to Busch for giving of his time and energy to make the event a rousing success and praised the accounting teaching assistants, led by Lexie Lingle, a Master of Accountancy student from Anna, Illinois, for their vital assistance as well as about 20 student volunteers.

Team building competition winners, and their schools/teachers included:

Accounting 1

  • First place – Adam Chastain, Gus Feldker, Cy Shelton and Colby Lehde from O’Fallon High School, taught by Jennifer Haislar.
  • Second place – Kendra Hancock, Nick Harmon and Brady Lindholm from Flora High School, taught by Alicia Westjohn.

Accounting 2

  • First place – Grant Davis, Justus Edso, Luke Mayer and Lorren Niederhofer from Centralia High School, teacher Beth Toennies.
  • Second place – Kristen Pipher, Makenna Hackney and Meredith Woolever from Flora High School (taught by Alicia Westjohn) and Jessica Wagner of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges.

The event is sponsored by the School of Accountancy and The Accounting Circle. The Illinois CPA Society provided sponsorship and swag for participants.