February 10, 2005 Source: University of Lethbridge:
http://www.uleth.ca/notice/display.html?b=4&s=5278 U of L Management Students Take Top Prize in Western Canadian Accounting Competition University of Lethbridge students Mike Buryn and Clayton Achen walked away with top honors at the annual Grant Thornton LLP Accounting Case Competition for Western Canada Universities held in Calgary, Alberta on February 3 and 4. Students from eight Western Canadian universities participated in the competition to determine who could present the best analysis and recommendations to a challenging accounting case. The students received the case just after noon on Friday and had until 7:45 a.m. on Saturday to analyze and research the case and prepare for their presentation to the judging panel. "This competition taught us the importance of confidence," said Mike Buryn. "We found the case, as well as the time we had to analyze and present it as very challenging," added Clayton Achen. Judges for the competition were Kay Holgate, senior manager in the Grant Thornton LLP Calgary office, Megan Costiuk, Auditor for Saskatchewan Government Insurance and Chris Courtland, Deputy Chief Accountant of the Alberta Security Commission. Dr. Philip Beaulieu, Accounting Area Chair of the Haskayne School of Business of the University of Calgary, chaired the event. Gord McFarlane, Office Managing Partner of the Alberta business unit led the Grant Thornton hosts which also included Sally Scotland, National HR Manager and Lindy Pelletier, Calgary office HR Manager. In this year’s case, the students were asked to assume the role of Grant Thornton LLP professionals, whose client was a large private company with diverse operations in traditional businesses. The Company Board was requesting advice on certain issues related to its plans to go public. Buryn and Achen, both third year accounting majors, prepared for the competition by studying several practice cases and making presentations to their coach, Angela Downey. After the case was assigned on Friday afternoon, Buryn and Achen went to work assessing the case, finishing at two-thirty in the morning – a few hours before they were due to rejoin the other teams. "They did a great job. I was particularly pleased with the extent of the accounting component in their presentation of the case," says their coach Dr. Angela Downey. "The case method is an excellent tool to develop critical thinking skills and the Grant Thornton accounting case competition provides excellent insights into the role of accountants as business partners," Downey added. The winners received a cash prize and an engraved silver tray to be displayed at their campus until it is presented to the winners of next year’s competition. Second prize winners for the competition went to Natalie Bessett and Jodie Craddock of the University of Manitoba. Their coach, David Gurvey said, "the case method is the best opportunity to convert theoretical knowledge into practical knowledge." Gord McFarlane said, "We sponsor this annual competition to promote the case method and the high standards required in accounting education. The case method takes students out of their textbooks and puts them into the role of business advisers, which gives them an opportunity to test their problem-solving and analytical skills." -- 30 -- Information courtesy of Grant Thornton LLP Grant Thornton LLP Contact: Aurea Guerrero (416) 360-5043 e-mail: aguerrero@GrantThornton.ca Website: http://www.grantthornton.ca -- U of L Communications and Public Relations Contact:
Bob Cooney, Communications and PR Officer (403) 382-7173
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