Accounting Challenge
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Last Updated: Nov 25, 2024, 10:25 AM
SoA Annual Accounting Challenge
Each year hundreds of high school and community college students come to the SIU campus to compete individually in an accounting academic challenge and as a team in team building competition(s). The students have the opportunity to earn scholarships, team trophies, bragging rights, and other prizes. This is a great opportunity for high school and community college students to showcase their accounting and teamwork skills, interact with SIU accounting students, faculty, and staff, and meet students from other high schools and community colleges.
The Accounting Challenge is sponsored by State Farm, the SIU School of Accountancy, and the Accounting Circle. Thanks to our supporting donors and alumni, we are able to offer this as a free event.
The Accounting Challenge is planned and coordinated by students from the SIU Gamma Zeta Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, an international honors organization for financial information students and professionals. The Accounting Challenge is made possible by our amazing accounting student volunteers. On the day of the event, many of our accounting students volunteer their day to help make the event a success.
The School of Accountancy has held the Accounting Challenge annually since 1998. The Accounting Challenge is held annually in January.
The 27th Annual Accounting Challenge, co-sponsored by State Farm, will be held Friday, January 31, 2025, with a weather date of Friday, March 21, 2025.
Student Registration
School Contact Registration
This year we will have a t-shirt design contest for the participants! The deadline to submit t-shirt designs is 11:59 pm on Friday, November 15, 2024.
Those who register before 11:59 pm on Friday, December 13, 2024, will receive a free event t-shirt.
Last day to register for the event is Tuesday, January 28, 2025.
If you have any questions or for more information, please email us at accountingchallenge@siu.edu.
2025 Accounting Challenge
The Competitions
The Accounting Challenge is comprised of two competitions: one is an accounting written exam and the other is a team-building competition. Students will take an accounting written exam to compete for scholarships to the SIU School of Accountancy. Once a teacher registers for the event, they will receive a study guide for the written exam. From pre-assigned teams of four students (assigned by the high school/community college teacher), the students will compete as a team in fun, team-building activities for a team trophy. These activities are different each year and are designed by an emeritus SIU School of Art and Design faculty member.
Accounting 1 Written Exam
Students will complete this exam individually. It is for high school students who may have only had one accounting class or are currently enrolled in their first accounting class. It consists of accounting fundamentals including: terminology, accounting cycle, journal entries, depreciation, inventory, receivables, etc. It is 50 questions comprised of multiple choice and true/false questions.
Accounting 2 Written Exam
Students will complete this exam individually. It is for high school students who have completed at least one accounting class. This exam consists of the same information as the Accounting 1 material but with more in-depth and advanced questions. It is a 50-question exam comprised of multiple choice and true/false questions.
Community College Written Exam
Students will complete this exam individually. It is for community college students. This exam consists of the same information as the Accounting 2 material but with more in-depth and advanced questions. It is a 50-question exam comprised of multiple choice and true/false questions.
Team Building Competition
Students will compete in a team of four (pre-assigned by their teacher). If a team does not have four students, accommodations will be made. Dr. Larry Busch creates these exciting and stimulating activities encouraging the teams to work together to win the team trophies.
Study Guide
To help you prepare for the academic competition, please refer to the Accounting Challenge study guide.
Scholarship Awards and Prices
General Schedule of Events
| 8:00 am-8:45 am | Check-In and Breakfast |
| 8:45 am-9:00 am | Welcome |
| 9:00 am-9:45 am | Academic Competition |
| 9:45 am-10:00 am | Break |
| 10:00 am-11:15 am | Team Building Competition |
| 11:15 am-12:00 pm | Lunch |
| 12:00 pm-12:40 pm | Student Panel |
| 12:40 pm-1:00 pm | Awards Ceremony |