It was another first-place finish for Baldwin Wallace and three accounting students, who took home top honors in a regional competition that showcased teamwork, ethical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
It was the second consecutive first-place finish for BW and one of six top spot placements awarded to Baldwin Wallace since the inception of the Intercollegiate Ethics Case Competition (IECC) in 2018.
The winning students are all juniors:
"We are tremendously proud of what they accomplished," said Dan Schrag, professor and chair of the BW accounting program and faculty advisor to the student competition team.
"The students worked very hard for the last two months in preparation, including meeting with BW alumni who are industry professionals to gain firsthand insights. The end result at IECC was amazing," he emphasized.
Like Schrag, Kirsten believes BW alumni were an essential part of the group's preparation. "The fact that we spoke with industry professionals as part of forming our opinions and answering the case prompts connected the concepts from the case to the real world. I think this differentiated our team in the competition," said Kirsten.
"I was a little nervous about presenting in public before this competition. But with practice and coaching, I was able to deliver my parts confidently in front of the judges and a full auditorium," added Dombek.
Schrag went on to say that BW's success in the competition over the years comes from the hard work and dedication of students. But, he added, "The bridge to all of that is our faculty, who devote themselves to being educators and mentors."
"BW's accounting program is among the top in the region because of several factors that include a strong curriculum that is technology-driven and includes AI embedded in our classes, data analytics, Excel Certification and Bloomberg Certification," explained Schrag.
"Also valuable is our accounting advisory board that enables students to network with industry professionals both on and off campus. In addition, our student Accounting Association sponsors educational programs, networking events and more," he added.
"Students in BW's accounting program often secure internships and career positions at leading accounting firms, companies and organizations of all sizes. BW's reputation is strong both regionally and beyond," he noted.
"Our students graduate career-ready to succeed. It is no wonder our students and alumni tell us we have a top-notch accounting program, whether it is at the undergraduate level or our Master of Accountancy," stated Schrag.
This year's IECC featured 11 teams from 10 universities, making it the largest event in its nine-year history. In addition to BW, the college competitors included Ashland University, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, Heidelberg University, Hiram College, John Carroll University, Kent State University, University of Akron and Youngstown State University.
A panel of judges from public accounting firms and industry evaluated each team as they presented solutions to a unique and thought-provoking ethics case study.
