KU undergraduate students compete in third annual Deloitte tax contest

OVERLAND PARK -- Four University of Kansas students in business were among hundreds nationwide who participated in the third annual Deloitte Foundation National Tax Case Study Competition Oct. 16 at the KU Edwards Campus.

The KU group was one of 66 graduate and undergraduate teams from more than 40 colleges and universities that participated in the eight regional competitions held Oct. 16.

Other teams competing in the Overland Park regional were from the University of Missouri-Columbia; University of Denver; University of Oklahoma, Norman; University of Northern Colorado, Greeley; and University of Iowa, Iowa City. The faculty adviser for the KU team is Allen Ford, Larry D. Horner/KPMG distinguished teaching professor of professional accounting.

In the contest, teams of four students have five hours to research and prepare a written solution for a complex hypothetical client situation using only the Internal Revenue Code and U.S. Treasury regulations. Judges selected the top six nationally in undergraduate and graduate divisions. KU's undergraduate team was not among the six selected this year.

Undergraduate and graduate students can compete in undergraduate-level competition if they have not completed more than two tax courses.

The nonprofit Deloitte Foundation supports teaching, research and curriculum innovation in accounting, business and related fields.

Students, their hometowns, majors, parents and high schools, if available, are:
HARVEY COUNTY
From Hesston
Nicholas Isaac Wedel, master's student in accounting and information systems; son of Norman Wedel and Cynthia Welton; Hesston High School.
WYANDOTTE COUNTY
From Bonner Springs
Jessica Highfill, master's student in accounting and information systems; daughter of Vicki Carrico and Steve Highfill; Basehor-Linwood High School.
CALIFORNIA
From Woodland Hills
Torey Stewart Gerwin, master's student in accounting and information systems; son of Daryl W. Gerwin; Harvard-Westlake School, North Hollywood, Calif.
CHINA
From Shanghai
Xiaofeng Zhang, master's student in accounting and information systems; daughter of Lianrong Zhang and Songhua Zhang.