The AICPA's EDGE in Teaching Awards Task Force vets the submissions and selects a winner and up to two (2) honorable mentions, if warranted. They will use the following as their primary criteria to judge submissions:

• Use of incorporating technology (i.e. R, Python, RPA, AI, etc.) into the first-year accounting course (freshmen, sophomore, community college)
• Level of leading-edge techniques, fresh or unique approach or perspective to teaching an accounting concept, model, application, or theory in a delivery format
• Use of emerging topics such as data analytics, ESG, cybersecurity, forensic accounting, financial planning, etc. into the first-year accounting course
• Emphasis on the AICPA Competency Framework for Aspiring CPAs
• Ability to entice students’ interest in accounting as a career
• Adaptability for other educational institutions to support freshmen or sophomore level course work

An entrant may be an individual or group of individuals, and faculty member(s) may self-nominate. The teaching practice may not be a commercial product for which the faculty member has a financial interest.

Recipients of the Bea Sanders/AICPA EDGE in Teaching Award are accounting educators that play a large part in influencing and preparing the future accounting professionals.

Winner(s) are expected to present their work at the AAA Conference on Teaching and Learning in Accounting (CTLA) and will have the opportunity to present at the AAA Annual Meeting. The winner(s) will receive an award, a certificate, and a monetary prize totaling $5,000.

If warranted, up to two (2) submissions could be selected for honorable mention and be awarded $500 each.

Winning lessons/materials are made available for download to educators registered on ThisWaytoCPA.com through the Academic Resource Database.

Past Award Winners and Honorable Mentions

2022

• Recipient:
  • “Data Cleaning Projects for Introductory Accounting”
    - Wendy Tietz, Kent State University, Tracie Miller, Franklin University, Jennifer Cainas, University of South Florida

2021

• Recipient:
  • “The Great Accounting Escape”
    - Jennifer Cainas, University of South Florida and Juliana M. Kralik, University of South Florida

• Honorable Mentions:
  • “KAT Manufacturing: Interactive Dashboard Projects for Integrating Data Analytics into Introductory Accounting”
    - Wendy Tietz, Kent State University; Tracie Miller Nobles, Austin Community College; Jennifer Cainas, University of South Florida
    
  • “Gamification of Introductory Accounting through Business Simulation”
    - Saurav Kumar Dutta, Curtin University; Wahseem Soobratty, Curtin University; Mahendra R. Gujarathi, Bentley University

2020

• Recipient:
  • “The Cookie Company Project”
    - Alesha Graves, Asbury University

2019

• Recipient:
  • “Junkyard Planet: Teaching Managerial Accounting with a Sustainability Theme”
    - Stephanie Grimm, University of St. Thomas

• Honorable Mentions:
  • “Data Analytics Projects for Introductory Accounting Using Excel, Tableau, and Power B”
    - Wendy Tietz, Kent State University; Tracie Miller Nobles, Austin Community College; Jennifer Cainas, University of South Florida

2018

• Recipient:
  • “Teaching and Learning Toolbox”
    - Markus Ahrens, St. Louis Community College and Cathy J. Scott, University of North Texas - Dallas

• Honorable Mentions:
  • “Data Analytics in Introductory Accounting”
    - Wendy Tietz, Kent State University and Tracie Miller Nobles, Austin Community College

2017

• Recipient:
  • “Create Customized Financial Accounting Case Assignments with the Accounting Case Template (ACT)”
    - Wendy Tietz, Kent State University

• Honorable Mentions:
  • “Brainteasers, Black Lights, and Balance Sheets: Applying Introductory Financial Accounting Concepts in an Interactive Escape Room Environment”
    - Chris McCullick and Ashley Minnich, William Jewell College

2016

• Recipient:
  • “Excel-Based Active-Learning for the Managerial Accounting Course”
    - Karen Braun, Case Western Reserve University

• Honorable Mentions:
  • “Launch Learning: Students Create, Collaborate…and Comprehend Managerial Accounting!”
    - Kelvie Crabb, The University of Kansas, Gail Hoover King, Purdue University Northwest and Kimberly Swanson Church, University of Missouri-Kansas City

2015

• Recipient:
  • “UBuild: A Simulation Bridging Financial and Managerial Accounting”
    - Fabienne Miller and Huong Higgins, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

• Honorable Mentions:
  • “Introducing Accounting: Classroom Application of the Pathways Commission Vision”
    - Melissa Larson, Brigham Young University

2014

• Recipient:
  • “Accounting in the Headlines: A News Blog for the Introductory Accounting Classroom”
    - Wendy Tietz, Kent State University

• Honorable Mentions:
  • “Accounting Challenge (ACE): Mobile-Gaming App for Learning Accounting”
    - Poh-Sun Seow and Suay-Peng Wong, Singapore Management University

2013

• Recipient:
  • “Reinventing Student Engagement and Collaboration within Introductory Accounting Courses”
    - Markus Ahrens, St. Louis Community College

• Honorable Mentions:
  • “The Accounting Tournament - March Madness in Financial Accounting”
    - Edward Bysiek, St. Bonaventure University

2012

• Recipient:
  • “A FASB Accounting Standards Codification Project for Introductory Accounting”
    - Kay Poston and John Waters — University of Indianapolis

• Honorable Mentions:
  • “Words and Numbers: Introducing Freshmen Students in the Accounting/Finance Course to the Library”
    - Candy A. Bianco, Elizabeth Galoozis, Elliott Levy, Mary Marcel, and Karen K. Osterheld — Bentley University
  • “Digital Storytelling for Engaged Student Learning”
    - Themin Suwardy, Gary Pan, Seow Poh-Sun — Singapore Management University

2011

• Recipient:
  • “$Chocolate$: Accounting as a First Year Seminar”
    - Priscilla Wightman, Hartwick College

• Honorable Mentions:
  • “Teaching Internal Control through Active Learning”
    - Tammy Duxbury and MaryElla Gainor — Bryant University
  • “The Farming Game® and the Introductory Financial Accounting Course: An Accounting Simulation”
    - Nate L. Staheli, University of Hawaii – Manoa

2010

• Recipient:
  • “Who Moved my Classroom?: A Framework for Community-Linked Learning and Assessment in Accounting”
    - Christopher D. Brandon, Indiana University Purdue University Columbus; Marsha Huber, Youngstown State University; Larita J. Killian, Indiana University Purdue University Columbus

• Honorable Mentions:
  • “A Better Way to Teach Effective Interest Method Related Problems in Accounting”
    - Avinash Arya, William Paterson University
  • "Mini-responsibility centers:” A strategy for learning by leading”
    - Sandria S. Stephenson, Texas State University