Stony Brook University’s College of Business held its second annual Accounting Case Competition in early November, providing students with an opportunity to apply their accounting knowledge to a real-world business scenario. The competition tasked teams with analyzing the future direction of Bell Games, LLC, a company recently acquired by LMC Media. Students considered how advances in artificial intelligence and motion-capture technology are changing the gaming industry and evaluated several strategic options for the company.
By the end of the week-long event, student teams presented their recommendations to a panel from the College of Business Accounting Advisory Board. Judges reviewed each team’s analysis, presentation skills, communication abilities, and performance during a question-and-answer session.
The first-place team, “GAAP Gurus,” received $2,000 and a Becker CPA Exam Prep scholarship valued at $10,000. The runner-up team, “Excel-ent Accountants,” was awarded $1,000 and recognized for Best Professional Team Appearance. Team “FASB” earned recognition for Outstanding Presentation Visuals. Maria Manolas from Team “ThunderCountants” received the Most Valuable Participant award.
Jenny Lin from GAAP Gurus said: “This experience taught me so much, from deepening my analytical and technical accounting skills to strengthening my ability to think critically and communicate ideas effectively under pressure. Presenting our solutions to industry professionals from BDO, CohnReznick and PwC was truly an unforgettable experience.”
Raymond Lizzol of GAAP Gurus commented: “It is a wonderful event that will hopefully continue. It brought about a lot of anticipation, rigor, challenge and teamwork. I’m so pleased by all the people I met and getting to know their stories and aspirations. It was said that this would be a growth experience and it truly was. I’m so glad I got to be a part of the 2025 Accounting Case Competition!” Maham Khalid from Team FASB added: “I had a wonderful time. I look forward to engaging in more events in the future.”
Alumni advisors mentored participants throughout the competition week by sharing insights based on their own experiences as former students.
College of Business Dean Haresh Gurnani highlighted both student achievements during the competition and upcoming initiatives at Stony Brook: “Our students’ strong performance in addressing the complex challenges of this competition, including navigating the evolving role of technologies like AI, highlights the adaptability and strategic thinking we cultivate at the College of Business. Where human insight meets machine intelligence, the future of business begins. That’s why we are launching a comprehensive new AI initiative that will embed the ethical use of artificial intelligence across every course in the college, ensuring our graduates are fully prepared for the business landscape ahead. And with the upcoming launch of our BS in Accounting in Fall 2026, we are positioned for continued growth in the accounting field, further strengthening our commitment to developing highly skilled, ethical business leaders for the future.”
Dr. Ceci Feng praised student efforts as director of both last year’s inaugural event and this year’s competition: “Their ability to turn such an ambiguous scenario into clear actionable recommendations was truly inspiring. I hope they all enjoyed the journey together! Each student should feel proud of what they’ve accomplished.”
Supporters included Becker CPA Exam Review; Wegmans; Beta Alpha Psi volunteers; faculty; and staff.
Aashika Jeswani—president of Beta Alpha Psi—reflected on her participation over two years: “Being involved last year as a participant and this year as a communication intern has been a full-circle moment. This event reflects what the College of Business is all about — competitive yet incredibly supportive of one another.”
Keval Amin emphasized experiential learning benefits: “As the accounting profession evolves competitions like this give students a chance to build analytical communication and leadership skills that employers value,” he said,“and events like this remind us why experiential learning is so essential to preparing tomorrow’s business leaders.”
The College plans to continue these types of hands-on educational opportunities moving forward.