The state of Missouri has many fine colleges and universities with outstanding accounting programs. As a result, the LEAP Initiative created the Student of the Month and Student of the Year awards to highlight and bring to the forefront accounting majors who excel at numerous levels, not just academically. Both Student of the Month and Student of the Year winners display exceptional leadership, community involvement, and professional conduct.  

During the school year, August through July, an accounting major from a Missouri college/university is highlighted on LEAP’s website, www.leap-forward.com as Student of the Month. In addition, one of the twelve (12) Student of the Month winners is recognized on the LEAP website, in the September edition of MSCPA's magazine, The ASSET, and at an Awards Gala as "LEAP Student of theYear." 

Benjamin Wells, LEAP’s May 2011 Student of the Month, was chosen for by an independent panel of judges for LEAP's 2010/2011 Student of the Year.

Phyllis Moore, director of MU's 150-Hour and Master of Accountancy Programs said, "Ben was an outstanding, well-rounded student in our 150-Hour Accountancy Program. He took an active role in our college and school. Ben demonstrated leadership and professionalism in everything he did as a student. He will be a great asset to the accountancy profession."

During his tenure at MU, Ben was an active member of Beta Alpha Psi and served as the group's president. He studied abroad in China, particpated on the school's graduation committee, and worked as a graduate teaching assistant. Ben belonged to Delta Sigma Pi, and co-founded MU's chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. He interned at both Deloitte and Ernst & Young, and served as an Ernst & Young Accounting Excellence Mentor for other students. He recently began working at Ernst & Young's St. Louis office in the IT Risk Advisory Group.

Ben will be recognized in MSCPA's September 2011 magazine, "The ASSET, " (a digital version will be available in mid-September 2010 at http://theasset.dirxion.com/skin/entrymap/librarysearch/librarysearch.aspx?SkinId=7.3.5.2), and at the St. Louis Awards Gala Thursday, November 10, 2011.

CCH is a co-sponsor of the LEAP 2010/2011 Student of the Year award. They have provided five (5) books for our winner: 2011 US Master Sales and Use Tax Guide; 2011 US Master Depreciation Guide; 2011 US Master Estate and Gift Tax Guide; 2011 Multistate Corporate Tax Course; 2011 Multistate Corporate Tax Guide Mid-Year Edition. 

Congratulations again to Benjamin Wells, LEAP's 2010/2011Student of the Year!  

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