Nielsen who won a Champion of the Profession award has been teaching for 33 years. According to a release from the Utah CPA Foundation, "Nielsen believes the concepts students learn in her class will touch their lives no matter what they do. Nielsen implements creative teaching methods, like bringing chefs and artists to teach the class, and share how they use accounting even in their creative careers. . . . She also administers programs that allow her students to job-shadow and intern with professional accountants."

Banta, who won the Rising Star award, "provides real-world experiences for her students including giving students the opportunity to work as Internal Revenue Service certified volunteer tax preparers for the past two years. Banta teaches her students QuickBooks and Excel as part of their curriculum, and Banta sharpens her accounting skills by working as an accountant for two businesses, in addition to teaching."

“Accounting is the language of business, and by teaching these skills we help students enhance their marketability,” said Wendy Martin, board member of the Utah CPA Foundation. “With these two awards, we look to reward high school teachers who do their absolute best to build strong accounting programs in Utah’s public schools.”

Congratulations!

- Lisa Schencker