This marks the second time in the history of the competition that both the graduate team and the undergraduate team from a single university received first place. The W&M teams did so for the first time last year.

Overall, more than 40 colleges and universities throughout the country competed in this year's 2006 Deloitte Tax Case Study Regional and National Competitions, which was held Nov. 17-19 in Orlando.

At the event, teams had five hours to complete a complex theoretical case study that required them to analyze information, identify issues, and consider real-world challenges to a hypothetical client situation. As part of the competition, each team prepared a solution to their case and submitted it to a panel of Deloitte judges for evaluation.

William & Mary finished first among a field of 12 schools competing, six within each division of graduate and undergraduate teams, at the national finals. The W&M teams are coached by Dr. James E. Smith, the John S. Quinn Professor of Accounting, at the Mason School. 

The competition was sponsored by the Deloitte Foundation, a nonprofit arm of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP. William & Mary was awarded $28,000, including a $1,000 scholarship for each student and $20,000 for their school.

The second-place teams were each awarded $500 per student and $5,000 for their school. The University of Central Florida placed second in the graduate division, while Brigham Young University finished second at the undergraduate level.

William & Mary was recently recognized by Public Accounting Report as one of the Top 25 accounting programs in the country.