The award was created to honor Elijah Watt Sells, one of the country's first CPAs under the provision of a New York State law enacted in 1896 and an active participant in the establishment of the AICPA.

These candidates must have completed testing during the previous calendar year and passed each exam section on their first attempt.

The 2006 award winners (in alphabetical order, followed by their State Board affiliation) are:

• Irene Altman, (CA), a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, who is currently employed by KPMG, LLP in San Francisco. 
• Jeffrey P. Barrows, (NC), a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is currently working at Pricewaterhouse Coopers, LLP in Charlotte, NC. 
• Jonathan Patrick Booth, (LA), a graduate of Louisiana State University, is employed by KPMG, LLP in Baton Rouge, LA. 
• Lina Ginan Dimachkieh, (TX), a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, is currently working toward her JD from Harvard Law School. 
• Robert W. Hybiak, (CO), is a graduate of the University of Denver, and is currently employed by Deloitte & Touche, LLP in Denver, CO. 
• Jason B. Jiskoot, (IA), a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa is currently working at the Pella Corporation in Pella, IA. 
• Keith A. Piwko, (MI), graduated from Michigan State University and is working for Plante & Moran, PLLC in Auburn Hills, MI. 
• Kurt B. Piwko, (MI), is a graduate of Michigan State University and is employed by Plante & Moran, PLLC in Clinton Township, MI.
• Svetlana Rodinskaya, (AK), is a graduate of St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University, Russia and is currently working at Ernst & Young in St. Petersburg, Russia.
• Wendee Mariko Shinsato, (CA), is a graduate of Hawaii Pacific University, who is currently employed at the Defense Contract Audit Agency in Los Angeles.