Marietta College is proud to announce that for the first time in the College’s history, a team of accounting students has advanced to the national finals of the Association of Government Accountants (AGA) Government Finance Case Challenge — an elite academic competition that promotes understanding of government transparency, accountability and data-driven communication.
The AGA Government Finance Case Challenge invites students to analyze and interpret the financial data of a real U.S. city and develop a Citizen-Centric Report (CCR) — a summary document that communicates a city’s financial health, performance and key achievements to the public. Submissions are evaluated by a panel of accounting professionals. The competition demonstrates participating students’ skills in government accounting, data interpretation and communication. Marietta’s Accounting Capstone (ACCT 460) students competed at the undergraduate level.
Marietta entered two teams in this year’s competition, continuing a long tradition of participation in the national event. Assistant Professor Doug Ankrom ’97 said both teams represented the College with excellence, applying their knowledge to real-world financial challenges.
The finalist team, Gabe Tingle ’25 and Hayden Wiggers ’25, impressed judges with their analysis and presentation of the City and County of Roanoke, Virginia, earning one of only a few finalist spots nationwide. The judges praised the team for its effective integration of visuals and narrative, and its clear, concise presentation of key insights. Next, Tingle and Wiggers will prepare a recorded video presentation for the final round, with national winners to be announced Dec. 12, 2025.
“At Marietta, our accounting program is about gaining hands-on, real-world experience. The AGA competition affords our students the opportunity to utilize all the skills gained during their academic journey,” said Ankrom.
At Marietta College, the ACCT 460 course introduces students to research on current issues in accounting and prepares them for the business simulations included in the Uniform CPA Examination. ACCT 460 students learn through hands-on, collaborative, real-world applications, preparing them to enter the workforce with confidence and purpose.
This achievement marks a significant milestone for Marietta College and its Accounting program. By representing Marietta on the national stage, Tingle and Wiggers have demonstrated the strength of the College’s experiential learning approach. These Pioneers exemplify the talent, persistence and professionalism that define Marietta students and the academic excellence that drives their success.