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Each year the Indiana CPA Society recognizes CPAs who have served their profession and/or communities in an outstanding manner. Roger L. Stichter, of Winona Lake, was honored at the CPA Celebration on Nov. 15 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in downtown Indianapolis for the Outstanding Educator Award.

Each year, Roger Stichter teaches approximately 90 students in the first year accounting courses at Grace College. Of those 90 students, only a handful are considering an accounting major when they begin the class. By using his personal experience as a CPA as well as persistently encouraging students to consider an accounting career, Stichter’s influence last year resulted in 25 students registering for intermediate accounting, with 20 of them deciding to major in accounting.

The accounting program at Grace College continues to grow. For the 2013-14 academic year, over 50 students will be majoring in accounting. Grace College scored 10th nationally out of 793 institutions for 2011 in first-time CPA Exam pass rates.