This story was originally posted on Dec. 19 on UH News.
A team of three University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Shidler College of Business graduate students won the 2024 Association of Government Accountants (AGA) Government Finance Case Challenge, earning each team member a $1,500 scholarship award.
Thomas Fukata, Seth Addison and Kaedin Okimoto analyzed data and created a comprehensive “citizen-centric report”—a four-page report that summarizes key demographics, financial performance and ongoing projects and initiatives—and an engaging, high-quality video highlighting the state of Maine. Hosted by the National Association of Government Accountants, the competition featured 25 teams with five making it to the final round.
The challenge raises student awareness of the importance of government accountability and transparency, helps students learn how much “data” is available that needs to be turned into information for citizens to access, and raises awareness about different types of careers in government.
“Participating in this competition allowed me to learn something new about Maine, especially since I rarely have the chance to research other states and the initiatives they are implementing for their people,” Fukata, the team’s captain, said. “It made me wonder if Hawaiʻi can one day implement similar initiatives in sustainability and economic development that we saw with Maine.”
Teams were judged by a panel of government finance experts, with finalists presenting their findings through a video simulating a government meeting. This victory marks the fourth UH Mānoa team win in the past five years, solidifying the university’s reputation for excellence in government finance education.
The team was guided by UH Mānoa School of Accountancy (SOA) Professor and Lloyd Fujie/Deloitte Foundation Distinguished Professor, Jian Zhou.
“Our students consistently demonstrate exceptional analytical skills, innovative thinking, and unwavering dedication to excellence in government finance,” Zhou said. “This national competition victory reflects the top-notch education and mentorship we provide at the Shidler College of Business, where we prepare students to transform complex data into meaningful insights for public accountability. We sincerely appreciate the support and contributions of Pamela Young, an AGA–Hawaiʻi member and SOA Advisory Board member.”
