DENTON (UNT), Texas — A team of University of North Texas G. Brint Ryan College of Business accounting students took home first place at the 2021 Information Systems Audit and Control Association Case Competition.

In addition to a sizable gold trophy, team members Fariha Ahmed, Mackenzie Compton, Lauren Eaton, Arthur Hatch and Dalicia Savoie also earned $6,000 in prize money.

“The most challenging part was collaborating virtually,” said Ahmed, a senior accounting major and team captain. “However, we had a very strong team and we were able to execute our work seamlessly. I personally learned a lot about looking at a company’s infrastructure, and identifying weakness and strengths. This was a huge learning experience from which I grew both professionally and interpersonally.”

The competition challenged teams from across North Texas to act as consultants for a healthcare payer company — evaluating its cybersecurity framework and IT infrastructure. 

“We spent extensive time researching cybersecurity as it related to our ‘client’s’ industry before delving into more specific areas of research,” said Savoie, a senior accounting major. “This allowed us a relevant knowledge base from which we could brainstorm ideas.”

The team overwhelmingly credited their success to clinical assistant professor Jose Lineros and his IT audit course. 

“The team deserves all the credit, they did all the heavy lifting,” Lineros said. “I’m particularly proud that four-fifths of the team was female. This holds historical significance because women have traditionally been underrepresented in IT. These students are raising the bar for everyone in the field and demonstrating the amazing things that young people can accomplish when given the opportunity.”