AUSTIN, TX (June 29, 2009) – The American Accounting Association has selected Austin Community College Professor Sheila Ammons as the Two-Year College Section’s 2009 Educator of the Year. This award honors educators who have distinguished themselves in the field of accounting education.

Sheila Ammons - Accounting Professor

The award committee recognized Professor Ammons for excellence and innovation in instruction and her commitment to improving accounting education, in her own classes and beyond.

“It is a pleasure to serve the ACC community through the variety of courses and programs offered by our Accounting Department,” says Professor Ammons. “Our great students keep me energized and committed to excellence.”

Professor Ammons, who began teaching at ACC more than 24 years ago, will receive her award at the American Accounting Association’s annual meeting in New York this August.

“Sheila Ammons personifies the high quality of ACC’s Accounting Program,” says Charles Quinn, dean of the Business Studies Division. “She is an outstanding instructor of both traditional classroom courses and distance learning courses.  Her dedication to quality accounting education has helped make ACC’s Accounting Program competitive with the best colleges and universities in Texas.”

ACC’s CPA licensure rate is among the highest in the state. ACC graduates taking all or part of the CPA exam between April 2008 and March 2009 passed nearly 60 percent of the tested sections. That places ACC in the top 10 colleges and universities in Texas:

1. University of Texas – Austin (73.8%)                  6. University of Texas – El Paso (60.3%)
2. Texas A&M – College Station (68.8%)                 7. Austin Community College (59.5%)
3.  Baylor University (64.4%)                                   8. Tarleton State University (59.3%)
4. Texas Christian University (63.5%)                     9. Texas Tech University (58.8%)
5. Southern Methodist University (61.9%)               10. Trinity University (54.6%)

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About the Austin Community College District (austincc.edu):

ACC, Central Texas’ community college, is the primary gateway to higher education and career training for residents in eight counties. The college provides access to affordable, quality education. ACC enrolls more than 35,700 credit students, offering university transfer courses, two-year associate degrees, certificates, Early College Start, access programs that get students “college-ready,” and continuing education. At ACC you can “Start here. Get there.”