Tonight the Tower glows to celebrate a century of excellence at UT’s accounting program, the No. 1 ranked accounting program in America for 10 of the last 11 years. I couldn’t be prouder of the faculty and students who, over the decades, have driven this program to the top.

Department chair Lillian Mills and McCombs School dean Tom Gilligan have built on the work of all those who preceded them to make the program a jewel in the University’s crown. Consider these facts:

• 77 percent of our accounting alumni between 2006-10 went to work for big four accounting firms.
• UT’s undergraduate accounting program has been ranked No. 1 seven of the last nine years.
• 71 percent of UT graduates pass the CPA exam compared to 49 percent of students from all other Texas universities.

You can find more impressive statistics here: http://www.today.mccombs.utexas.edu/2012/04/accounting-turns-100-let-the-celebration-begin

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and academic preeminence isn’t achieved in a day, or a decade. Tonight is a great reminder that it takes perseverance to get top results. As an institution, we take the long view, and it pays off.

UT-trained accountants, wherever you are in the world today, push back from your computer for a moment and raise your Horns. I’m proud of you.

Hook ’em!