A group of Southeast Missouri State University accounting students placed second nationally in the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) Student Case Competition.

The "final four" competition was held June 12 in New York.

"This speaks very highly of the quality of our students and indicates that we are on a par with other strong schools of accounting and finance," said Gayle Rayburn, an accounting and finance professor at Southeast.

The students Were from Rayburn's "advanced cost accounting" class.

Members of the class included Karen Eldridge of Cape Girardeau, Kelly Schaefer of Scott City and Hershel Hitchcock of Charleston.

Eldridge, Hitchcock, Robyn McCulley of Kennett, Angela Walts of Ste. Genevieve and Corrie White of Portageville composed the final team.

Southeast's team received a $1,000 award and an engraved plaque. Each member of the team also received a certificate and desk set.

Thirty-one teams from 27 universities participated in the national competition. Wright State University of Dayton, Ohio, placed first among the four teams who competed in the finals.