Two Brock graduates have earned top national honours after successfully writing the 2010 Uniform Evaluation (UFE) exam — the grueling test that is a critical hurdle to becoming a chartered accountant.

Nora Kaethler and Marc Priestley, who graduated earlier this year from Brock’s Bachelor of Accounting (BAcc) co-op program, were named to the elite honour roll that recognizes the top 50 UFE writers from among thousands across Canada who sit the three-day exam.

Priestley is currently with BDO Canada LLP in Mississauga. Kaethler, who is now articling with the firm Crawford, Smith and Swallow in St. Catharines, is the daughter of John Kaethler, director of International Services and Programs Abroad at Brock, and Liz Kaethler, academic adviser in the Faculty of Humanities.

The two Brock grads made the top-50 honour roll from more than 3,000 people who successfully wrote the UFE, considered one of the most challenging professional examinations in the world.

Murray Knuttila, Vice-President Academic, hailed their achievement.

“We’re thrilled,” Knuttila said. “This is major national recognition for the competence of our students and our faculty. Brock’s Faculty of Business is one of only six Ontario schools to be accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, and this distinction is just more evidence of that quality.”

Kaethler has been working at Crawford, Smith and Swallow since May 2006.

“She was a mature bright young lady when we hired her,” said John Teibert, a partner at the firm, “and we have had the pleasure of watching her grow as a person over the last five years. We are proud of her and congratulate her for placing in the top 50 of the 3,046 students who passed the UFE.”

Brock’s co-op accounting program has established a national reputation for quality education, and this year’s group of successful writers join thousands of Brock graduates who are holders of the CA designation.