Rutherford, NJ – Felician University will host the first Future Accountants AI Challenge on Friday, May 8, 2026, welcoming students from eight high schools across Bergen County, including Rutherford, Dwight Morrow, Ridgefield Park, Lyndhurst, Hasbrouck Heights, North Arlington, Bergen Catholic, and Northern Valley. The event will run from 10:00AM to 1:00PM at the Alden Trust Conference Room in Sammartino Hall on the Rutherford Campus.

Event Overview

Created in collaboration with the NJ Society of Public Accountants, Lighthouse Leaders of the Future Foundation, and Felician University, the Future Accountants AI Challenge is a hands-on, interactive competition that reframes the narrative around artificial intelligence. Following an NCAA-style elimination bracket, participants will face off head-to-head over two rounds, each increasing in difficulty and requiring a deeper understanding of real-world business strategies to advance to the championship round.

The winning team will receive formal recognition at the NJ Society of CPAs convention and acknowledgment during the Ovation Awards, both of which will take place in Atlantic City in June.

While there is only one winning team, each student will gain new insight into how artificial intelligence can be applied as a tool to positively impact their professional careers, specifically within the world of accounting.

Dr. Anthony Scardino, Associate Dean of Business & Information Sciences, will serve as host, encouraging thoughtful teamwork, dialogue, and critical thinking throughout the duration of the competition.

About the Creator

Joseph Lizza, President of the NJ Society of CPAs Bergen Chapter, founder of the Lighthouse Leaders of the Future Foundation, and an alum and adjunct professor at Felician University, created the competition in support of the NJ Society of CPAs pipeline initiative to address declining interest in accounting careers and encourage early exploration of accounting pathways. Drawing on his experience in academia and decades of professional leadership, Lizza’s goal was to develop an event that wasn’t just another lecture or seminar but an accessible opportunity for high school students to practice the foundations of responsible and effective AI integration early on in their career exploration.

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Felician University is committed to supporting academic success at any stage of life. With over 2,700 undergraduate, graduate, and adult education students enrolled across the Schools of Arts & Sciences, Business & Information Sciences, Nursing, and Education, Felician provides diverse learning experiences that equip all students with the skills to meet the demands of today’s society. Over the past five years, Felician University has consistently ranked 3rd among private institutions in New Jersey for best value according to payscale.com and has been recognized as the #1 Safest College Campus in New Jersey according to niche.com. Our Master of Science in Nursing program is ranked one of the best online graduate nursing programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. We are proud to be designated as a Military Friendly School (Gold Status) for the thirteenth year, a testament to our dedicated support of Veteran students. Our diversity as an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and MSI (Minority Serving Institution), with underrepresented students comprising more than half of the student population, reflects our inclusive and supportive environment. With campuses in Rutherford and Lodi, New Jersey, our Franciscan values of respect for human dignity, compassion, and social justice are woven into the very foundation and development of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University is proudly sponsored by Felician Sisters International (FSI). For more information, please visit https://felician.edu.