'The Odd Its' Team from York University Wins Grand Prize in Ernst & Young's Reel Influence Video Competition

'The Odd Its' Team from York University Wins Grand Prize in Ernst & Young's Reel Influence Video Competition

Teams from BYU and Fordham Awarded Runner-Up Recognition

- Winners Receive iPhones, Music Downloads, and More -

NEW YORK, March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP has announced that "The Odd-its," a five-person team from York University in Toronto, Canada, has won the grand prize in the firm's "Reel Influence" video competition. Teams from Brigham Young University and Fordham University were named first-runner up and second-runner up respectively. "The Odd-its" received the grand prize for their creative video titled, "Meet Larry," which was shot documentary-style in black and white with humorous subtitles throughout the three-minute piece. The video highlights the benefits of someone choosing a career in professional services ("Larry") compared to another profession ("Darryl"). The winning video and the two finalist videos can be viewed at www.ey.com/us/reelinfluence.

The video competition, which was launched last fall, asked teams of students across the U.S. and Canada to make an impact on their peers, faculty, and future recruits by sharing a vision of their future career through video. By asking the industry-related question, "Why professional services?," Ernst & Young encouraged students to not only learn more about the industry, but to also creatively share insights for future students.

As grand prize winners, the York University team will now have the opportunity to take a business trip with Ernst & Young's CEO Jim Turley to hear his perspectives on the profession. They will also receive a check for $10,000 toward their University's academic enrichment. In addition to the grand prize, all three finalist teams have received iPhones, music downloads, and $1,000.

"We congratulate 'The Odd-Its' for being named Grand Prize winners of our Reel Influence Video Competition," said Dan Black, Americas Campus Recruiting Leader for Ernst & Young. "We know students value the perspective of their peers when evaluating their career choices and we look forward to using all of the winning videos to help inform future recruits about our profession."

Grand prize: York University
Team Name: The Odd-its

Team Members: Jonathan Gabe, Vivian Lau, Adam Metivier, Jason Sanio, Rebecca White

Title: Meet Larry.

Summary: This video, shot in black and white with subtitles, compares the careers of a stock broker to someone who chooses professional services. The humorous three-minute clip, shot documentary style, ends by saying, "Be like Larry."

First runner-up: Brigham Young University
Team Name: Bad Debt

Team members: Benjie Martineau, Trevor McKendrick, Ethan Parker, Holly Watkins, David Willmore

Video Title: Why I Chose Professional Services.

Summary: This video spoofs the life of the rich and famous and then moves to a more realistic -- yet exciting --- description of a career in professional services. The video highlights the experience that can be gained and the lifestyle that can be achieved through a career in professional services.

Second runner-up: Fordham University
Team Name: Tierney Pride

Team Members: Kate Balestrino, Nicole DiBona, Daniel Marrone, Marco Samuel, Diana Rapaccioli

Video Title: Accounting Past, Present, and Future.

Summary: This video captures the dream of a student who is learning about professional services. She is transported to a scene with a "boring" accountant of the past. The student is then instantly transported to the present to see the career of today's accountant and the flexible lifestyle it affords her. She wakes up from her dream to declare, "I want a career in professional services!"

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, is committed to enhancing the public's trust in professional services firms and in the quality of financial reporting. Its 130,000 people in 140 countries pursue the highest levels of integrity, quality, and professionalism in providing a range of sophisticated services centered on our core competencies of auditing, accounting, tax, and transactions. Further information about Ernst & Young and its approach to a variety of business issues can be found at www.ey.com/perspectives. Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited does not provide services to clients. Ernst & Young LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership, is a U.S. client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.

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Source: Ernst & Young

CONTACT: Holly Humphrey of Ernst & Young LLP, +1-212-773-2439,
holly.humphrey@ey.com; or Michele Vana of Fleishman-Hillard, +1-212-453-2214,
vanam@fleishman.com, for Ernst & Young

Web site:

http://www.ey.com/
http://www.ey.com/us/reelinfluence

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