The Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy has announced that Patrick Barker, a 2007 graduate of Samford University's Brock School of Business with a degree in accounting, achieved the highest score of all candidates who took the CPA exam in the most recent testing period.

The computerized CPA exam is administered in four different three month "windows" at a certified exam site. To qualify for the high score award, candidates must complete all four parts of the exam within one of the three month windows and pass all parts of the exam on the first attempt.

"Patrick was an excellent student," said Sharon Jackson, assistant professor of business at the Brock School of Business. "He is a hard worker and his achievement of the highest score on the exam is a testament to that hard work."

Jim Hart, managing partner of Birmingham CPA firm Dent Baker and Company, states "We first met Barker as part of the Brock School's internship program, and he later joined our professional staff upon graduation. Patrick has distinguished himself very early in his career, and his achievement indicates much future success in serving the diverse needs of our Alabama client base."

Patrick is the second graduate of the Brock School of Business to achieve the highest score in the past two years. Nathan Rice, a 2005 graduate of the Brock School of Business, also achieved the highest score on the CPA exam last year. Rice works at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

"The quality education that our students receive at the Brock School of Business in the area of accounting has established our school's reputation for graduating high-achievers with great potential," said Beck A. Taylor, dean of the Brock School of Business.