A phone call in August 2025 nearly sent Thomas Hines BBA’22 through the roof. Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) Canada called to inform him that he had placed first in the country on the Common Final Examination (CFE) he took in May 2025, earning him the Governor General's Gold Medal, one of Canada's most prestigious academic honours.
When he jumped up in excitement, a picture frame fell off the wall. His roommate rushed upstairs, concerned and alarmed by the commotion. Thomas was laughing and hollering, completely overwhelmed by a moment he describes now as one of the highlights of his life to date.
Out of all the candidates who wrote the CFE this year, Hines stood alone at the top. Given the exam's notorious difficulty, earning a spot on the honour roll means ranking in the top one per cent nationwide, an exceptional achievement. Hines didn't just make the list. He led it.
I wasn't confident when I started. Ten years ago, I had no idea what I was doing. Today, I've adopted a mindset where challenges aren't something to be afraid of but rather an opportunity to grow. — Thomas Hines, BBA’22, Alumni, The Hill Levene School of Business, University of Regina.
For Hines, the achievement is a remarkable milestone. He began his Bachelor of Business Administration at 25, working in restaurants to pay his tuition.
"This is my golden ticket to change my life," he says. With singular focus, he approached his studies head-on. "I was always the guy in the front row, taking notes, always asking questions," Hines says, “My philosophy was simple: read the textbook, show up to class, be prepared, do the practice problems, and as one of my economics profs put it: RTFM—Read the Flippin' Manual.”
Experiential learning: where theory meets practice
What sets Hines apart isn't just his dedication to coursework. It's his relentless pursuit of every experiential learning opportunity the Hill Levene School of Business offers, from working on the student investment portfolio, competing nationally at various business competitions, to studying abroad.
Hines competed in the Inter-Collegiate Business Case Competition (ICBC), the "Stanley Cup" of undergraduate business competitions that mirrors professional intensity. Competitors are given five and a half hours to analyze a complex case and are then required to develop a presentation. Hines’s team placed second in the accounting stream at Queen's University's Inter-Collegiate Business Case Competition. He also served as director of Corporate Relations for the Hill Business Student Society (BSS), and spent a semester abroad in Germany, expanding his understanding of global business perspectives.
Dr. Erin Oldford, Dean of the Hill Levene School of Business, sees Hines's success as validation of the School's philosophy.
"Thomas's success is a testament to the power of determination, overcoming adversity, and hands-on learning," says Oldford. "At the Hill Levene School of Business, we emphasize and support experiential opportunities—from case competitions to managing real-dollar investment funds—because they give students the career-ready skills and confidence to tackle real-world challenges, to experiment and to take risks. Thomas embraced every opportunity, and his achievements show just how far that combination of focus and practical learning can take you."
Managing millions: UR Investing
One of the opportunities that Hines seized upon while with Hill was “UR Investing”, the faculty-supervised, student-run investment fund where Hines served as both research associate and sector manager. The fund manages more than $2.5 million in actual capital that the team invests in stock markets. Students research companies, sectors, macroeconomic conditions, pitching investment recommendations, and executing trades. They experience first-hand the highs and lows of investment management.
"What you can't get from a textbook is the real human interaction and the actual collaboration and execution," Hines boils down the experience to a simple truth: “It’s one thing to read about it and do a practice problem, and it’s another thing to do it,” he explains when reflecting on his experience with UR Investing.
This hands-on work prepared him for what came next, with the CFE exam last spring. The three-day comprehensive examination tests not only technical accounting knowledge, but also professional judgment, strategic thinking, and decision-making under pressure. Hines says these are the very skills he refined through years of managing real investments, preparing case competition presentations, and navigating international business environments at the Hill School of Business.
Faculty who remembers and continues to mentor
Hines's professors from his undergraduate program know him as a high achiever, an active and engaged student, and an individual who brought leadership and curiosity to every class.
"I was delighted to learn that Thomas had received the highest standing in Canada on the CFE," says Dr. Morina Rennie, professor at the Hill Levene School of Business. "I remember him well as a student in my intermediate financial accounting course. He stood out, not only because of his considerable academic capabilities and work ethic, but also because of the leadership role he played within the class."
Years after graduation, Hines still connects with faculty for career advice. He credits multiple professors for their support in coursework and coaching, reflecting the valuable mentorship available at Hill Levene.
"I wasn't confident when I started. Ten years ago, I had no idea what I was doing," Hines admits. "Today, I've adopted a mindset where challenges aren't something to be afraid of but rather an opportunity to grow."
Advice for current students
Today, with his CPA designation, Hines has options he didn't have before. His advice to current students is direct: "Don't just show up to class, get involved, take risks, and make the most of every opportunity. That's where the real learning happens," he says. "The more I did, the more capable I became. I met more people, opened more doors, and enjoyed my time more."
At the Hill School of Business, experiential learning opens doors to extraordinary opportunities— like it did for Hines. Start your own journey today.
Banner image: U of R Hill alumnus and CPA Gold Medal winner Thomas Hines with his former professor, Dr. Morina Rennie, at the 2025 Accounting Fellowship Banquet. Photo Credit: Hill Levene School of Business.
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