PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) has launched the firm's 8th Annual xTREME Games, a unique competition that enables undergraduates at schools across the country to experience and solve real-world business challenges.

Participants in PwC's xTREME Games compete for school bragging rights and nearly $300,000 in total prize money while broadening and enhancing valuable skills such as decision making, communication and team building, which are critical to success in the professional world. Approximately $1.5 million in total prize money has been awarded to students since xTREME began.

As one of the nation's largest employers of college graduates, PwC collaborates with schools across the country to provide meaningful, relevant learning programs and opportunities to ensure that students are well prepared to enter the profession. The xTREME Games competition is part of PwC's larger, ongoing commitment to corporate responsibility and youth education.

xTREME, beginning this week at the University of Alabama, includes xTAX, short for "Extreme Tax," and xACT, short for "Extreme Accounting." Both challenge undergraduates to solve cases designed to expose them to real tax and accounting scenarios, including policy and planning issues.

Over the next six weeks, hundreds of the best accounting students representing nearly 80 schools nationwide will compete in five-person teams for the right to potentially represent their schools at the national finals in January.

"When it comes to preparing students for successful careers in the accounting profession, there is no substitute for hands-on, real-world experience," said Christina Fitzpatrick, National Campus Sourcing Programs Leader for PricewaterhouseCoopers. "With the xTREME Games, students get a firsthand look at the type of intricate challenges that tax and accounting professionals face on a daily basis. The competition builds collaboration and problem-solving skills while also requiring that ideas are effectively presented -- all crucial skills in a competitive job environment."

Created by PwC in 2002, the xTREME Games competition has grown steadily to include nearly 80 schools and more than 2,500 teams comprised of 13,000 participants.

PwC has a strong history of investing in education and talent development. For the past two years, PwC has been ranked #1 in Training magazine's "Training Top 125" annual ranking of organizations that excel at employee training and development (the firm also ranked #2 in 2007). PwC has also consistently been named to FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list, and has been highly ranked on BusinessWeek's lists of "Best Internships" and "Best Places to Launch a Career."