Did you know that the word google is actually acommon name for numbers with a million zeros? Did you know that spoonerism is the act of switching letters between words, like when you say, "Officer, I'm sotally tober?" Best of all, did you know that San Diego State has one of the best business and accounting programs in the nation? Dr. Gene Whittenburg is the man behind the tax-return form. He is one of the many outstanding professors who have made SDSU's accounting program a success. Even more commendable is how he and other accounting students have found ways to give back to the community while gaining priceless experience in their field. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, is a student-run program designed to assist low-income taxpayers in filing their tax returns. It's a free service that helps about 250 people each year. In this tax season alone, the total annual gross income of VITA's patrons is already more than $3.5 million. Aside from helping our community, Dr. Whittenburg's assistant, Amy Barry, says that the experience is unparalleled because of the hands-on practice she gains. "We're dealing with real people and real money," Barry said. I decided to take advantage of this service myself. I came in for some tax assistance and was greeted by Jason Sampas who helped me file my return. He was very accommodating and had a lot of really inspiring stories. Jason told me that he has about 20 friends who have acquired jobs because of their experience in this program -- jobs at companies like PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, Ernst & Young and KPMG; which, according to www.vault.com, are the four most prestigious accounting firms in the nation. If you're a student inspired by the job and networking opportunities this article highlights, I recommend becoming more active on campus. VITA is only one of many amazing ways to gain experience outside the classroom. Another notable program is the One Day Job Shadow Program established by SDSU undergrads Michael Nguyen and Howard Tu. It encourages outstanding college students to enter the field of business by pairing them with professionals in industries requested by the student. Another great on-campus organization is Alpha Kappa Psi. This professional business fraternity promotes learning through its Leadership Training Program. This semester-long training course provides hands-on experience in marketing, management, public speaking, business plan writing and many other business-related skills. You can find more information at www.akpsimusigma.com. If you're a low-income taxpayer who needs help with your taxes, you have one more chance to catch Dr. Whittenburg and the VITA team. They will be assisting the community tomorrow. Visit http://vita.sdsu.edu/ for more information.
The Daily Aztec > Business & Finance
A dose of VITA
Published: Sunday, April 6, 2008
Updated: Sunday, October 12, 2008
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