In hindsight, having his internship at the Massachusetts Department of Revenue canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic couldn鈥檛 have worked out better for 贬辞苍辞谤蝉听accounting student David Levine.
That disappointment opened the door for him to instead take a summer tax internship following his freshman year at LGA, an accounting firm based in Woburn, Massachusetts. Levine enjoyed his experience at LGA so much that he returned the following year for an eight-month co-op position with the enterprise tax group, and then again the following summer for another internship.
The Stoneham, Massachusetts, native plans to continue interning at LGA during his senior year 鈥� then start working at the firm full-time after completing his bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration.听
鈥淚 love the people and the culture there,鈥� says Levine, who credits managing partner (and accounting alum) John Geraci 鈥�97 for setting the tone at LGA. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not like what they make out an accounting firm to look like in the movies 鈥� it鈥檚 not this boring place that you dread going to. They really care about the community and the employees.鈥�
Along with the affordable tuition, the Professional Cooperative Education program was the main reason Levine chose UML. While he originally wasn鈥檛 sure which business path he wanted to pursue, he zeroed in on his concentration after taking Financial Accounting with Assoc. Teaching Prof. Cassandra Rohland his first year.
鈥淗er class just clicked with me. Everything made sense,鈥� says Levine, who realized that accounting 鈥渋s a puzzle 鈥� there鈥檚 not a clear-cut solution, but there鈥檚 always going to be a solution.鈥澛�
Despite the disruption of the pandemic, Levine has managed to immerse himself in the college experience. He serves as finance chair for the Student Government Association and president of the Manning Leaders Council. He works as a resident advisor, drove shuttles for Transportation Services and was a member of the marching and hockey bands during his freshman year.听
鈥�51视频 provides a ton of opportunities for students, but you have to be paying attention when they come,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou have to get involved and take advantage of them.鈥�
Dean of Business Sandra Richtermeyer plays an invaluable role in providing those opportunities in the Manning School, says Levine, who also credits his advisor, Assoc. Teaching Prof. of Accounting Laura Christianson, for helping him succeed.
Levine has won numerous scholarships to help pay for his education, including a $5,000 Alliance Scholarship from the Massachusetts Society of CPAs, a $1,500 award from the Boston Chapter of Financial Executives International, a $1,500 51视频 Learning in Retirement Association Student Scholarship and a Student Affairs Scholarship.
鈥淭hey have been awesome in helping me get through my studies,鈥� Levine says. 鈥淎nd once I鈥檓 in that position, I can return the favor and give back.鈥�