STCC student finds internship to be not too taxing

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – If you get free tax help this season, you may meet a smiling Springfield Technical Community College student, Theresa Sherman.

Sherman, of Springfield, is one of four STCC students working as interns with Springfield Partners for Community Action’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. VITA provides free income tax return preparation to low and moderate income taxpayers.

“I love working with people. I love helping people,” said Sherman, 32, who is in the Office Administrative Assistant Professional Program and seeking an associate degree in Office Information Technologies from STCC. “That’s one of the things I like about the internship. I get to talk to a lot of people. I work as a greeter on some days and other days I prepare their taxes.”

Sherman and three other STCC students are putting in 10 hours a week at Springfield Partners this tax season. They will earn three college credits and gain valuable office experience.

As part of their tax-preparation training, the student-interns took an eight-hour course and learned how to prepare basic Massachusetts or Connecticut state and federal tax returns. Residents who use the VITA program are assured the volunteer preparers will claim for filers all tax credits available.

Sherman enjoys giving people helpful tips when preparing their taxes.

“Not a lot of people know this, but if you’re 65 or older (and meet income requirements) you can get a senior circuit breaker tax credit,” Sherman said. “More people need to know that.”

The VITA program will continue to offer assistance to eligible area residents through April. The services are free to anyone in Hampden County who makes less than $56,000 a year. Preparers will file by mail or electronically (e-file), although the majority of returns are sent electronically.

This is the first year that we have partnered with STCC to be an internship site for STCC students. We have been incredibly pleased. Laura Manship, Springfield Partners for Community Action

Sherman said she has encountered a few unusual scenarios. Filers who are victims of identity theft must have a personal identification number (PIN) to e-file. “If they forget the pin, I have to print out all of their taxes and mail it in,” she said. “I’ve had that happen.”

Springfield Partners has run a tax assistance program since 2001, said Laura Manship, coordinator of the VITA program.

“This is the first year that we have partnered with STCC to be an internship site for STCC students,” Manship said. “Honestly, I did not know what to expect. We have been incredibly pleased. We have four interns, and they all are doing extremely well. They serve in two roles: as income tax preparers and as greeters. I can’t imagine being as successful this season if we did not have their help.”

Sherman was trained to prepare taxes and greet people who use the service. Manship said it’s important to have trained greeters in addition to tax preparers.

“Doing Income taxes is not just about numbers; it is really about making customers feel comfortable and confident in our ability to hear them, understand their situation and provide them with a thorough and accurate tax return,” Manship said. “Theresa is friendly and caring. She makes the customers feel comfortable.” 

Sherman enjoyed her internship experience, especially greeting and helping people. After she receives her degree from STCC, she hopes to find a job in office administration. She feels STCC is preparing her well for the future.

“I like STCC a lot,” she said. “There’s flexibility. I like the hybrid classes, which allow me to do most of the work online and come to campus one day a week. STCC also is the most affordable option if you want to get a college degree in Springfield.”

Business Administration Professor Christina Atwater, who coordinated the internships for the STCC students, said the VITA work gives the students real world experience and makes an impact on the community.

“The VITA internship is a unique blend between community activism and professionalism,” Atwater said. “This credit bearing experience allows the STCC student to learn the transferable skill of tax preparation, challenge their professionalism in an office setting, all while assisting the community as an active citizen.  It’s a win-win-win.  As a professor, it makes me proud that we are preparing students for their future career with applied learning opportunities.” 

To make an appointment to have your taxes done, call Springfield Partners at (413) 263-6500.

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

Founded in 1967 and located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, STCC is a major resource for the economic vitality of Western Massachusetts. As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC’s highly regarded transfer programs in business, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, liberal arts, and STEM fields continue to provide the most affordable options for students pursuing a four-year degree. With an annual enrollment of about 7,000 day, evening, weekend, and online students, STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.

For more information about STCC, visit www.stcc.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@S_T_C_C) and Instagram (@stccpics).

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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