At Saint Anselm College, students in the accounting program are gaining invaluable hands-on experience while providing a vital service to the local community through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. This initiative allows students to prepare tax returns for low-income individuals, giving them real-world experience while making a meaningful impact.
This is the first year of the VITA program on campus, which is a partnership between the Business and Economics Department and the Community Center at Saint Raphael Parish. Throughout the 2025 tax season, Saint Anselm students have volunteered at the Community Center from 4 to 8 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday. The free tax service was open to community members with a household income under $67,000 and ran through the April 15 deadline.
Guiding students through the VITA program is Professor Ronald Cereola, who has previously led similar initiatives at other institutions. This is the first time he has run the program with undergraduate students. Students participating in the VITA program completed IRS training from July through January to prepare for assisting with tax returns onsite. Students receive professional tax certification during the fall semester and earn internship credit in the spring semester.
His students have exceeded expectations. So far, they haven’t had a single tax return bounce back, which is a testament to their dedication and thoroughness in learning the process.
Professor Cereola has been impressed by their dedication. "One of the volunteers isn't even enrolled in the class and isn't doing it for an internship. He took my course, and after that, he said, 'I want to do that.' He's not earning any credit; he simply wants to be involved. Other students come in on nights when they aren’t scheduled. They are only required to volunteer for four hours a week."
Enrique Mendez ’26, an accounting major from Walpole, N.H., has already completed over 15 tax returns. For him, the most rewarding aspect has been seeing the direct benefits that clients receive.
“It feels very rewarding to see members coming in here making less than the median income in America and walking out with a return that is up to 33% refund of their income, which is really nice to see,” said Mendez.
One of the most eye-opening aspects of the experience for Mendez has been working with a large Ukrainian population, many of whom speak Russian. Their stories and struggles navigating the U.S. tax system have reinforced his desire to help clients feel comfortable and informed.
“I understand how complicated our tax system is, and I want to help them feel more comfortable and understand the process. Making sure there is an element of trust between us is so important,” he explained.
A particularly memorable experience for Mendez was assisting a single mother who came in with her children. Her story reminded him of his own mother and made him reflect on how much of a difference accessible resources like VITA can make for families in need.
“Talking with other individuals who attend other institutions, a decent portion of them are not offering an experience like this, where we are able to help out the community, do community service, and receive class credit while helping as many people as possible. It feels really good,” he said.
As for next year, Professor Cereola plans to continue leading the program. “Some of the juniors will be coming back next year, and I will be doing it next year too,” he said. For students like Menendez, the lessons learned in this program go beyond numbers, they’re about building trust, making a difference, and preparing for meaningful careers that extend far beyond the classroom.