As an intern on St. Thomas Aquinas College’s Event Planning and Management team, Tchasky Mentor assisted in running STAC’s first Earth Day event. He served as the financial manager, handling expenses and budget plans, and recording cash flow for the fair which showcased STAC’s commitment to sustainability for a better environment.
“Being an accountant requires strong organizational skills, reliability, and trustworthiness,” Tchasky says. “These characteristics are critical because an accountant participates in many financial decisions that a company has to make.”
Tchasky was already interested in accounting when he enrolled at STAC, however, participating in the Business Club and attending lectures delivered by professionals working in the field throughout his first year of college affirmed his career choice. He says that the courses and electives he’s completed in the School of Business have opened his eyes to other areas of the field. For example, after completing his favorite class so far, Business Law, taught by Assistant Dean for the School of Business Christine Cahill, Esq., he now knows a wide array of laws that could keep both companies and individuals out of legal turmoil.
A recipient of STAC’s Academic Scholarship, Tchasky says he appreciates the diversity of the student body which “opens doors to new knowledge, culture, and connection.” What’s more, STAC’s intimate class sizes allow him to make deeper connections with his professors, advisors, and peers. “The professors and the staff are always ready to provide additional resources to students to ensure our success,” he explains. In particular, he considers his instructor and academic advisor, Associate Professor of Accounting Mariellen Murphy-Holahan, a valued mentor.
“Tchasky stood out to me in his first accounting class as a first-semester freshman by being an active participant in class,” Murphy-Holahan says about her student. “He has consistently demonstrated that he is a diligent student who wants to learn. He is active on campus in the Business Club and the Honors Program. He is a pleasure to have in class and I have no doubt that he will achieve his goals.”
In his hometown of Spring Valley, New York, Tchasky volunteered at the Finkelstein Library, where he tutored elementary students and organized a book fair to encourage young children to read. At Spring Valley High School, Tchasky was a member of the National Honor Society, the Science Honor Society, and the English Honor Society and was the recipient of the President’s Education Award and the Black Achievement Award. In addition to serving as captain of the soccer and wrestling teams in high school, he was also a member of the golf team.
Tchasky, who speaks French and Creole fluently, is currently learning how to play the bass guitar and enjoys watching anime and going to the gym in his spare time. Soccer is his favorite sport. In fact, his earliest childhood memories include playing soccer with his father, who would practice outside, regardless of the weather.
“He taught me hard work, persistence, and resiliency,” he says about his dad. “This is why I always give maximum effort in everything.”
In the future, Tchasky looks forward to becoming a Certified Public Accountant, traveling, and landing a job at one of the Big Four accounting firms.