Back | District HOME | Search | Directions | Monticello A to Z |

Helpful links

Requirements Courses Internship College Credit Community Service Field Trips AOF Archived News

Monticello High School Academy of Finance

The Monticello High School Academy of Finance is a two-year program that students apply to at the end of tenth grade. Students are selected through an application process: Teacher and guidance counselor recommendations are required.

Grades, attendance and discipline records will be checked.
This program is a member program of the National Academy Foundation which
was founded in New York City by a partnership of schools and the financial services business. There are approximately 300 Academy programs in the United States.

Our Academy works with local businesses and both education and government leaders to design and offer financial education opportunities for Monticello High School students. This includes a comprehensive summer internship program. To learn more about the Academy of Finance, please email advisor Wendy Levinson at wlevinson@k12mcsd.net or visit the National Academy Foundation (NAF) website at www.naf.org.

Academy of Finance offering free tax preparation

The Monticello High School Academy of Finance (AOF) is offering a free tax preparation service for any tax return that has a gross income of $50,000 or less in 2011. This service is available from February 15 through April 4 at Monticello High School, on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:15-4:30 p.m. Students will also be providing this service on Saturday, February 25 and Saturday, March 10 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. This service is by appointment only. For more information, call AOF director Wendy Levinson at 794-8840, ext. 10848.

2012 is the fifth year the AOF has provided this service. In 2011, students prepared approximately 100 tax returns. This experience provides the students with the opportunity to use their knowledge in a real life situation and provides them with an experience that connects them with the adult community of our district.

It is a confidence builder for the AOF students as they move toward being independent adults. The students assume the challenge and push themselves beyond their comfort zones. It also shows them the value of socially responsible behavior because their skills and knowledge are being used to assist members of the community in which they live.

Through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, Monticello High School Academy of Finance students get certified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to prepare income taxes. Students become certified by taking an on-line IRS exam. The AOF Financial Decision Making classes are being prepared for the exam by business teacher Susan Bahrenburg, who is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Students who pass the exam receive a certificate indicating their capacity to perform the service.

There is a quality review process where all returns are double checked before submission. In addition to learning about tax preparation, the students in Wendy Levinson’s AOF communications class develop marketing materials and all of the necessary communication to inform the school community of the service and our hours of operation. Eric Shewmaker, a Monticello High School math teacher, also takes part in assisting the students as they prepare the tax returns for the public.

This is an example of team effort where Academy of Finance teachers Wendy Levinson and Susan Bahrenburg and math teacher Eric Shewmaker support the students as they provide this service. The students are able to take part in and observe a coordinated effort, which results in providing a service for our community.

Academy of Finance students attend Governor's State of the State address

World-renowned speaker visits Academy of Finance students

On November 30, Dr. Peter Tarlow, a nationwide expert hired by Sullivan Renaissance to assist in enhancing Sullivan County, spoke to members of the Academy of Finance. Dr. Tarlow is a world-renowned speaker who lectures on current and future trends in the tourism industry, rural tourism, economic development, and issues of crime and terrorism. MORE

Top Photos: Academy of Finance Class of 2012

Bottom Photos: Academy of Finance Class of 2013

Operation Daffodil designed to enhance the beauty of Broadway

Seniors in the Monticello High School Academy of Finance (AOF) dedicated their time and labor to help make the "Operation Daffodil" community service project a success.

During a mid-October weekend the students, along with AOF director Wendy Levinson (pictured left) worked on Broadway as a part of the Sullivan Renaissance project designed to beautify the Village of Monticello. The group hopes to see thousands of daffodils bloom in the spring of 2012.

Students learn art of business lunch: Basic etiquette emphasized for job interviews - story by Victor Whitman

October 13, 2011 - Times Herald-Record - Monticello finance academy students got a lesson in table etiquette at SUNY Sullivan. According to the students, their teachers and SUNY Sullivan staff, the country's future business leaders are lacking in a skill that is critical for getting jobs and doing deals, but is rarely taught. That is, getting through a standard business lunch. FULL STORY

Internships give students hands-on experience at work

As part of the requirement of the Academy of Finance and to get a real life taste of what it is like in the working world, AOF students participate in an internship at a local company or organization.

"This type of experience is the perfect supplement to what the students learn in class," said AOF Director Wendy Levinson. "This is the real thing."

Two students who recently interned were Maghan McCormack who spent time working at the Sullivan Renaissance offices in Liberty and Rahsheeda McRae who interned at the Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello.

Both students found their experiences to be invaluable to their understanding of the world of work. For more information about becoming an internship partner with the Academy of Finance, please call Ms. Levinson at 794-8840, ext. 10848.

Top photo: AOF intern Maghan McCormack works with her internship supervisor Denise Frangipane at the Sullivan Renaissance offices.

Bottom photo: AOF intern Rahsheeda McRae worked at the County Manager's office at the Sullivan County Government Center as part of her internship.

Monticello High School's Academy of Finance Vita Tax service featured in the Wall Street Journal

The article described the benefit of the community service our AOF students provide by preparing tax returns free for individuals who earn $49,000 or less. The National Academy Foundation, the parent organization of the AOF, selected Monticello High School's AOF to be interviewed for the article.

In addition to the tax preparation service being a learning experience for students, the process of being interviewed by the Wall Street Journal reporter was fascinating - observing professional journalists and photographers in action. The students prepared 99 tax returns this year. 

CLICK HERE to view the story, Tax Preparers Straight Out of 'Glee,' as covered by the Wall Street Journal (4/15/11)

CLICK HERE to view the story, Monticello High School students pitch in to prepare people's taxes, in the Times Herald-Record (4/17/11)

John Conway, Sullivan County Historian speaks to AOF Economics Class

John Conway, the Sullivan County Historian spoke to the AOF Economics class about Sullivan County’s rich history as it pertains to business and industry. Mr. Conway is the author of Sullivan County, A Bicentennial History in Images. He spoke of Timber, Tanning and Tourism, the three industries that were important aspects of Sullivan County’s economic history. John Conway shared his view of Sullivan County being a very special place and a much-celebrated region. He spoke of the positive aspects of our community and that there is hope for an economic resurgence. Story by David Osrow.