Student spotlight: Steve Cukierski

Name: Steve Cukierski

Age: 35

Current residence: Neenah

Career program: Accounting

Attended FVTC: January 2014 through May 2016

Why did you choose the accounting program? I initially wanted to take some accounting classes to help me better manage my photography business that I started after earning my bachelor’s degree in photography 10 years ago. But after taking my first accounting class, I wanted to learn more and continued taking classes. This path has allowed me to pursue my Associate of Applied Science Degree in Accounting, which I’ll complete in May 2016.

What are you learning about your career field that you find interesting or rewarding? There are a wide variety of accounting specializations such as cost accounting, tax accounting and payroll accounting, which I found interesting. What has been most rewarding for me is being a tutor in the Accounting Learning Center; seeing other students understanding the material and getting reinvigorated about accounting always feels good.

Why did you choose Fox Valley Technical College? Fox Valley Technical College is known for their hands-on training programs, and the accounting program is no exception. Being able to have hands-on experience working with real accounting software will give me a great competitive edge out in the working world.

How did Fox Valley Technical College help you change your life? Since taking accounting classes, I have found accounting to be a new passion of mine that can become a second career in addition to enhancing my current photography business. Fox Valley Technical College has also shown me that helping students succeed is important to me, and my long-term goal now is to eventually go back for a master’s degree in accounting so I can teach accounting to future generations.

What type of job do you expect to find after graduation? Tax accounting has been an unexpected interest of mine since starting the accounting program, so I am hoping to be able to get a position in a tax firm where I can further my knowledge of tax accounting.

For more information about the accounting career, contact the Admissions Office at Fox Valley Technical College at 920-735-5645.

Fox Valley Technical College offers more than 200 associate degree, technical diploma and certificate programs, and instruction related to 20 apprenticeship trades, in addition to providing services to business and industry. Annually, the college serves about 50,000 people throughout its five-county district.