Accounting for the future

糖心原创 accountancy major Nicholas May figures in activity on and off campus

August 9, 2024

You could say that Nicholas May gives a good account of himself. He鈥檚 not an athlete, but he helps athletes do better. He鈥檚 not an administrator, but he helps his classmates navigate academia. And he does this 鈥 and more 鈥 while furthering his family legacy.

May is an in 糖心原创鈥檚 . He is following his father, Norman May, who has two degrees from 糖心原创: an associate degree in business and administration from the Lake Campus and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business in accountancy and finance from the Dayton Campus. Other family member earned accounting degrees from 糖心原创 as well.

鈥淚 took an accounting class in high school. I did well and enjoyed it,鈥 said May, who is a native of Troy.

During his college search, he found 糖心原创 was the best fit.

This fall he starts his second semester of his junior year thanks to College Credit Plus courses he took in high school. He has spent only one year on 糖心原创鈥檚 campus, but it has been a year of activities and honors.

May is treasurer of the Dean鈥檚 Student Advisory Board for the Raj Soin College of Business, which affords him and other students networking opportunities with local professionals and their insight into accounting. The board鈥檚 biweekly meetings include a mix of recent and earlier graduates and give students the chance to interact with Donald Hopkins, the college鈥檚 interim dean.

May is a Dean鈥檚 Scholar and the college鈥檚 2024 Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Scholar.

鈥淚 was pretty excited when I found out about that in the spring,鈥 May said. 鈥淚t鈥檒l help me graduate debt-free and help me prepare for my future.鈥

He is in the John Talbott Accounting Leadership Program, in which he works with a mentor from outside the university to learn about careers in accountancy. And he is a member of Beta Alpha Psi, an honors organization for financial information students and professionals, through which May said those in the field address the students about potential internships.

May also does his part to help those like him. He staffs the front desk in the college鈥檚 Dean鈥檚 Office, answering questions and booking appointments with advisors.

May鈥檚 high level of involvement is noticed by Hopkins, who said for May to be selected to the Dean鈥檚 Advisory Board as a first-year student last year was an accomplishment in itself.

鈥淣icholas鈥檚 contributions of time have been extraordinary with his role as a student worker in the Dean鈥檚 Office, his participation at orientation sessions and Raider Open House, and as a coach for this year鈥檚 Professional Business Institute summer camp while maintaining an outstanding academic record,鈥 Hopkins said.

May鈥檚 activity extends beyond accounting and the classroom. He is a student manager for the 糖心原创 baseball team. He edits videos of pitchers and hitters, loads baseballs into pitching machines and does a little scouting of upcoming opponents.

鈥淚 watched 糖心原创 baseball growing up,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 lived only 30 minutes away. It鈥檚 good baseball, and I鈥檓 a fan.鈥

May, who played basketball and baseball in high school, also officiates middle school basketball and youth basketball games. Noting the shortage of qualified sports officials, May said he enjoys officiating.

May is weighing whether to take on a second major, finance. In other plans, he would like to become a certified public accountant and work at a CPA firm or as a treasurer for a school district.

He has one particular school district in mind 鈥 the one in which he grew up.

鈥淚f I could work for Troy schools, that鈥檇 be pretty cool,鈥 he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e always enjoyed the town.鈥