Four accounting students from the University of Idaho’s College of Business and Economics traveled to Alaska in February to volunteer with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. The group, consisting of Hannah Westergaard, Alexa Smith, Anna Bliss, and Young Sim, spent ten days preparing tax returns for residents in remote Alaskan communities.
The trip gave students practical experience while providing needed services to people who may not otherwise have access to tax assistance. The students each carried about 40 pounds of supplies, including sleeping bags and laptops, as they prepared for their work in locations without road access or reliable phone service.
“I’m not an adventurous person, so participating in a program like this, which is way outside my comfort zone, will really stick with me,” said Westergaard. Sim added that meeting community members face-to-face was impactful: “We know the taxpayer from our textbooks, but now they are sitting in front of you with their whole community behind them.”
The students became VITA-certified through IRS training before making the trip. Bliss said that applying what they learned was eye-opening: “You’re not just learning and repeating information, you’re actually impacting people’s livelihoods. If they don’t get those refunds or credits, then what are they going to do? They depend on these.”
During their visit, the group split into teams to reach different villages by plane. They experienced local traditions such as sharing home-cooked meals and attending a Potlatch celebration. Smith described how tightly knit the communities were: “Anyone coming in next for their tax prep knew the person sitting with us and the next person in line…the whole family.”
Reflecting on her experience after returning home, Sim said: “After this trip, I started appreciating the very small things in my life.” Smith also shared a lesson about adapting to local customs regarding cold weather: “Winter months are so perpetually cold…when they say ‘16,’ it is actually ‘negative 16.’ It’s just quicker that way.”
