James Seekins, an accounting student at Dickinson State University (DSU), is interning with the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation (TRMF), a nonprofit organization in Medora, North Dakota, focused on educational entertainment and tourism. Originally from Glasgow, Montana, he transferred to DSU after earning an associate degree in business from Miles Community College.
Seekins explored several academic paths early in his college career, wanting to find the field that felt like the best fit. That exploration led him to discover a strong interest in finance, taxes and money management. An internship at a tax-preparation firm during his time at Miles Community College strengthened that passion.
When choosing a university to continue his education, he appreciated how smoothly his credits transferred to DSU and valued the positive stories he heard from his parents, both DSU alumni.
At TRMF, his responsibilities include assisting the accounting department with transaction review and accurate recordkeeping. His main duty is counting all cash received from the various TRMF entities and creating a direct-receipt report, then checking the amounts for accuracy against the foundation’s point-of-sale systems.
He credits DSU accounting professor Amy Kass with helping him secure the internship.
“She does an amazing job of informing her students about opportunities and guiding them through the process,” he said.
Many concepts from his coursework have directly supported his work at TRMF. He often uses material from his Income Tax I and Intermediate Accounting classes on the job.
“A funny example is when we were learning about gift-tax law, and it became relevant in a conversation at my internship. The marketing department was trying to figure out how to give Christmas gifts to the TRMF employees without having the gifts be taxed. I was able to explain the tax law to them, which I would not have been able to do without learning about it just a few days earlier,” he said.
Overall, Seekins sees his internship as a defining step in his academic and professional journey. It has expanded his understanding of what accounting can look like in different settings, especially within the nonprofit sector, and has motivated him to stay open to diverse career possibilities. As he continues his studies at DSU, he feels confident the experiences and guidance he has gained so far will help shape a meaningful and adaptable path in the field of accounting.