Accounting Grad Considers Balancing the Books a Highlight of Whitman Education

When Jake La Vigna ’25 graduated this May from the Whitman School of Management, he not only walked away with a degree in both accounting and finance but also took with him the satisfaction of knowing that he helped introduce business skills to middle schoolers and high school students through Balancing the Books (BTB).  

Since his sophomore year, La Vigna has been involved with BTB, a program that teaches financial literacy in the greater Syracuse community and is facilitated through the University’s Shaw Center and funded by the Whitman School.  

During his first two years with BTB, La Vigna was a tutor, working with 13- and 14-year-olds at Huntington Middle School in the Syracuse City School District (SCSD). During his senior year, he took over as BTB’s coordinator, developing engaging and age-appropriate lesson plans for both middle schoolers and the students at SCSD’s Henninger High School, as well as recruiting Whitman student volunteers. 

La Vigna’s giving spirit dates back to accompanying his father while delivering for Meals on Wheels in his hometown in New Jersey.  

“Seeing the example set by my father made a big impression,” says La Vigna. “I have always loved giving back, and making people happy makes me happy.” 

BTB sends student volunteers to the middle school and high school weekly. During the 2024-25 academic year, there were 90 SCSD students in the program and 76 tutors from the Whitman School, representing every major. 

The participation of the SCSD students is optional, but La Vigna worked with his team to create a welcoming, engaging environment, often using incentives like candy and pizza to encourage attendance. (The SCSD is one of the poorest in the state per capita, and more than 85% of students at Huntington and Henninger are considered economically disadvantaged.) 

One recent lesson, for example, involved teaching the middle schoolers the 50/30/20 rule of budgeting, breaking down needs, savings and wants. Students worked in teams on a scenario where they were a family saving for a trip to Disney World and presented their budgets to the group. Each lesson is also designed to teach soft skills vital to business such as teamwork, presentation skills and public speaking. 

The tutors work with SCSD high school students on more complex financial lessons, and help develop resumés and LinkedIn pages.  

At the end of the semester, all the students are invited to tour the Syracuse University campus. Some have never set foot on a college campus before, and the experience shows them what possibilities may be open to them in the future. Students also take part in a “Shark Tank”-like team activity, creating a company or innovative product to present to the entire group, along with Whitman’s dean and faculty members. 

“Balancing the Books is a college experience I will never forget,” says La Vigna, who has secured a job at EY in New York City and is currently studying for the CPA exam. “We’re not here to ‘save’ these students. In fact, I think we get as much out of it as they do. But hopefully, they will learn financial literacy and other important skills that will be vital to their futures. Balancing the Books was an important part of my time at Whitman, and I hope to find new ways to give back as I pursue my accounting career.”