OSCPA student ambassador sees the advantages of mentorship

By Cecilia Yontz, OSPCA marketing and communications intern 

An OSCPA student ambassador has experienced firsthand the benefits of mentorship. 

“I think that any connection you can make and any kind of mentor relationship you can create is very important,” said Ashton Tidwell. “You never know when you're going to need someone like them, whether it’s referring you for a job or introducing you to someone else.” 

Tidwell, a senior accounting major at Xavier University, learned about OSCPA’s Student Ambassador program through a previous ambassador. Tidwell has enjoyed forming connections throughout college and being an ambassador has allowed her to increase her network further.   

When talking about her own mentor, Tidwell discussed the impact that Professor Kaitlin Newkirk has had on her. 

“I've had her for tax and she's also involved in OSCPA’s Women's Initiative Committee,” said Tidwell. “She's been a great mentor for me because she's a female in a very male-dominated profession and she's had a very successful career, and all her work has been very inspiring to me.” 

“I set up an OSCPA promotional table once in our atrium, and that was nice because I had students from different majors coming up to me and asking what The Ohio Society of CPAs does and what it is” she said. “I've also had accounting majors ask me about some of the courses I've taken and internships that I have had. So, I've liked having that kind of mentor relationship with  them.”  

In addition to being a student ambassador, Tidwell is also a board member on the accounting society, a member of the club swim team and the pickleball club on campus. The experiences and connections that Tidwell has made have been incredibly valuable. 

“I've met so many people from different years that I otherwise probably would not have met,” she said. “I think just forming those connections outside the classroom is important, especially as an underclassman. Any relationship you make on campus is really important and can serve you in the future.” 

Upon graduating in the spring, Tidwell will intern at Ernst & Young and then return to Xavier in the fall to obtain her Master of Accountancy.