Name:
Natasha McCastle

What high school do/did you attend?
Belleville High School

What college do/did you attend?
Central Michigan University for Undergraduate and MBA.

Current Occupation:
Plante & Moran, PLLC, Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Duties consist of:

• Performing financial audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards for a mid-tier manufacturing and/or distribution companies, and public school districts
• Performing benefit plan audits and/or compliance engagements for defined benefit plan, defined contribution plan, and health & welfare plans. 
• Preparation of tax returns for mid to high value/net worth individuals, LLC companies, partnerships, C-Corporations, and S-Corporations

Personal information (married, children, hobbies, interests):
Single, no children. Hobbies consist of weight lifting and golf.  Interests consist of long-term professional growth, sports, and traveling.

What year did you graduate from Cornerstone (CSA)?
 I graduated from Cornerstone in 2000.

In what grade did you start at Cornerstone?
I started Cornerstone in 6th grade.

If you know, why did your family choose Cornerstone?
My parents chose Cornerstone because it was a school with a strong Christian foundation built on solid core values. Also CSA held a very high standard for their level of education. 

Who was your favorite teacher/staff member & why?
I remember Mr. Rousch, he was a stern but caring teacher. He honestly invested time in his students, and wanted to see them flourish..

Are you involved in CSA alumni activities? If so, why?
No, unfortunately due to time constraints associated with my new career. I haven’t had the availability necessary to be fully committed to CSA alum activities. I would like to be involved in the future.

What did you learn at Cornerstone that you will never forget?
I simply learned to work hard and trust in the Lord.

What is one memorable experience you had at Cornerstone?
My most memorable experience at CSA was participating on the boy’s basketball team. It was a great overall experience, and I really enjoyed it.

What element of the Cornerstone education is most important to you & still informs your life/decisions today?
Religion/Christian studies were the most important to me. As a middle school student I might have slightly taken this element for granted, but as I have matured I realized that it was probably the most important aspect related to the successes I have achieved.

How did the Partner program affect your life?
The Partner program was a great experience, it really allowed for me to meet and learn from individuals that I might have never interacted with during that period of my life. It was nice to meet professionals and learn about possible career paths.

What do you want people to know about Cornerstone?
Cornerstone is truly investing in Detroit’s future. I believe this organization and the partners’ of this organization are changing the lives of our city’s youth.  Cornerstone has greatly prepared me for the obstacles that I have overcome and for the challenges that lay ahead. I owe a lot of my successes to the leaders of this organization, the teachers, staff, partners, supporters, and classmates.