Baker College student awarded $12,500 in scholarships

For Baker College of Flint student Shyla Tailor, of Goodrich, it appears that the third time’s a charm for completing a college degree. Though it will have taken more than 25 years and two restarts, Tailor’s hard work and perseverance is paying off. She is beginning fall quarter with $12,500 in scholarships and plans to complete a bachelor’s degree in accounting spring 2016.

Tailor has received a $10,000 national scholarship from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and the $2,500 Ed Kurtz Leadership Scholarship from Baker College of Flint.

“Shyla exemplifies how life can sometimes get in the way of a college degree,” said Wen Hemingway, Baker College of Flint president. “But, she never gave up! In addition to the scholarship money, she is beginning her senior year strong with the added support of the accounting field that saw real merit in her accomplishments.”

Kevin Leffler, CPA, Baker College accounting instructor, explained that he recommended Tailor for the national PCAOB scholarship because of her excellence in academics and her “high-energy personality.”

“We are excited that one of our accounting students has been recognized nationally. Shyla has an incredible work ethic and is well deserving of these awards,” he said.

Tailor, who works full time and attends Baker College full time, has a 3.62 GPA and has been named to the Dean’s List. She is also a member of the Baker College Student Accounting Association. Her community involvement includes volunteering for Keep Genesee County Beautiful and participating as a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts of the USA while she continues to pursue patches and badges with her family.

Tailor is a wife, a mother to two daughters and three stepdaughters, two of whom are also enrolled at Baker College of Flint, and grandmother to three. She works as an administrative accountant for Serra Automotive, Grand Blanc, that has 31 dealerships in seven states.

“I chose Baker College because it is a professional career college that understands the adult student,” Tailor said. “My achievements are a reflection of the excellent instruction I’ve received. My instructors are fantastic. Their diverse backgrounds and professional experience enhance classroom learning, and they make each student feel valued and understood.”

After graduation, Tailor plans to pursue her CPA certification.

The PCAOB awarded 84 merit scholarships this year to encourage students in accredited accounting degree programs to pursue careers in audits. The scholarships are funded by the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires that monetary penalties imposed by the PCAOB in its disciplinary proceedings be used to fund a scholarship program.

The Kurtz Leadership Scholarship is awarded annually to a Baker College of Flint student who demonstrates academic achievement and either a commitment to community service or a successful balance of work, family and school obligations. Baker College established this scholarship in 2004 in honor of Ed Kurtz, retired president and CEO of Baker College. Kurtz, a dynamic leader whose vocabulary does not include the word “impossible,” exhibited extraordinary service to his neighbors, friends and community throughout his 34 years at Baker College.

For more information about the accounting program at Baker College, contact Jodi Cuneaz at 810.766.4000 or jodi.cuneaz@baker.edu, or visit www.baker.edu.

The largest private college in Michigan, Baker College is a not-for-profit higher education institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It serves more than 28,000 students on multiple campuses and online. Baker grants certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in more than 150 programs across diverse academic fields, including business, health sciences, engineering, information technology, education and human services. An impressive 97 percent of available graduates are employed. Every Baker graduate receives Lifetime Employment Assistance—free and forever. Baker is a pioneer in distance education and offers students the option of completing a degree 100 percent online, without ever visiting a campus. For information, visit www.baker.edu or follow Baker College on Twitter, @bakercollege, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/bakercollege.

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