Accounting Grad, Veteran Reaches Career Goal While Raising a Family and Working Full Time Thursday, June 4, 2015
Meet Khouanchay (Kay) Krueger, 2015 Outstanding Non-traditional Student
Degree earned at Point Park: B.S. in Accounting, 2015
Job title: Tax Staff Associate
Employer: Schneider Downs
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
High school: West Aurora High School
Now living in: Pittsburgh, Pa. (Robinson Township)
Hobbies/interests: Family, reading, the outdoors and fishing
LinkedIn: Kay Krueger
Video: Kay's Story
Eighteen years ago, Kay Krueger left college.
"It just wasn't for me at the time," remarked Krueger, whose family immigrated to the United States from Laos when she was a baby.
Instead, she joined the Marines and served for four years. During that time, Krueger met her husband, Matthew, started a family and began working full time.
"Even though I had good jobs, I quickly realized that without a degree I couldn't advance," she explained.
In 2010, Krueger decided to return to college — and this time she would give it her all.
Never losing sight of her goal to be hired by an accounting firm upon graduation, Krueger worked tenaciously to stand out from the crowd.
She served as president of the Student Accounting Association at Point Park, won three business team competitions, earned top academic honors and won the the 2015 Outstanding Non-traditional Student Award from the Point Park Alumni Association - all while working full time and raising a family.
"My husband picked up where I couldn't at home. When I had to study, he did the laundry and the dishes and made sure the kids (Genevieve, 12, and Matty, 11) were doing their school work."
Three months before graduating, Krueger landed a position with Schneider Downs, one of the top four certified public accounting firms in Pittsburgh.
"I am the only member in my family to graduate college," she said. "And now, I've solidified my career in accounting, which is where I'm meant to be."
More about Kay
- "PA Institute of CPAs Awards Scholarships to Point Park Accounting Students"
- First place team member in the 2013 and 2014 PIIA/PICPA Auditing Case Study Competition
- First place team member in the Chair's Challenge 2015 Business Case Competition