Rose Wilson is the assistant director of facilities at Garden City Community College. She likes her job but without a college degree, her options for promotion or working elsewhere were limited. That is when she decided to continue her education. Rose began by earning an associate’s degree through Garden City Community College and used the articulation agreement between GCCC and Sterling College to apply all of her associate’s work toward a bachelor’s degree. She was able to earn her B.S. in Organizational Management in just two years with Sterling College Online.

“I wanted a program that considered ethical decision making with a mix of what I might actually use in the real world. Many programs in business are very wrapped up in the numbers part of it, like require three statistics courses and macro- and microeconomics. I felt like this program was right for me because it required managerial courses, leadership courses, ethics and decision making; all classes that I can actually apply to what I do in my work every day.

“(The classes in the program) were all quite helpful. Real scenario discussions, especially in Business Ethics, Strategic Management, Leadership, and Crisis Management, very much helped me think through and consider what I would do in the same instance with employees who work for me,” said Wilson.

As a full-time employee with three children, Wilson found she could work in her classes around her schedule and her family’s activities.

“Having a full-time job and three kids, it’s hard (to fit schoolwork in), but I didn’t expect it to be easy. It took a lot of time, but I did it all on my own time – in the evenings, on the weekends or whenever I could. It was flexible. Most things were due by Wednesday or Sunday, so you know what your expectations are,” said Wilson.

Wilson, who graduated summa cum laude, is planning to continue her education and earn a master’s degree in facilities management.

“I so very much enjoyed my time with Sterling and am very much looking forward to furthering my education. I know I'm well prepared with the education I received from Sterling,” she said.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.