Bryan Laurie becomes #BakerBuilt three times

Bryan Laurie, AAB ’17, BBA ’19, has always challenged himself. Whether it’s in his job at BNSF Railway, in his role as a dad to his three children, or for personal enrichment, Laurie always gives his best.

So when he wanted to move up in his company, Laurie knew it would involve a new challenge: going back to school to earn his degree. And he was ready to give 100 percent.

Baker University was the perfect fit for Laurie.

“I chose Baker because I was living in Topeka and they had a satellite campus near me,” he said. “I also liked the history behind Baker University as opposed to other local schools.”

Laurie enrolled in the Associate of Arts in Business program and quickly excelled. He enjoyed his time at Baker so much, that when it came time to decide where to pursue his bachelor’s degree, he didn’t hesitate. He began the Bachelor of Business Administration program in January of 2018.

“From the enrollment process to the instructors and professors to the class experiences and everything in between, I was always provided more than enough help from the Baker University team during both my degrees,” he said. “The level of higher education I received during my AAB and BBA has helped me be a better leader and competitive in the advancement process at my organization.”

Laurie graduated with his BBA last year, but he isn’t finished. He contacted his enrollment advisor, Kim North, and told her he was ready to pursue his master’s degree. In June 2020, he will continue his Baker experience by enrolling in the MBA in Executive Leadership.

North is thrilled with Laurie’s rapid progress in achieving his educational goals.

“I am so excited to see Bryan complete his graduate degree in 2022 and have the opportunity to walk across the commencement stage for a third time,” she said. “Bryan has been a pleasure to work with throughout this educational process.”

As for Laurie, he is already seeing his efforts pay off.

“Since earning my AAB and BBA, I have been promoted three times within my organization,” he said. “It has also afforded me the opportunity to educate others on the benefits of higher education.”

Laurie is grateful for the opportunities that Baker has provided him.

“I believe Baker University has helped prepare me for success in my career by providing quality education in both my AAB and BBA classes as well as sharpening my skills as a leader within my organization,” he said.