Meet Carol Hughes

In many ways, Carol Hughes of Lowell was a typical, returning adult college student. After beginning her postsecondary education at Purdue University Calumet in 1975, she interrupted her schooling to raise a family and assist her husband with the family business.

When she returned to Purdue Calumet in 1999-for, as she put it, "my own, personal fulfillment"-she took her studies seriously, made excellent grades and achieved her goal of earning a baccalaureate degree. But it was after graduating with highest distinction in 2001 that the former accounting major and mother of three children distinguished herself in an unprecedented way.

Prompted by one of her Purdue Calumet professors, Robert Pollock, she prepared for the biannual examination required to become a certified public accountant. Only about 10 percent of those who take the challenging, multi-faceted exam pass it.

She not only passed it in her first try, but among the 50,000 individuals nationally who sat for the exam in May, 2002, she recorded the highest attainable (perfect) score!

For her achievement, she received the prestigious American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Elijah Watt Sells Gold Medal Award. She is just the fifth Indiana resident and second Hoosier woman to be so honored in the 80-year history of the award.

"I returned to Purdue Calumet just to finish," said Hughes, now a staff accountant for the Merrillville CPA firm of Keilman Austgen & Sinal, P.C. "At that point, I hadn't even thought about being a CPA; Professor Pollack planted that seed. He guided me throughout the process. He was a real mentor."

She also praised Purdue Calumet for "preparing her very well" and providing her "a good foundation." She said she appreciates the way the university "accommodates non-traditional students," as well as the accessibility of faculty members. "I asked a lot of questions," she said, "and the professors were always very helpful…I learn differently as an adult. I don't like to memorize; I like to understand."