Top accounting student flies high

by Sun Min

Top accounting student Ricky Barr

One of Continental Airlines’ newest hires is School of Accountancy student Ricky Barr of West Jefferson, N.C.  “I’m very excited about this opportunity,” said Barr who will graduate next month with a master of accountancy.  He starts at Continental Jan. 14.

Barr landed the job after participating earlier this year in the SIU Alumni Association's Extern Program.  “I did real audits -- I examined documents, interviewed people and reported my results.  I loved the work because I was never treated liked a student. I was part of a team,” Barr, a 4.0 student and winner of the PriceWaterhouse Coopers Outstanding Accounting Masters Student Award.  He received a bachelor of accounting from SIU in December, 2006.

He credits business college’s Career Services and Placement Director Donna Margolis with helping him to land the plum externship.  “Donna and her team at the placement office basically found the externship for me," Barr said.  “I wouldn’t be where I am today without Donna’s guidance and support.”

Margolis, who supervises Barr’s work as a graduate assistant in her office, returns the compliment.  “Ricky is an outstanding student, employee and human being.  I feel so lucky that I had the opportunity to work with such a true professional.” 

Taking the road less traveled, Barr worked for 12 years before coming to SIU.  “I am 37 years old which is about 15 years older than the average student in the accounting program,” he said.

Barr worked as a plant manager at manufacturing companies.  “I found success in the workplace but always felt a void since I did not complete a degree.  Therefore, I made a personal decision to return to school and finish bachelor’s and master’s degrees.  The decision was made for personal fulfillment rather than financial incentives.  It was also important to me to set a model for my family.  I am a first generation college graduate and wanted to break through and model the possibilities for my nieces and nephews.  I felt that a business degree would compliment my operations’ management experience,” he said.

Barr found a home at the College of Business where faculty members are renowned for their research and teaching talents.  “For me, Dr. Jake Rose and Dr. Ania Rose have been the most influential professors.  Their subject material and teaching styles have prepared me well for my upcoming career with Continental Airlines,” he said.