Third-generation Falcon graduates with third degree in less than two years

Kyle Baker thanks College Credit Plus program for accelerating his goals

By Andrew Addessi

Many college graduates are thankful they survive getting one degree in four years. As for Kyle Baker, a 2019 fall graduate, one degree wouldn’t cut it, and four years was not quick enough.

With the help of the College Credit Plus program, he already holds two associate degrees from Bowling Green State University and earned his bachelor’s degree in December, graduating from the College of Health and Human Services.

The College Credit Plus (CCP) program is a way for high school students to get ahead and take classes for both high school and college credit simultaneously. Some students use it to get access to on-campus tutoring. Baker was able to use CCP to the fullest, graduating from Clyde (Ohio) High School and earning two associate degrees in science and criminal justice, all in spring 2018.

“I had a great College Credit Plus experience at BGSU,” Baker said. “I started taking college classes my sophomore year of high school. It was a bit difficult to manage college classes and sports and other activities at the high school, but I enjoyed the challenge.”

Many of his classes had students around his age, which made the transition from high school to college much easier. In addition, the smaller class sizes made it so teachers could help students and focus on them individually.

Baker is graduating on the same date his grandmother, Helen Baker, did from BGSU 50 years ago.

“When my grandmother was invited to my graduation, she told me that she graduated on the same day 50 years ago,” he said. “It’s an interesting bond that we can share and look back on fondly.”

Baker’s family has a long history of Falcons: His grandfather, John Cwiklinski, was also a Falcon, graduating in 1971, as was his mother, Jillian Baker, who finished her time at BGSU in 2006. Now he carries on the torch for the next generation, even if his time here was admittedly much shorter.

Helen Baker was in attendance Dec. 13 when Baker got his third degree, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. With an interest in becoming a lawyer, he plans to attend law school next fall.

“BGSU was definitely one of my top college choices,” Baker said. “Not only did my grandmother graduate from here, so did my grandfather and my mother. BGSU has a great criminal justice program and was a great fit for me.”