September 2, 2025
Story and photo by Joe Vinduska
Barton grad Emmy Kempke of Ellsworth attended Barton in 2018 and since graduating has flourished in her career and is now a Senior Staff Accountant at Adams Brown in downtown Wichita on the firm’s healthcare team, which is one of the nation’s largest CPA and professional services firms.
Kempke was also a student associate for Adams Brown during her time at Barton, which helped her realize that is what she truly wanted to do.
“I wanted to become an accountant because early on, I had teachers and mentors who saw something in me that I hadn’t yet recognized in myself,” she said. “As I continued studying accounting, I realized I wanted to stick with it because it challenges my brain in ways I enjoy. It’s the perfect blend of working with numbers and working with people.”
Kempke learned much more than academics as part of her college experience.
“One word that best captures my experience at Barton is ‘transformative,’” she said. “My time there wasn’t just about gaining academic knowledge; it was where I truly began to grow into the kind of professional I aspired to be. I developed critical thinking and communication skills, learned how to work effectively with others, and started to gain confidence in my career path.”
A large part of her success after college was due to a well-rounded classroom curriculum.
“Outside of lectures, the program at Barton helped prepare me for the workforce by building a lot of practical, real-world skills through team-based assignments, problem-solving activities, and group discussions,” she said. “I was regularly put in situations that helped strengthen my communication, collaboration, and time management skills.”
Kempke said that while the curriculum and academic strategy were vital, the people implementing those elements were just as vital.
“I was incredibly fortunate to learn from some of the best instructors and other staff members during my time at Barton,” she said. “They were supportive both inside and outside the classroom, encouraging, approachable, and willing to go the extra mile.”
Being involved in accounting, Kempke also realized that Barton was a wise choice in terms of fiscal responsibility.
Barton was a great financial option for me because I was able to earn enough scholarships and grants to fully cover my first two years of college, including tuition, room and board, and even books,” she said. “That level of support allowed me to focus completely on my education without the added stress of debt or expenses. It also gave me the opportunity to save money to fund the remainder of my undergraduate degree. Choosing Barton made a huge financial difference and set me up for long-term success.”
Kempke said she encourages anyone considering Barton, a career in accounting, or any related business field to apply.
“I would absolutely recommend the Barton to anyone considering a career in accounting,” she said. “The education I received there laid a solid foundation and gave me a real head start when I transferred to complete my undergraduate degree. The core principles taught in the program, especially for someone interested in public accounting, were incredibly relevant and practical. I’m just incredibly grateful for my time at Barton. It was the place that gave me my start—not just academically, but personally and professionally.”
For more information or to enroll, visit: accounting.bartonccc.edu.