Santa Clara University

2008 Marilyn J. Perkins Claassen Scholarship Winner

Tannya Niswander, Stryker Corporation

The CEPI awarded the third Marilyn Perkins Claassen Scholarship to Tannya Niswander.  The Selection Committee would like to thank everyone who applied for the award.  The decision was extremely difficult due to the record number and the high quality of the applicants.

The Scholarship covers the exam registration fee for the CEP exam (excluding materials).  Tannya has already successfully completed Level 1 so she will use the scholarship to complete Levels 2 and 3.  She has already taken advantage of the Scholarship and is enrolled for the Level 2 exam in November.  Tannya’s goal is to achieve the CEP designation in 2010.

Tannya is a Senior Stock Plan Administrator for Stryker Corporation in Kalamazoo, MI and is Director of the Michigan Chapter of NASPP.  She feels that the CEP designation will be a great benefit to her, her company and all of the employees at Stryker.  The following is an excerpt from Tannya’s application:

"The professional growth and deeper understanding of equity compensation that a CEP designation enables will allow me to proactively address potential issues that may arise due to plan design, accounting and tax regulation changes or new securities laws, increase the effectiveness of audit processes and reduce our organizations’ exposure to liability, while at the same time better serving our stakeholders.”

Tannya is already reaping the benefits of the CEP Program.   She passed the Level 1 exam in June and her company is in the process of migrating from an in-house stock administration process to an outside vendor platform.   

“My studies for the Level One exam have assisted immensely with this implementation process …….. by promoting a better awareness of the many intersections that are required among the internal departments involved, our vendor, outside counsel and tax professional.”

Again, congratulations to Tannya!