Rent-to-own News - Wyatt wins first APRO Scholarship

Show-Me Rent-To-Own saleswoman Penny Wyatt is used to going the extra mile.

She's a single mother raising a 14-year-old son, a full time award-winning employee and a full-time student on the Dean's list. Her commitment to both her career and education has earned notice from her employer, colleagues, customers and now from the rent-to-own industry she represents everyday.

APRO Scholarship Winner Penny Wyatt

Wyatt, 40, of Desloge, Missouri, is the proud recipient of APRO's first annual Scholarship Award -- a $2,000 award made possible through the non-profit APRO Scholarship Foundation which is supported by APRO member donations.

"This is absolutely awesome," Wyatt says. "I am so excited about this. This is going to help me out tremendously. I truly believe it's never too late to better yourself and further your education."

Wyatt was recently chosen from a field of applicants from various segments of the rent-to-own industry. As stipulated by the contest guidelines, all applicants were either employees or customers of an APRO member rent-to-own company or an immediate relative.

All applicants submitted essays as part of the competition.

She is currently enrolled at Mineral Area College where she is pursuing a pre-business administration

associate degree.

Wyatt takes night classes and online courses to accommodate her work schedule at Show Me Rent-To-Own's Farmington location where she is a sales assistant. It's the first step on a path that will ultimately lead to an MBA and possibly a rent-to-own store of her own.

Under the award rules, Wyatt will receive $1,000 upfront and another $1,000 after completing one full semester of coursework with a 3.0 grade point average or better. Wyatt currently has a 3.9 college GPA so that shouldn't be a problem, she says.

Show-Me Rent-To-Own Farmington Manager Vince Nelson with Penny Wyatt.

Her lifestyle is hectic, but it's a dynamic that suits her personality, she says.

"I was off work for three weeks once after a surgery and it almost drove me nuts," Wyatt says. "I definitely don't like to sit still."

Her manager Vince Nelson agrees.

Last year, Nelson presented Wyatt with Show-Me's "Sudden Impact" Award -- an award given to a new employee for their contribution to increasing floor traffic, deliveries and overall store profitability. Wyatt was the natural choice according to Nelson.

"Where she gets her energy is beyond me," Nelson says. "She's always going strong, even with her night courses, and on-line courses. At three o'clock when everyone else hits a slump she hits her stride. She's been a very big part of the success of the Farmington location. She was very deserving of that award."

Show-Me Rent-To-Own owner Gary Romine.

Show-Me Rent-To-Own owner Gary Romine is familiar with Wyatt's energy and enthusiasm as well.

Romine, who is coincidentally a trustee on the Mineral Area College Board, says everything about Wyatt's commitment to customer service is evidenced in the way she answers the phone.     

"I always light up when I call and she answers," Romine says. "It's always a pleasure to have someone answer the phone the way she does, to hear a friendly helpful voice on the other end. It shows she's very conscientious and if she answers the phone like that it tells you what kind of service your going to get when you come in the store."

Romine says ultimately the rent-to-own industry stands to gain by expanding educational opportunities for its members who will then put theory into practice on showroom floors.

"It's not only a scholarship but a way for her to improve this industry she's been a part of," Romine says.

Wyatt says her worth ethic stems from her youth when she used to help her father in his electronics store.

"My Dad always taught me that word of mouth can make or break your business," Wyatt says. "He used to say, 'if you don't have good customer service, you may as well not even be in business.'"

APRO President Larry Carrico says this year's award -- which was made possible by an anonymous APRO member donor -- should be the wake up call to convince other members to contribute to the permanent scholarship fund. Once $100,000 is reached, the fund will generate $5,000 in annual interest which will be used toward future scholarship awards.

APRO's current scholarship fund account stands at $76,523.

"This is a super deal for the opportunity it presents to the people in our own industry, both employees and customers, the people who represent us on a daily basis," Carrico says. "Everybody needs to look at it as a line item for continuing education and make it (scholarship donation) part of their budget."

Click here to read past articles on the five APRO scholarship finalists.

Member contributions are are actively being sought and can be made in conjunction with the payment of annual APRO membership dues. For more information contact APRO Public Affairs Director Richard May by calling 800/204-2776, ext. 104 or by email.