It’s a dream come true to be writing for "Odyssey" right now, so, of course, I will be writing about the place that made this opportunity possible.
In Eastern Kansas, there is a very small town called Baldwin City. This beautiful town is home to many kind, hard working people who know the true meaning of community, and small town friendship. Also, it is home to a very special place that I along with many others have the privilege to call home, or have called home in the past.
This place is Baker University: the first, and best, university in Kansas (and the rest of the world). Here are a few of the most important reasons why wildcats are and forever will be, of course, BTID.
Support
Whether it be a sorority sister, a teammate, or a neighbor down the hall, someone is there for you and to listen to you. Because of the small, tight-knit campus, everybody knows everybody and everyone supports everyone. We get to form friendships and relationships with so many different types of people, from artists to sociology professors to pitchers on the baseball team because that is who Baker is. Baker is full of friendship, community, love and support, no matter where you stand on campus.
Academics
Professors at Baker are not there simply for the paycheck, they are there because they care, love, and hope for every single student on campus. Classes are not easy, and having small classes holds you accountable to actually go to class, 95 percent of students have a job within a year after graduation. And, guess who was the No. 1 school in Kansas for graduates with the most income their first year after graduation? That’s right. This place is full of smart people, and if you aren’t brilliant going in, you will be within four years.
Alumni
I, along with many, would argue that along with being the best university in Kansas, we also have the best alumni in Kansas. The men in women that have left a legacy at this school are true blessings, and they do not forget where they came from. Proud to be a wildcat, our alums support, give, and continue to love BU. They are living proof of being Baker Till I Die.
Athletics
Proud athletes apart of NAIA athletics put their heart and soul into their game at this school. Last year alone, our women’s basketball team was No. 2 in the nation, wrestling ended with two national champions, men’s and women’s soccer both had killer playoff runs, and football ended at No. 4 in the nation. Home to some of the NAIA’s best athletes, Wildcats know how to work hard, and ball even harder. Oh, and did I mention that they’re smart, too? Our student athletes aren’t just there for the game, but they are a part of Baker for the stellar education. The amount of scholar athletes on our athletic teams is unreal.
Greek Life
Um, WOW is all I have to say about being Greek at BU. Who popped into No. 3 for best greek life in the nation for Best College Reviews? Once again, it was Baker. Forty-two percent of the student body are involved in one of the eight greek chapters found on campus. Our sororities received the highest rating on greek life of any of the colleges on the list, with an 88.3 percent rating. There is no battle between which house is the best, but together, we make a difference within the community, and outside of it, too! With philanthropy efforts high, we have raised countless dollars for Domestic Violence Awareness, The Make a Wish Foundation, Adopt a School, Neighbors Helping Neighbors, youth AIDS and so many other local needs, such as Noah’s Bandage Project. Being the most engaged groups on campus, Greek life at Baker makes a difference both in the classroom and the community.
Tradition
From the best time of the year at The Maple Leaf Festival (when the streets are shut down and the whole city is taken over by tens of thousands of people, shopping, and lots of food), to the chapel that began as Margaret Thatcher’s father’s chapel was shipped to the United States and put back together exactly how it was in England, tradition runs deep at Ole’ BU. Did I mention that Abe Lincoln donated ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS (That was pretty much a million back then) to Baker for the bell that sits atop Parmenter Hall? Well, it’s true. Being the oldest in Kansas, it’s pretty obvious that this university is built on lots of love, hard work, and tradition. Baldwin City, Kansas
Located about 10 miles south of Lawrence, this city is absolutely adorable, and when the trees change in the fall? Your breath will be taken. Baldwin takes pride in its gardens, history from The Battle of Black Jack that took place just down the road, and the S anta Fe Depot, the only remaining depot of Kansas’ first railroad south of the Kansas River, and of course, the Qwik Shop. This small town is full of genuinely nice human beings who are always around to help. Beginning as Palmyra, the town’s name was changed in honor of John Baldwin, a main benefactor of the university.
Opportunities
Baker University is where futures are built. Teachers, administrators, and alumni are always there to help you succeed. And, you will succeed. With the connections that are made due to the small campus, you will receive opportunities that are absolutely priceless. From going to Massachusetts and exploring the Harvard forests, to one of the best nursing schools in Kansas, there is something for everyone to gain knowledge from and succeed within. The term “Baker Graduate” is almost positive to land you a job.
Baker Till I Die
When you drive down 6th street and suddenly are overwhelmed by this beautiful campus, you will know you are home. It’s not simply for four years, it’s for life. The people you meet will shape you, the chances you take will change you, and you most definitely will have the best four years of your life here.
So thank you, Baker, for introducing me to my best friends, letting me play the sport that I love, giving me sisters for the first time in my life at Alpha Chi Omega, and making my future so promising.
There are countless more reasons to add to the list, but I am so proud to say that I am "Baker Till I Die."
