Friday was my first opportunity to attend the Baker University Hall of Fame Induction and Student-Athlete Award Banquet, and it was one of the most inspirational events I have attended while at BU.
There have been many times I have been told about the small-town atmosphere of the Baker community and that the people here truly care about one another.
Seeing BU alumni on the stage and hearing their stories at the banquet showed me how true that is.
Each inductee related to the audience, particularly to the student-athletes. They weren’t just talking at them; they were talking to them.
Current student-athletes at the banquet may have been imagining themselves on that stage, being inducted into the hall of fame in the future.
All of them had wonderful athletic careers at Baker, but they also showed pride in where they came from.
Being a Wildcat extends past the four years at Baker, and the four hall of fame inductees are the epitome of what we can become after graduation.
Going to this event not only put my own experiences at Baker into perspective, but it also showed me a new way, as a university admissions assistant, to share with prospective students what to expect from the university.
They can expect a lifetime of pride and a complete respect for their achievements. The college experience is about standing out as an individual, and at a university like Baker, it is possible.
President Pat Long knows when a team is competing and encourages student-athletes. Professors talk to students outside of class about what is going on in their lives. Ruth Sarna, director of student health services, pumps up the football team before their games. These are all ways the Baker community helps make a students’ experience unique at Baker.
Head baseball coach Phil Hannon was one inductee of the Hall of Fame. The fact that it was a person that students could put a face to made it a celebration for many more people, including the members of the baseball team.
Whether I knew each inductee or not, they were all great representations of our university and showed everyone that hard work and dedication can pay off.
