Baldwin City isn’t home to freshman Danae Presler.

But it’s the next best thing to her hometown. 

After all, Baldwin City has the one stoplight, the old-fashioned downtown, the small-town feel. It has all the makings of Presler’s hometown, Rice, Minn., except it’s more than 500 miles away.

For Presler, going to college in Baldwin City has been comforting, familiar.  It’s been a chance for her to experience life away from her family and friends.

“I felt like if I didn’t go see new things now, I never would,” she said.

Presler is one of the more than 200 Baker students who live outside Kansas, one of the students brave enough to venture outside their comfort zone, outside their familiar lifestyles to attend college.

Making the choice

When Presler was selecting a college, she tried to find one she really loved, really felt at home with.

For Presler, Baker became that place, that experience. And she simply couldn’t let that pass her by.

“I really thought it would be my last choice,” she said. “But I absolutely loved it. I loved the campus.”

The campus and the people were the reasons sophomore Sam Altman chose to come to Baker.

Altman, who grew up in Fort Collins, Colo., said he thought he’d be happier at Baker than any of the other schools he looked at.

“Baker was a better school for me,” he said.

Forming friendships

Choosing a school wasn’t the difficult part for Altman, it was fitting in at the school that was a bit more challenging.

“When I first started here, it was tough,” he said. “I didn’t know anyone.”

Altman quickly started getting to know his classmates, getting to know the people who would become his family away from home.

For Altman, greek life became his outlet, became the key to meeting people and making friends.

“Being in Sig Ep has helped,” Altman said. “It’s nice to have the guys here.”

Freshman Kolter Smith didn’t have trouble making friends, though.

Smith, who is from Arizona, said being involved in track helped him meet people quicker.

“I’ve made a lot of friends,” Smith said.

Staying in touch

Whenever Altman goes home to Colorado, something is different.

Usually it’s a landmark, a building, something new in his hometown.

He’s used to that by now, though. Altman’s parents try to keep him updated, as well.

"I call my mom and dad once a week," he said. "I try to keep pretty busy to keep my mind off of it."<br/>Staying in touch with his parents hasn't been a huge problem for Smith.Staying in touch with his parents hasn't been a huge problem for Smith.
Staying in touch with his parents hasn’t been a huge problem for Smith.

Smith has only been home once this year – for Christmas break – but he talks to his parents just about every day.

“It’s very hard to be away from my family and friends,” he said. “We talk every day – at least a text.”

A familiar place

Since leaving Arizona, Smith has seen a thing or two.

That’s what he wanted, though.

“I wanted to get out and see what the rest of the United States was like,” he said.

Smith’s hometown didn’t have a Kwik Shop. It didn’t have a Mr. Goodcents. In that respect, Smith said the culture is quite different from Arizona.

“We don’t have those,” he said.

But living in a small town isn’t new, isn’t foreign to him.

“My town is just a little bit bigger,” he said.

The familiarity is what Presler likes about Baldwin City. It’s what makes it her home away from home.

“For anybody that’s from out of state, you are forced to make new friends,” she said. “I think that’s a good thing.”enough to venture outside their comfort zone, outside their familiar lifestyles to attend college.

Making the choice

When Presler was selecting a college, she tried to find one she really loved, really felt at home with.

For Presler, Baker became that place, that experience. And she simply couldn’t let that pass her by.

“I really thought it would be my last choice,” she said. “But I absolutely loved it. I loved the campus.”

The campus and the people were the reasons sophomore Sam Altman chose to come to Baker.

Altman, who grew up in Fort Collins, Colo., said he thought he’d be happier at Baker than any of the other schools he looked at.

“Baker was a better school for me,” he said.

Forming friendships

Choosing a school wasn’t the difficult part for Altman, it was fitting in at the school that was a bit more challenging.

“When I first started here, it was tough,” he said. “I didn’t know anyone.”

Altman quickly started getting to know his classmates, getting to know the people who would become his family away from home.

For Altman, greek life became his outlet, became the key to meeting people and making friends.

“Being in Sig Ep has helped,” Altman said. “It’s nice to have the guys here.”

Freshman Kolter Smith didn’t have trouble making friends, though.

Smith, who is from Arizona, said he quickly started getting to know his Baker classmates.

“I’ve made a lot of friends,” Smith said.

Staying in touch

Whenever Altman goes home to Colorado, something is different.

Usually it’s a landmark, a building, something new in his hometown.

He’s used to that by now, though. Altman’s parents try to keep him updated, as well.

“I call my mom and dad once a week,” he said. “I try to keep pretty busy to keep my mind off of it.”

Staying in touch with his parents hasn’t been a huge problem for Smith.

Smith has only been home once this year – for Christmas break – but he talks to his parents just about every day.

“It’s very hard to be away from my family and friends,” he said. “We talk every day – at least a text.”

A familiar place

Since leaving Arizona, Smith has seen a thing or two.

That’s what he wanted, though.

“I wanted to get out and see what the rest of the United States was like,” he said.

Smith’s hometown didn’t have a Kwik Shop. It didn’t have a Mr. Goodcents. In that respect, Smith said the culture is quite different from Arizona.

“We don’t have those,” he said.

But living in a small town isn’t new, isn’t foreign to him.

“My town is just a little bit bigger,” he said.

The familiarity is what Presler likes about Baldwin City. It’s what makes it her home away from home.

“For anybody that’s from out of state, you are forced to make new friends,” she said. “I think that’s a good thing.”