Baker University’s 150th anniversary is just over the horizon, and members of the Baker community are planning events to make next year a memorable one.
Plans for the BU@150 activities to be held on campus will celebrate the monumental year leading up to Baker’s official anniversary in February 2008.
Many people will be involved in the celebration including University President Pat Long, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Baker alumni, faculty and students and residents of the Baldwin City community.
Vice President for Marketing Annette Galluzzi said the activities being planned are mostly to get students excited and involved.
“We are hoping that student groups and the student body will be willing to jump right in and participate in getting everyone really pumped up,” Galluzzi said. “This is such a big event, and we want to make sure that everything runs smoothly and that there are many activities that represent Baker’s history over the last 150 years.”
Some students are already looking forward to the festivities.
“Now knowing that we are going to have a year full of events that are going to celebrate Baker’s 150th anniversary, I am really excited to see what next year will bring,” freshman Callee Souders said. “I am really excited to get involved and plan to jump right in and participate.”
Not all the activities have been planned as of yet, but some already in the works will focus on Baker’s history.
“Starting in September, we are hoping to have a well-known motivational speaker that will talk about the university, but so far no one has been selected,” Galluzzi said.
Freshman Kelsi Mishler is looking forward to the year in order to feel more like a part of the university.
“I am really excited to participate in the upcoming events and learn Baker’s history in fun ways, especially since I’m new to the community, as well as the campus,” Mishler said.
In spring 2007 a gala auction will be held in Kansas City to raise money for scholarships to be given out to next year’s freshmen and transfer students.
“We have never done this kind of an auction before so we are crossing our fingers and hoping that this will bring in some money that we can use to set up scholarship funds,” Galluzzi said.
Many are unaware that a Baker alumnus was the founder of the White Castle hamburger chain so, in order commemorate this, a hamburger-eating contest is scheduled to take place in March 2007.
Freshman Wes Comfort said he hopes to be involved in the anniversary festivities.
“I plan to participate in the activities during the celebration of Baker’s 150th anniversary, and I am really excited to learn more about school in general,” Comfort said. “I am always up for trying new, fun things, especially when it’s educational.”
The College of the Arts and Sciences will not be the only campus included in celebration. The school of nursing in Topeka and the School of Professional and Graduate Studies will also have a chance to get in on the activities.
“I think it’s great that not only are we going to get to participate in the activities, but also the other schools linked to Baker are going to get a chance to, as well,” freshman Rachel Hazelwood said.
Galluzzi said more events were still in the planning stages.
“This is kind of a big deal to the community because … Baker was the first college founded in Kansas,” Galluzzi said. “But … knowing what events are going to occur throughout with year … is still undecided so just stay tuned to find out more, and I am hoping everyone is just excited as I am about this special occasion.”