12/07/07

While eating lunch in the cafeteria Saturday, Director of Admissions Daniel McKinney watched with interest as two high school seniors exchanged phone numbers.

“I’m always impressed by (the students’) openness,” McKinney said. “I guess they might have been thinking of getting a room together.”

The two women exchanging numbers showed up on campus to attend the first of three Baker University Scholarship Days.

“Saturday was the first day, the other two days are in February,” Louise Cummings-Simmons, vice president of enrollment management and financial aid, said.

Cummings-Simmons said 69 out of 84 registered students showed up to attend the event, despite rainy and overcast conditions.

“That’s pretty good considering the weather,” Special Projects Coordinator Rachelle Vigna said. “We were afraid kids weren’t going to show.”

The students participated in a variety of different activities in the pursuit of the prestigious Harter Scholarship.

“The Harter Scholarship is usually offered for the first two days,” McKinney said. “Anything after the first week in February is usually too late.”

The students participated in the usual scholarship day activities such as interviews, a group activity and writing an essay.

While scholarships are offered based on the outcome of the activities, that is not the primary purpose of Scholarship Day.

“The primary reason for Scholarship Day is to attract bright students from many regions and get them onto the campus to connect to professors,” McKinney said.

Many of the students attending the event shared in this desire.

“Everyone’s been welcoming. They show us their true character,” Elizabeth Boos, a senior at Topeka West High School, said. “(Associate Professor of English Virginia) Fambrough was very nice and really seemed to know about Baker.”

The next two scholarship days will be Feb. 9 and Feb. 23.