Small Baptist University embraces big changes in new school year
A school that prides itself on intimacy and connection prepares for some big changes. (Originally published in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
Wayland Baptist University is making some big adjustments this year: a new football team, a brand new dorm and a lot of construction.
But with all the changes and classes for the new year starting on Monday, one thing has not changed. The campus still retains its family atmosphere.
Janelle Durrough, a junior and member of the student task force, said everything on Wayland’s campus - from beginning to end - is about family and fellowship.
“You can be walking on campus and see so many people that speak to you and ask you how you’re doing,” Durrough said, “and if you’re not doing well, they’ll stop right there and pray with you.”
Micah Evans, coordinator of student activities, said on a campus with close to 1,500 students, getting to know everyone is important.
As the student activities coordinator at a small university, Evans said there’s barely anyone on campus he doesn’t know.
“I care about everybody,” he said, “and when I say I care about everybody, I will stop what I’m doing and go find out what needs to happen to help some student with whatever they’re dealing with.”
This key sense of family is why freshmen and transfer students are each assigned to a K-family - complete with a K-mother and K-father - during their new student orientation, Koinonia.
During Koinonia, which means fellowship in Greek, incoming students get the chance to meet current students as well as other incoming students a few days before classes begin, Evans said.
Alyson Page, a sophomore and a K-mother, said being a part of a K-family is quintessential to getting acclimated to life at Wayland.
“I missed Koinonia my freshman year because I had a concussion from cheerleading,” Page said, “and so I didn’t have many friends and then I stopped cheering, so I drew away from them as well.” Page said she has learned from her mistakes and as a K-mother, she tries her best to make sure the students in her group feel comfortable, so they can be successful.
“I definitely work really hard on knowing their names and I’ll just start saying people’s names,” Page said, “not calling them out necessarily, but making sure that I get their attention and they know that it’s a safe place and they know they can trust us, and we’re not going to judge them.”
Incoming freshman Kylee Shultz, whose parents both attended Wayland, said although she’s not looking forward to the school work, she is a big football fan and is excited about the school’s football team returning after 72 years.
“I was a cheerleader in high school,” Shultz said, “and I would get in trouble for watching the game instead of cheering, so I’m really excited about football.”
Incoming freshman Zayda Davila, on the other hand, said she was a little more unfamiliar with the school because she comes from a Catholic background, but wanted to give it a try.
“I’m from a very close-knit family in Pharr, which is about 12 hours away from here,” Davila said, “and at my high school I just hung out with a certain group of people, so this is different for me.”
Davila said although she is anxious about the atmosphere change, she is ready to take it head-on.
“I’m excited to meet new people,” Davila said, “and just to give this a try and see how it works out.”
Task force member Durrough said with all the new things happening at Wayland, it can be a little daunting.
“There are a lot of changes going on around campus,” Durrough said, “but I know Wayland wouldn’t take on something they couldn’t handle, so I’m excited to see what the school year will bring.”