Parkwayred,
Thank you for supporting our efforts to add a collegiate wrestling opportunity in the state of Kansas, this has been many years of effort finally come to fruition.
As to your comments on the school's tuition, let's think logically about your statements. If it really cost that much money out of pocket for a student to attend school at Baker, don't you think their enrollment would be...zero? (or at least too small for the school to remain open). How many families could really afford that type of an annual fee for their child's college education?
The average financial aide package for a Baker University student is $18,000. That is an average, so many students earn more, while others might earn less. That package can be in a variety of formats (loans, grants, scholarships, etc.). But for most BU students, much of that is money they are not paying back as a loan after they graduate. In other words, for a large number of BU students, they are attending school for right about what they would be paying at an in-state public university. As I said before, what private school could exist if that was not the case.
Kansas is full of small private universities (Ottawa, MidAmerica Nazarene, Benedictine, Sterling, Kansas Wesleyan, Kansas Newman, Southwestern, Tabor, St. Mary's, Bethany, Bethel...and others?). They most all operate in a similar fashion. Did you research your comment: "Baker is by far the most expensive school in the State of Kansas." I have not, but I would be suprised if most all of these schools are not in the same boat in terms of financial arrangements. And again, many BU students are paying for their college education a similar amount to what they would be paying at a larger public university.
As for your question about scholarship money for wrestling, I can tell you that students will not get a large financial aid package for being a great wrestler alone. BU (like most small private universities) are able to award the true "student-athlete." The typical BU student has strong academic credentials and qualify for much financial aid (need, scholarships, dual sports, etc.). Or they are just simply wealthy enough to pay the tuition amount.
Baker, like many other schools, tries to base itself on a solid academic foundation, helping students to obtain a great, personalized education. And if a student has aspirations to also achieve great things (national championships, All-American, etc.) in the athletic arena while they are at it, the greater the financial aide package they are likely to be able to earn.
Whoever is hired as the university's first head coach will have to understand this aspect of the recruiting challenge as they build the team towards national titles....like all small college coaches do.
The school has rich history and is a quality institution, and is well worth looking into as a possible college choice for a lot of students, primarily those who want to work hard in school and on the playing field.
I just wanted to provide some helpful data to hopefully avoid any confusion to the Kansas wrestling community, I felt this was important.
The program has only been started because of years and years of work at convincing and persuading. Some people put their necks out and provided strong and bold promises that it will be successful. The program NEEDS your support to help make this happen. Please consider "joining the cause" to help this program soar. This is critical.
GO CATS!
Kit Harris
Baker University, Class of '95
Head Wrestling Coach, Baldwin High School
