Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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While studying at their apartment in Jardine Terrace, Dale Lapp, graduate in agronomy, explains to his daughter, Erin, why he was Mghlightingcertainpartsof anarticic. (Photo by Shane Keyser) During one of her Friday classes, Gladys Myers, senior in human developmcntand family studies,takes notes in Concepts of Personal Health. The large class met in Justin Hall. (Photo by Cary Conover) Nr-TRADITIONAI, STIMCITS M 27

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BREA KING elaneOlgeirson,senior in el- ementary education, said she al- ways wanted to become a teacher. I ' ve had several different jobs and in almost all of them I worked with kids, she said. Olgeirson was a non-traditional student who waited several years before entering college. My very first day of college was on my 36th birthday, Olgeirson said. ' 7hisreally yotmg kidsat next to me in my class and I thought, ' My God, I could be this boy ' s mother. ' I decided then I would never think of other students as anything but my peers. Olgeirson ' s husband and three daughters supported her wish to go back to school. She and her hus- band decided she needed to be a full-time student. Nancy Bolsen, director of FENIXAdultStudentSetvices,said a quarter of the total student enroll- ment included non-traditional stu- dents. Our definition of a non-tradi- tional student is 25 or older, or marriedandunder25, Bolsensaid. Most of them are in the 25.39 age group, but some have been in their 51:1s, 60s and 70s who simply appre- ciate life-long learning, Bolsensakt Some, and this is the rarity, have been in their 70s and 80s, and have come back to get their degrees. The reasons for people return- ing to college varied. The variety (of reasons) has to do with some wanting to upgrade their skills, such as teacher accreditdation, or they want a ca- reerchange, Bolsensaid. Manyof themcomebadcbccauseofachange in life circumstances like divorce. Some found it difficult to go back toschool,but there weregrouPs for non-traditional students that offered help, including the Non- Traditional Student Association and FENIX. ' We have child care informa- tion, travel infommtionsuch asride sharing, and ways to leave emer- gency numbers where a parent can be reached, Bolsen said. We also have general information on Man- hattan for those non-traditional students who move here to go to school. Decisions to go back to school can also be hard on families. Olgeirson ' s youngest daughter did not like her mother going to college. ' She missed hav- ing me there, Olgeirson said. I ' d had time to co those extra things, like ex- tra cooking and sew - ing. Olgeirson felt earning her de- gree was important, and put extra effort into it by taking additional classes. A degree in education re- quired 126 hours, but Olgeirson went beyond that to earn hours in social science and history, in addi- tion to her main area ofconcentra- tion in German. With busy class schedutes,Olgeirsonsacriftced time with her family. ' There are times when I miss having that time (at home), Olgeirson said . My oldest daugh- ter once told me she knew that what I was doing was important, but sometimes not in school be- cause she wanted the old mom back. He ' s been after me to go back for years, Olgeirson said. We decided that if I wanted to grctduatebeforeouroldestdaugh- ter was ready for college, I should go full-time. BY DIANE HUTCHISON 26 riOtt-TRADITIONAL STUDEMS Among other students, Myers walks to statistics class. Her classes were three days a week which meant she seldom drove to campus from her home in Milford. (Photo by Cary Conover)

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By TUNA HOLMES AND MEE SUN LEE 102 churches represent- ing43denominations,studentshad a virtual smorgasbord from which to choose. Lee Ann Sidebottom, senior in horticultural therapy, attended Sunday services at the Grace Bap- tist Church, but when at home she went to Methodist services. Sidebottom said she did not be- lieve in labeling the different de- nominations of Christianity. I like the Baptist church here because they have an international Sunday school program, Sidebottom said. I want to work with international students when 1 graduate. PeterGuriadisastra,graduatestu• dent in electrical engineering, at- tended theCollege Heights Baptist Church as a form of leisure. Gunadisa.stra said he met people who made him feel at home. A Christian who hoped to be- come a stronger follower of the Lord, Gunadisastra enjoyedtheser- vices. He attended a Presbyterian church in Indonesia, his home country, but had no problems with attending a church of a different denomination. I feel like I ' m learning some- thing, he said. Students not only learned about their religion, but taught others. Jared Swan, freshman in engineer- ing,sharedhisMormonbeliefswith ethos. We (Mormons) serveon a mis sion for two years when we ' re 19. I paid for it myself and went to Sao. ramcnto, Calif., Swan said. I worked with Hispanic people there. 1 visited with them, shared my be- liefs and my aspect on what life is about. This helped me learn more about my own beliefs. Church youth groups also gave students the opportunity to meet those withsimilar beliefs and share social experiences. Lisa Dunham, junior inelemen- tary education, attended the Crestview Christian Church every weekend to get the support she needed to help her make it through each school week. Knowing Christ gives me a more focused outlook on life, Dunham said. Without Christ, found my life to be chaotic and unstructured. At Crestview, I feel like part of an extended family where nobody tries to preach r.) Yoe Yoke Cheng Wong, junior in food science also attended services at Crestview. A Malaysian who transferredfromTheWichitaState University, Wong attended Sun- day worship services and Chinese services. Ibis is the only church which has a Chinese service in Manhat- tan, Wong said. When 1 go to church, I be- come a body of the church. I know I am not alone in this world. Stephanie Wilson, sopho. more in apparel design attended services at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints, also found a special meaning in church services. She said a debili- tating sickness was the only excuse she would use for not going. I changed churches when I was a senior in high school, and that ' s when I gained the testimony of a Father in Heaven, Wilson said. I enjoy going to church because of the fellowship and the people. That ' s why I go and keep going — there ' s a message that seems to be just for me. My church (The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-Day Saints) has a social adivity each week which is open to members and the public, Swan said. We usually have a dance, get together and watch movies, go Christmas caroling and sponsor a needy family. 28 nt FAmtruL PoLLoweas