When students begin to look
for the college of their choice they
often consider various things.
Not only do students seek
educational value, scholarships
available, and extra curricular
activities the school has to offer.
Students want to attend
a college that can serve their
interests and offer an environment
where they can easily make
friends. Something that students
tend to not consider until they
have settled in is what the town
they live in has to offer.
For some students at Ottawa
University it has been a huge
change moving to a small town
like Ottawa, Kan.
A lot of students are from big
cities or from the coast and this is
their first time in the Midwest.
So what does a small town like
Ottawa have to offer for students
who like the big city feel?
Luckily for Ottawa it is close
to two big cities, Kansas City and
Lawrence.
For those who enjoy the big
cities they can make a 45 minute
drive north to Kansas City.
KC has historical museums,
theaters for an array of live plays
and performances, the Sprint
Center that has concerts as well
as professional sporting events, a
major league football and baseball
team, minor league baseball and
hockey and professional Tennis.
Kansas City also offers a great
night life inside it’s Power and
Light district (for those 21 and
older). If the 45 minute drive is
too much for you, you can make
the shorter trip to Lawrence that
has a lot to grab a college students
attention.
Lawrence, being the home
to the Kansas Jayhawks is a 20
minute drive from Ottawa and
offers anything a college student
may be looking for.
It has an eclectic shopping
strip, food joints that can fulfill
even the toughest taste buds, and
tons of bars and clubs for those
who like to get out and about
when the homework is complete.
What about those who don’t
want to travel at all though?
Ottawa still has it’s high point
that can entertain the college
student. It offers some of the best
small town, home cooking with
places that cater to Ottawa’s small
hometown feel.
It has a local movie theater that
offers not only movies but the
“dinner and a movie” experience
that the larger corporate movie
theaters offer, but at half the price.
You also get to experience
how it feels to have the small
business owner know your name,
your favorite meal, and always
remember a little about yourself.
The other good thing about small
towns is that they have a friendly
environment that is always
willing to reach out and help each
other.
Businesses within Ottawa
keep their competitive edge, but
never forget that they are all in it
together.
They welcome the college
students and enjoy getting to
know them.
The city has worked hard on
bridging the gap between the
college and the town and this has
not gone unnoticed.
The local businesses have
started such events as college
night, giving out discounts to
local students in hopes to bringing
them into the town for business.
While small towns may not
have the big city feel, Ottawa
Kansas is located close enough
to big cities that you can easily
scratch that itch while still
enjoying what the small town has
to offer.
forget that they are all in it
together.
They welcome the college
students and enjoy getting to
know them.
The city has worked hard on
bridging the gap between the
college and the town and this has
not gone unnoticed.
The local businesses have
started such events as college
night, giving out discounts to
local students in hopes to bringing
them into the town for business.
While small towns may not
have the big city feel, Ottawa
Kansas is located close enough
to big cities that you can easily
scratch that itch while still
enjoying what the small town has
to offer.