Ottawa has many different opportunities in, around town

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.