'I fell in love with Northwestern'

It was a matter of economics. Rachel Carter had the intelligence, ability and grades to be accepted at Duke and Baylor. She lived in many larger cities before moving to Alva where she graduated from high school. She thought of herself as a city girl and planned to attend a big name college.

Then she learned the costs of higher education at these big name institutions. So she set her sights on an in-state Baptist college. Private schools weren't low-cost either.

When she added up the economic advantages of staying in Alva and attending Northwestern Oklahoma State University, it just made sense to stay here. After all, her father is a professor at NWOSU. She received scholarships from being named Miss Alva and participating in Miss Cinderella. So she decided to attend a year or two at NWOSU and then transfer to another college.

The unexpected happened. "I fell in love with Northwestern," Carter told her audience. She spoke to donors who support the university and its students during the Donor Appreciation Dinner hosted by the NWOSU Foundation Thursday evening.

Carter said she visited friends attending large universities where she had a chance to compare their experiences to hers. "I would take Northwestern over all of them. We don't have TAs (teaching assistants, usually graduate students) teaching our classes." Carter says she can interact one-on-one with her instructors.

At large universities students must major in music to participate in music programs, Carter said. Although it's not her major, she has been a member of the university choir. She has been able to indulge her love of music and enjoy travels to Nashville, New York and Europe.

Best of all, Carter said she'll be graduating in December with a degree in biology and zero debt. She plans to be married in March and continue her education next fall at NWOSU as she works on a master's degree in education administration.

Carter offered her thanks to the donors who provide scholarships and other funding at NWOSU. "You have helped to make the dream of college a reality for many including me," she said.