Being a transfer student can be really difficult. Having to adapt to a new town, students, faculty and a new lifestyle can bring on much more than stress. Although transfer students make a positive contribution to the undergraduate population, it has its effects on the person itself. Last semester, Kansas State University enrolled over 1,000 transfer students.
Alexandra Loya, junior in advertising, said she has always found it difficult to stay at one school. Originally from Liberal, Kansas, Loya always enjoyed being at home and surrounded by her close friends. For her first year of college, she attended Seward County Community College in Liberal. After she completed her first year, she transferred to West Texas A&M University.
Loya wanted to find the perfect school and she was willing to transfer as much as possible to find it. After another year, Loya transferred to K-State on a scholarship.
“Yes, I am a college hopper,” Loya said. “But I don’t mind it because I wanted a school that would fit me best. Since transferring to K-State, I do miss my other colleges that I have recently attended because of my friends. Also, K-State is way bigger compared to the other school and further away from home as well.”
Loya’s cousin Karina Michel, senior in communication sciences and disorders, was really happy that Loya was transferring to K-State after she suggested the move.
“I asked Alex, would she consider coming to K-State, and she had said yes, so I decided to help her with the process of transferring,” Michel said. “I also told her she could move in with me because my friends and I had a house and I wanted to ease some stress off of Alex.”
In order to save money, Loya moved to Manhattan into the house with her cousin and two other roommates.
“I needed extra money badly,” Loya said. “At first my parents weren’t OK with me considering getting a part-time job because they wanted me to stay focused on my studies in order for me to graduate, but after I spoke with them, I made sure they understood how much I was taking on and my ability to handle it.”
After looking for a couple of months, Loya found a job working at the new KSU Foundation Center. Loya is employed by K-State Telefund, securing charitable contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations looking to give back to the K-State family and fund K-State 2025.
“Everyone is put into certain calling pools, and within the pool you are either speaking to alumni young and old, parents, corporations and even friends of the university,” Loya said. “Talking to these people really has its ups and downs because not everyone is nice or even generous enough to contribute donations that will go back to the university.”
Loya has only been working at K-State Telefund for about four months, but she has seen the great benefit that her and her colleagues are helping for the future of the university.
Emily Eilert, Loya’s manager, is very satisfied for the improvement and work that she sees in Loya.
“Alexandra is a wonderful worker,” Eilert said. “Every time she comes into the room there is always a smile on her face and speaks to almost everyone. In the past few months Alexandra has personally raised over $5,000. This was a $1 billion campaign toward K-State being top 50 in research college, and I’m happy to say that Alexandra played a role in helping reached that goal.”
When talking to the alumni, Loya said she feels as though she has a special connection by telling them her story and background and how their donations could potentially help her keep her scholarship.
“I’m really glad I’m able to make a difference here at K-State because I never knew I would be helping out the university so much,” Loya said. “I enjoy my job, and I want to make sure that future Wildcats are able to obtain the opportunity that K-State has to offer and more.”
