True Hillsdalians: Blooming Where They’re Planted

Written by Katrin Surkan

Most students at Hillsdale College drive or fly in from around the world, but a wonderful few come from right within the city of Hillsdale itself! These students come from local public, private, and charter schools and have lived in Hillsdale for all of their lives, making them true Hillsdalians. Gavin Lafollette, Michayla Kinney, Jake Waldvogel, and MaryEllen Petersen share their stories about how Hillsdale College and the city of Hillsdale relate to one another.

Gavin Lafollette, ’24, was born and raised in Hillsdale, graduating from Hillsdale High School. He came to Hillsdale College to play football, and played until an injury took him off the field. Since then, he has worked as a personal trainer in Hillsdale, at the Well Activity Center, and for the College. One of the major surprises for Gavin was the support Hillsdale College provides to the local community. The football team, for example, organizes an annual “Guys with Ties” event where players dress up in suits and ties and connect with local boys at Gier Elementary School. More importantly, however, the older students use that time to introduce the 4th graders to life skills and empower them to become good young men (a Collegian article from October 2018 reports on the program). Students on both sides benefit from the connection between college and city. Gavin appreciates the different practices of both; the College focuses on philosophizing and reflection while the city boasts people deft at handiwork and craftsmanship. And yet, both value hard work and honest character.

Michayla Kinney, ’25, loves the town and the College, having found both groups united in her father’s Hillsdale Orthodox Presbyterian Church. She attended the local charter school, Will Carleton Academy, getting to know the local families. Through her father’s church, she has known professors and college students for years before attending the College proper. Through her experience as both a Resident Assistant at Hillsdale College and a pastor’s daughter, Michayla has seen firsthand how the strengths of the students and city complement one another, the down-to-earth town sharing itself with students who live to understand the beauty it embodies.

Jake Waldvogel, ’26, grew up in the local community and attended Hillsdale Academy. He sees the city and College as two sides of the same coin. Jake finds value in the people of both the local and College communities. He understands the wonderful benefits the city of Hillsdale has to offer, and he hopes to see more students engage with the community. To Jake, the Hillsdale community is united in their dedication to purpose and excellence in all that they do. “There’s a beauty in fulfilling one’s purpose, whatever it may be,” Jake told me. I agree. He enjoys connecting with students from all over the country and witnessing their Hillsdale experience.

MaryEllen Petersen, ’26, graduated from Hillsdale High School. Above all, MaryEllen sees the good in both College and local people, and she hopes to bridge an information divide. As most Hillsdale College students stay “up the hill” and on campus, students have too little time to know the town well. “There are little things that locals are aware of, and I would just ask that students talk to a local before going on a date in town, for example,” MaryEllen noted. It would be a shame not to know where to look when we students explore the area, especially with all the kind people in town. For her, the best part of attending college in her hometown is “to be walking around places in town like in Kroger and seeing both childhood friends and new college friends.”

But why here? The world might have room enough anywhere for the few blocks of space the College requires, but I struggle to imagine a better place for this institution. Hillsdale College boasts just above 2,600 faculty, staff, and students to Hillsdale’s population of just over 8,100, creating a tight-knit community. Both value honesty and kindness; both work hard and appreciate the little things; both welcome strangers and love to help friends. I take pride in the lovely people of Hillsdale I have found nowhere else.

To these students, being a Hillsdalian means finding a balance between the down-to-earth city and the community of Hillsdale College. I have found few other groups with so many intelligent people in one place, every one of which wants to connect, communicate, grow, and share in community. Finding a balance between lofty thinking and real-life experience is hard. The city offers its resources to those who live in it, and the College does the same. Anyone lucky enough to participate in both graduates as a well-rounded adult. After all, the motto of Hillsdale is, “It’s the people!”

Katrin Surkan, ’25, has roots on the east coast but can almost always be found traveling. When not writing, reading, or chatting with someone new, she’s likely looking for a dog to pet or singing at the top of her lungs between classes with a cappuccino in hand.

Published in May 2024