2024: Baylor University
One of the programs that McLennan Community College offers is called Get on the Bus—an initiative designed to help students who are interested in transferring explore their options by visiting nearby universities. Each year, we host a Get on the Bus trip to Baylor University, located right here in Waco, Texas, just a few miles down the road. Since I had never been to Baylor myself, I joined the students this time to both experience the trip firsthand and better understand how the program operates.
Founded in 1845, Baylor University is a private Christian university and one of the oldest continually operating institutions in Texas. With over 20,000 students, it’s known for its rigorous academics, NCAA Division I athletics, and strong Baptist heritage. The campus itself is stunning, featuring classic red-brick buildings, expansive green spaces, and the iconic Pat Neff Hall topped with a glowing gold dome. The university’s beloved mascot is the Baylor Bear, and students often rally around “Bruiser,” the costumed bear mascot seen at athletic events, and “Judge Indy,” the live bear living in the on-campus Bill & Eva Williams Bear Habitat. With a school spirit that runs deep and traditions that tie past to present, Baylor is more than a university—it’s a community.
The visit itself was a truly cool experience, and if you ever have the opportunity to stop by their Hurd Welcome Center, I highly recommend it. The space is modern, interactive, and welcoming—perfect for first-time visitors like myself. For this scrapbook spread, I chose a green background to represent Baylor’s school colors of green and gold. And unlike many of my layouts, this one features a lot of pictures of me, because I took plenty of selfies to share the day with my family.
On the left-hand page, you’ll find a Baylor University logo that I salvaged from some decorative cardboard wrapping from one of the welcome gifts we received. One photo captures a display of Jeremiah 29:11, a verse that struck me deeply that day—being in a new place, reflecting on the future, and feeling affirmed in the path ahead. At the bottom left is a photo from inside the Hurd Welcome Center, while the right-side image shows me looking out the window toward one of the main academic buildings.
The right-hand page includes shots of me at McLane Stadium, Baylor’s beautiful football stadium that sits right on the Brazos River. The bottom two pictures were taken during our guided tour, while the top one is from a later event—but I felt they belonged together in this spread. I also included the meal card I used to eat in their dining hall and bits of ephemera from the welcome packet— stickers, and the graphic taken off of a button, that help preserve the full experience.
This layout captures more than just a college visit—it reflects a journey of growth, exploration, and support for our students’ dreams.
If you would like to watch this spread being put together please click on the video below:
Categories: 2024
MASCrapping 