Graduation from Baker U. to end friends’ longtime education journey

Together since kindergarten, trio finally will go their separate ways

? Jennifer Sogas couldn’t leave all of her past behind when she headed off to Baker University.

Like the time she hit her head on the monkey bars and threw up in elementary school.

Baker University students, from left, Pat McNamara, Jennifer Sogas and Julie Bower are well acquainted with each other. They all started school together 17 years ago in kindergarten in Raytown, Mo. This weekend, they'll graduate together from Baker.

That’s what happens when you go to college with two of your best friends you’ve known since age 5.

“We’ve basically seen each other every day since kindergarten,” Sogas said.

Sunday, Sogas, Pat McNamara and Julie Bower will complete 17 years of education together by receiving Baker diplomas. It’s a journey that started at Blue Ridge Elementary School in Raytown, Mo., and continued at Raytown South Middle School and Raytown South High School.

The trio lived a few blocks from one another in Raytown and went to the same church.

“We’ve always been friends and have always hung out, all the way until now,” McNamara said.

Strangely, they didn’t consult one another when deciding which university to attend after high school.

But they all settled on Baker. McNamara wanted to play soccer, Bower wanted to play basketball, and Sogas wanted to be part of a small school with a strong education program.

After Sunday, the three finally will go their separate ways.

Sogas is getting married in June and will look for a teaching job. Bower is looking for a sports marketing position, possibly in the Kansas City area. And McNamara is headed to an internship in Chicago, with plans for law school afterward.

They know they’ll see each other on holidays back in Raytown, but they know it’ll never be quite the same as when they were in school.

“Everybody at Baker is saying their goodbyes, and it’s people they’ve been around for a few years,” Sogas said. “These are people I’ve been around since I was 5, and we’re going to go in different ways now. It’s surreal.”

Baldwin — Congressman Jerry Moran and Reggie Robinson, president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents, will address Baker University graduates this weekend.More than 600 students are scheduled to graduate.Moran will address graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Nursing at 1 p.m. Sunday. Robinson will speak to graduates of the School of Professional and Graduate Studies at 4 p.m. Sunday. Both ceremonies are at the Collins Sports and Convention Center.School of Nursing graduates also will participate in a pinning ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Grace Episcopal Cathedral in Topeka.