Critical thinking key for 2025 Harter Scholar

Baker University has named Maddilyn Rhodes the 2025 Edward Lin Harter and Sylvia Lloyd Harter Scholar. Rhodes is a senior at Putnam City North High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Harter Scholarship is the university’s most prestigious academic award.

As the Harter Scholar, Rhodes will receive full tuition for four years on Baker’s Baldwin City campus and will also have the opportunity to spend a semester studying abroad at Harlaxton College in England.

Rhodes’ journey to Baldwin City began with a simple flyer in the mail. The warm orange leaves of the university’s distinctive logo caught both her eye and her interest.

“As someone who is passionate about the beauty and conservation of nature, the fact that leaves were included on the logo intrigued me,” Rhodes said. “It encouraged me to do my own research about the university to find out why the leaves would be a significant symbol for Baker. This is when I learned about Baker’s conservation efforts, the Maple Leaf Festival, and the Ivan L. Boyd Arboretum.”

Critical Thinking & Creativity

Another factor that drew Rhodes to Baker was the university’s emphasis on critical thinking and a genuine liberal arts education. For Rhodes, critical thinking is more than an academic skill, it’s something she’s developed and relies on while creating art, whether that be drawing, oil painting, acrylics, or sculpting.

“Art has been really important in how I connect with the world around me and the people in it. It’s pushed me to see things from different angles, and it’s strengthened my ability to pay attention to little details,” Rhodes said. “In order to create a truly immersive piece of art, you have to understand the intricacies of what you’re painting, which taught me to look at the deeper meaning behind a lot of things.”

As Rhodes prepares to join Baker’s campus next fall, she is eager to bring a similar perspective to her college experience.

“Maddilyn really gets what Baker is about and why higher education is important. She beautifully articulated why critical thinking is a crucial skill and how it’s made a major impact in her life, and she has exciting plans for how to contribute to campus. I’m so excited for her to join us this August,” said Dr. Anna McCullough, director of the Center for Student Academic Success and one of the judges of the Academic Scholarship Competition.

Contributing to the Baker Community

Rhodes plans to major in public health, concentrating on health and communications literacy, and plans to pursue a career in health care administration. She is looking forward to participating in Baker Serves, a community service organization for students on campus. And as a nature lover, she will explore opportunities to combine her desire to serve with her love of nature at the Baker Wetlands.

“Being a Harter Scholar is an immense honor and a testament to all the hard work and dedication I’ve put into my academic and extracurricular pursuits. Not only will this opportunity provide me with financial support, but it will also give me access to the network of talented individuals and resources at Baker,” Rhodes said. “I know that this will encourage my growth not only personally, but also professionally. I’m thrilled to take full advantage of this exciting opportunity and make the most of my time at Baker.”

By immersing herself in campus life, learning from the diverse viewpoints of her peers, and contributing to the community, Rhodes can fully embody what it means to be a Wildcat and create her next masterpiece: a meaningful college experience.

The Harter Scholarship is funded through a gift from the estate of Edward and Sylvia Harter of Bryan, Texas. Graduates of Missouri Wesleyan College in Cameron, Missouri, the husband and wife wanted to contribute to Baker after the university maintained Missouri Wesleyan’s records and held alumni reunions after the college closed in 1930.