Multimedia Reporting (Adler-Utsler)

In May Joe Wimmer, Ft. Scott, Kan., senior, will be taking the plunge into the next phase of his life. Born and raised in small town Kansas his first experience with big city life was his move to Lawrence. Like many of his peers, Wimmer decisions in May begin his career paths for life. However, Ft. Scott will not be the home of his future.
“The reason people leave is to go to college. None of my friends are there anymore, and the opportunities aren’t there either,” Wimmer said.

Wimmer’s decision to move to a larger city is not uncommon. After dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s on resumes many graduates venture to larger cities. However for graduates raised in rural communities, finding comparable work in small communities can be challenging.
For Wimmer that decision means staying Lawrence a town of no more than 83,000 residents, but to him over 10 times as many people as the town that raised him.
The problem becomes worse for students who specialize in certain areas.
Jill Hummels, public relations director for the School of Engineering, has seen graduates off to the far reaches of the world. However, small town employment ranks low on the list of possibilities.
Because of the engineering crunch, students graduating in the field are in high demand; offering graduates the opportunity to pick and choose which city to work in.
“Small town markets focus on civil engineering. Every town needs maintenance to its road and infrastructure. But the number of civil engineers is based on population, and small towns just don’t need that many,” Hummels said.
For engineers, Kansas City, Kan., is the Mecca for employment. A great deal of the graduates for the University’s program ends up working in the city.
According to the United States Census Bureau only five percent of Ft. Scott’s population has a bachelor degree. That comes out to be 459 of the 8, 362 residents. Of Kansas City’s 145,000 residents over 10,000 have earned a bachelors degree.
“We see a lot of Kansas City companies recruiting graduates, probably more than any other area,” Hummels said.
The big city life also is also more prone to higher paychecks. Ft. Scott’s commercial viability rests within the manufacturing and service based Industries. The top employers in town include distribution plants and restoration companies. Only 10 percent of available jobs within the town are managerial positions.
In Ft. Scott the average yearly income comes to $21, 500, compared to Kansas City at $35,700, or Chicago at $43,250.

For Wimmer getting out of Ft. Scott means more than a larger salary. He has grown up with peers, whose families have never left Ft. Scott boasting several generations from the same town.
“Some families have always been there. Their parents didn’t go to college and their lives turned out okay. So they see no reason to go either,” Wimmer said.
Wimmer’s parents have college degrees, so his choices were limited to college after high school. But the manufacturing and service-based jobs in Ft. Scott will prevent him from ever moving back.
Wimmer’s roommate Will Olson shares the same view.
After attending Pittsburg State University Will landed a job in sales working for a water purification company.
“I like the money and being out of Ft. Scott. I have no reason to go back,” Olson said.
None of Wimmer and Olson’s childhood friends still live in Ft. Scott. Many went to college in Pittsburg Kansas or else where, and the few who have graduated have yet to come back.
Bryan McDow works for KU Career Services. In his experience the choices that students make are very dependant on personal choice. Although some students look for jobs within their hometowns, many explore the idea of leaving for good.
“We always see the big cities, New York, LA, Chicago, but finding jobs and other factors come into play,” McDow said.
According to the Kansas Alumni Association, most alumni currently live in the Kansas City area. However, pockets of California, such as San Diego, and San Francisco, along with areas in Texas also play home to a large Jayhawk alumni network.
“For the most part the desirable places to live vary quite a bit, but the bigger cities are always going to be appealing,” McDow said.
Kimberley Goodwin, Littleton, Colo., sophomore, has always planned to move back to Colorado. Her decision to go out of state has made her realize the benefits of the city even more.
“It has all I’m looking for in a place to live. I had a great time growing up there and I’m excited to go back and have a career,” Goodwin said.
Although the thought of going to the bigger cities like Los Angeles or New York sounds appealing, Goodwin could never see herself living outside of Colorado again.
“It’s become who I am, and it’s where I feel the most at home. There are so many opportunities in Denver for me to succeed, “Goodwin said.
For Wimmer and Olson, the choice to leave Ft. Scott is easy.
“College is the ticket out, and so I’m out,” Wimmer said.