For many college students, entering college means leaving their hometown behind. However, for some students at Quincy University, college doesn’t mean a cross-country road trip or saying goodbye at the airport. Instead, it means continuing down the same road they’ve been traveling their whole life in the same city they’ve always called home.

In Quincy, students who have lived just minutes away from campus and have chosen to attend Quincy University are commonly known as “townies.” What was once a nickname that some students felt defined them as people who never left home has taken on a whole new meaning.

Laci Novosel is a senior golfer at Quincy University and attended Quincy Senior High School.

“I chose Quincy University because I love the small community feel. Being from Quincy, I obviously grew up coming to Quincy University sporting events and all that kind of stuff and that obviously drew me here and then also just being able to close to home and see my family and that’s all really great,” Novosel said.

The decision to stay local is often based on money and family. Many townies save money on room and board by staying in their hometown for college. Others commute from their family home. The perk of being able to go home for dinner or to do laundry is not lost on them as they watch out-of-town students struggle through tough weeks.

Convenience is not the only consideration. Many townies say staying local is an investment in the community. Quincy University has been an integral part of the community for a long time. This has been achieved through service activities, internships, sports, and collaborations with local businesses. Students from Quincy feel a stronger connection to these opportunities.

This familiarity can also make college life more personalized. Teachers may know the students’ families. Friends may be people from high school. Local business owners may greet student employees not only as employees but as friends.

Still, being a townie isn’t without its own set of struggles. Some students report feeling the pressure to “go away” to college in order to prove their independence. Others have confessed to worrying about missing out on the traditional out-of-state college experience.

Morgan Widmer is a member of the Quincy University dance team and attended Quincy High School as well.

“I’m actually a transfer student, so I went to a different school before this, and you know it just wasn’t that same as Quincy. And so I decided to transfer back. And I actually decided in a week span that I wanted to come to Quincy. And now I am here and I absolutely love it. I love what the community brings,” Widmer said.

Many have discovered that independence doesn’t have to be measured by miles. Juggling academics, part-time jobs, leadership positions, and college activities still challenges them to become more independent even if their childhood bedroom is just a few miles down the road. 

Going to Quincy University isn’t about staying stuck for these students. It’s about making a choice to stay with the people and the place they love, and about proving that sometimes, the best place to build your future is right where your story started.