Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE – Twin sisters Pajessa and Trinity Baker of Cobb, Wis., have grown up inseparable.
They have spent their lives playing sports together, joining the same clubs and sharing friends. So when it came time to choose a college, they knew one thing for certain: They wanted to go together, according to a news release from Grace College.
As first-generation college students, they couldn’t fall back on a parent's alma mater, and as they started dreaming of their dream school, their list of desires grew long.
“We wanted a place far enough from our hometown to give us room to grow, but close enough that we could still drive home on the weekend,” said Pajessa. “We also wanted a community where we would be supported academically, emotionally and spiritually; a school where we could get involved in athletics and, ideally, a place on the water.”
Living a double-digit-hour drive from any ocean, they figured that item would have to stay on the wish list — until they found Grace College in Winona Lake, stated the release.
Grace first came across the twins’ radar through an unexpected email. While Trinity had been researching colleges, Pajessa took a more laid-back approach to the search. But an eye-catching subject line led Pajessa to the Grace website, where she immediately recognized the fit. Grace College checked every box on the list.
"We just felt called to this school,” said Trinity. “We felt like God was making it abundantly clear, ‘This is the school for you.’ Everything lined up perfectly."
The twins scheduled their campus visit, and once they arrived, they fell in love with the lakeside community Grace calls home. To seal the deal, the Christian school was not only a doable drive, but it also offered both sisters’ intended majors.
Pajessa is studying general business in Grace’s ACBSP-accredited School of Business and minoring in photography. Trinity is majoring in sport management and minoring in sport psychology. As a lifelong sports fan, she hopes to eventually obtain a doctor of sports psychology degree to help athletes with the mental side of the game. Both girls are taking advantage of the school’s accelerated degree options and plan to complete their undergraduate degrees in three years.
Beyond their studies, the twins are making the most of the extracurricular activities available to them. They will both participate in competitive cheer and JV softball. Pajessa is also joining the school’s new running club.
Among the first in their amily to leave the small village of Cobb for college, and being away from their triplet, Daniel, for the first time, the twins — and their mom — are grateful for the safety of the Winona Lake community, stated the release.
“Leaving the girls in Indiana at school was probably one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I know that they will be well cared for at Grace,” said Amanda Baker. “As a mom, you want to be there for them, but you also want to see them grow, become independent and pursue what God has for their lives. I’m excited to see what God has in store for both of them.”
Now, just a few weeks into their college careers, the twins have experienced confirmation that they’re in the right place, down to little details like their mom’s phone number containing Winona Lake’s area code of 574, which the girls call a “God wink.”
“Just being around so many other people that believe in Christ has been a huge help as we make the transition from home,” said Pajessa. “There are so many outlets that can help you if you’re struggling.”
And looking forward, the twins are excited to experience all of the things that drew them to Grace in the first place – beautiful sunsets over Winona Lake, a myriad of ways to get involved and an authentic community that seeks to know Christ and make Him known.
To learn more about the Christ-centered community at Grace College, visit grace.edu.
