Since the mid-1960s, when a young Nazarene pastor approached a local banker with the idea to propose Olathe, Kansas, as the location for anew Nazarene college to today, MidAmerica Nazarene University has enjoyed strong ties and outstanding support from its hometown. The vision of Pastor Paul Cunningham and local banker R.R. Osborne, imagining what the college could bring to a town of about 15,000, forged support among community members. Land was donated, funding was raised, and the Church of the Nazarene chose Olathe as the site.
Today, thousands of MNU alumni call Olathe and the surrounding Kansas City metro home. They serve their communities as teachers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, police officers, firefighters, business owners, public servants, ministers, and just about any occupation one can think of. Olathe’s current mayor is John Bacon, a 1985 alumnus. His predecessor, Olathe’s longest-serving mayor, was Michael Copeland from the class of 1984. Leadership from MNU alumni can be seen far and wide across the region.
As the university grew, so did Olathe, exceeding 145,000 in2023. With the area’s top public school system, plentiful employment, bustling business, industry and transportation, trails, lakes and parks, and an easy commute to all Kansas City has to offer, Olathe is a great home for many Pioneers.