To be adopted in Ames, Iowa State students do not necessarily need to be under the age of 18 — all they have to do is go to University Baptist Church, 2400 Mortensen Parkway, where congregation members have taken a personal interest in them.

For the fifth year at University Baptist, families and individuals are opening their lives and homes to college students who attend the church by offering to be their adoptive families for a year.

“Getting the church interacting with the students is the big thing,” said Seth Loyd, interim campus minister for Cross Seekers, a Christian campus organization affiliated with University Baptist Church. Loyd, who participated in the Adopt-A-Student program three times as an undergraduate, planned the program this year.

Loyd, graduate student in meteorology, started the program this year by going through the church directory and calling up members to ask if they would consider adopting a student from October until May.

He then went to students and asked if they would like to participate. About 15 students are involved in the program this year.

The comments he hears about the program are positive, Loyd said.

“One family had this student last year, and I believe both of them requested each other again,” he said.

That student is Joe Clark, junior in computer engineering.

“I like them, and it seemed logical to try to get the same family again,” Clark said.

Clark’s adoptive family is Darrell and Amber Davis, 2010 Kellogg Ave. Amber Davis said she and her husband have been interacting with students for about 10 years.

“You get to know the students and help them out,” she said. “They really enjoy it, and you get paid back in some way.”

Davis said Clark has helped her with computer problems. A former adoptive student used to help Davis’ granddaughter with her homework. The Davis’ have kept in touch with all of the students they adopted.

Loyd said typical interaction between the student and adoptive family or individual might include having the student over for lunch, sending a card or just prayer.

“When they are having a test, we help fix goodie baskets for them,” Davis said.

Virjama Hamilton, 2419 Hamilton Drive, has been adopting students ever since the program started. This year, she has adopted two students.

“I have been very fond of students,” she said. “My husband was a pastor, and all his pastorates were near colleges. I taught at the community college in Boone myself. I just love students.”

One of her adoptive students this year is Josh Koch, senior in art and design. Koch transferred to ISU this year from Texas.

“I really enjoy it,” Koch said. “It is nice to be able to have an outlet outside of college friends to feel like you are a real person.”

Hamilton said the connection between her and Koch is strong.

“I always go up and give him a hug when I see him,” she said. “He knows I am interested in him and pray for him.”