The Life-Changing Power of a by Allie Northcutt
Affordability often plays a significant role in a student’s college decision. Dozens of alumni and friends have helped break down financial barriers, empowering the next generation of leaders and change makers to succeed at Wabash and beyond.
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hamp mccorkle ’24. Justin Santiago ’25. Max Rosa ’26. Ayden Lutes ’26. These four students come from different backgrounds and hometowns across the country, study different majors and minors, belong to different organizations and teams, and have varying dreams for what life looks like after graduation. But all are connected in one way. Each one of these students says he wouldn’t have made it to and stayed at Wabash if it weren’t for the generosity of others who value a liberal arts education. “The scholarship completely changed the trajectory of my life, my brothers’ lives, and took so much stress off my parents,” says McCorkle, a financial mathematics and philosophy double major from Greenwood, Indiana. 42 W A B A S H M A G A Z I N E
McCorkle was the first recipient of the Wabash Leaders Scholarship Program. Endowed by Steve ’63 and Connie Ferguson as part of the Giant Steps Campaign, the scholarship provides support for students who exhibit a high probability of becoming a leader within their communities. It’s a renewable four-year award that covers the full cost of tuition and room and board at the College. McCorkle, son of two small-business owners and the oldest of three sons attending Wabash, began his college search at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, foot traffic decreased substantially and the family’s businesses “took a big hit.”
“It was a tough time, and I knew financial aid had to be a big part of my college decision,” he says. “I didn’t want my parents to take on a financial burden and potentially take away any opportunities from my younger brothers.” McCorkle, the valedictorian of his Greenwood Christian Academy class, was selected for the Wabash Leaders Scholarship after participating in a multiphase interview process that involved alumni, members from the College’s Enrollment Office, and counseling staff from select Indiana high schools. He was chosen based on his high ethical standards, integrity, and strong written and interpersonal communication skills.
