Wabash Wrap-up: A Look Back

COLLECTIVE GIVING HONORS WABASH LEGENDS

1. The Wabash Liberal Arts Immersion Program (WLAIP) held its monthlong summer institute. WLAIP’s continued impact on graduation and retention rates inspired an anonymous foundation to establish a $1 million endowment helping secure the long-term support of the program.

2. Wabash hosted a variety of summer camps. Funded by the Restoring Hope, Restoring Trust grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., Pathway to Your Future (PTYF) participants engaged with Wabash faculty and students in hands-on learning, including an immersion experience in Indianapolis, networking with alumni, and learning from civic and business leaders. Liberal Arts at Play (LAAP) was a weeklong camp for high school boys interested in a career in sports funded by the Indiana Youth Programs on Campus Initiative from Lilly Endowment Inc. Camp participants were led by Wabash faculty and staff and alumni through sessions about current issues in sports.

3. Sixteen international alumni from countries including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam, Greece, and Gambia returned to Wabash for a reunion celebration.

4. Wabash Club of Indianapolis (WCOI) held its annual Back to School Bash at the home of Drs. Will ’93 and Julie Fecht and co-hosted with Dr. Rob ’92 and Leigh Rudicel. The 18 freshmen and their parents were welcomed by alumni and other members of the Wabash community.

5. Wabash officially welcomed the Class of 2027 at the Ringing In Ceremony in August. Orientation continued for three days and included a tour of Crawfordsville, community service, and learning about academic support services, health services, career services, Wabash traditions, and the Gentleman’s Rule.

6. Upon returning to campus, Wallies were welcomed at the Back to Bash celebration with games, music, and food trucks on the mall and a special downtown farmers market featuring Wabash organizations and photos with the city’s favorite mascot!

7. Communications and Marketing collaborated with Career Services and Alumni Engagement to offer professional headshots and a session on how to dress for success

8. Wabash Fine Arts hosted artists Marina Kuchinski and Carrie Newcomer. In addition to sharing her exhibit, Kuchinski gave a demonstration in Art Professor Annie Strader ’s ceramics class. Newcomer, a singer and songwriter, performed a concert, spent time in classes, and collaborated with the Glee Club to write a new song.

9. The Little Giant football team clashed with Division I Butler University. Members of Woodland Heights Christian Church in Crawfordsville passed out cookies to the team as it left campus. The WCOI hosted a pregame tailgate. The fan spirit in the stadium had the Bulldogs seeing scarlet.

10. The President’s Distinguished Speaker Series welcomed neurologist and nationally recognized sleep expert Dr. Chris Winter and creator of the Media Bias Chart Vanessa Otero to campus. In addition to giving public evening talks, both spent time in classes and met with small groups of students, faculty, and staff.

11. Career Services hosted alumni from Eli Lilly for their annual recruiting event for Lilly’s finance and marketing internships. It has been one of the largest annual employer events on campus for the past decade.

12. Several community engagement events took place throughout the fall, including a 5K run, a Homecoming royalty competition, a softball tournament, and a swim-a-thon.

13. Many cultural activities took place on campus, including the Tea Culture Club cornsilk tea tasting, the Chinese Club Mid-Autumn Festival, and a Chapel Talk by La Alianza members focused on Hispanic Heritage Month.

14. Wabash student-athletes on the football, basketball, and track and field teams visited students at Hose and Nicholson Elementary schools for lunch and games.

15. Members of the Malcolm X Institute of Black Studies (MXIBS) heard from Bob Knowling ’77, Kevin Chavous ’78, and Eugene Anderson ’83 about preparing for life after Wabash.

16. The 43rd Annual LaFollette Lecture, “Glory and the Dovetail,” was presented by Religion Professor Derek Nelson ’99

17. Students, faculty, and staff filled the OffCampus Study and Study Abroad Fair to learn from organizations about summer- and semester-long programs worldwide.

18. Students interested in majoring in mathematics, computer science, and physics were treated to food and games by the departments’ faculty. The physics department won the epic three-way tug-ofwar contest.

19. Members of ’shOUT, Wabash’s LGBTQ+ alliance, celebrated LGBTQ+ History Month by decorating the mall with pride flags and hosting various events, like qurafting, to bring awareness and honor the ongoing history of queer and trans rights.

20. Soccer fans celebrated a goal against DePauw University.