Steve Klein - As Dean of Admissions I don’t get out much. My role keeps me on campus most of the time –attending meetings and doing what it takes to see that our staff is adequately supported.   

But occasionally I do get out. I insist on it. By visiting high schools, covering college fairs, meeting with alums, and attending professional meetings, I stay close to the market. I also stay close to my staff by experiencing the trials and tribulations of life on the road. There is much less glamour in it than one might think.   

I write this blog on a return flight from New Jersey. As with earlier trips to Pittsburgh and Chicago, I return excited about the people I met and the opportunities those relationships hold for Wabash. High school and independent counselors, alumni and even friends I stayed with- all on the look out for future Wabash men.

In New Jersey, I spent an evening and a day at the Lawrenceville School. Some of you may know this is the school of Wabash Hall of Famer and legendary football coach Ken Keuffel.  The similarities between the prep school campus and Wabash were striking as were the friendliness of the students and the commitment of the faculty.   

Before returning to Indiana, I visited the Hun School, alma mater of Dick Sword ’76.  Across the state, I traveled to Christian Brothers Academy, an all boys Catholic School  recommended by Jay Fisher ’66.  

While in Princeton, I also visited West Windsor-Plainsboro North HS.  A life long friend with three daughters in the district helped me get an audience with five interested counselors. John works at the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab and provided a tour of the facility (hard-hat required).

During a Starbucks stop, Roger Alig ’63 and I strategized over coffee about getting into West Windsor- Plainsboro South HS, where his children went.

The counselors at all of these NJ high schools are sold on Wabash.  The Colleges That Change Lives book has opened doors. Will their students venture west of the Susquehanna River? Time will tell.

The Pittsburgh trip was highlighted by time with five admissions volunteers.  A dinner at the Hilton with John Newport '67, Doug Burns '61, Lyndall Huggler '83 and Allen Murphy '76 yielded a number of worthy ideas for prospect generation. Among the ideas was to have each alum refer and recruit the sons of fellow Wabash men in the area.  As a father of a teenage son, I know how quickly and heavily discounted any of my suggestions are. 

Ken Ogorek '87 joined me at the Original Oyster House for a few cold ones.  This is the oldest bar and restaurant in Pittsburgh going back to 1870.  Ken and I caught up on recruiting ideas before he went home to prepare a pancake dinner for his wife and three young children.  In spite of his expanding family obligations, Ken has continued to visit North Hills High School and refer students to us.   

My September trip to the Chicago north shore suburbs took me to 14 high schools and a College Fair.  It can be so challenging to get through the noise of the Ivies, the Big Ten or colleges near resorts in states such as Colorado or Vermont.  But Wabash Always Fights.   Several of the high schools like Loyola Prep, Lake Zurich and New Trier had new counselors.  They were eager to know about Wabash and I was eager to help them identify young men who may be more receptive to the Wabash message.

One visit started on a disappointing note, but ended with a unique surprise. Upon arriving at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, I learned there were no students signed up and that the college counselor position was discontinued. Trying to make the most of my stop, I looked for Karen Smith, a guidance counselor who I met by phone several years earlier while recruiting now sophomore Andrew Rode.  Ms. Smith took me on an informative tour of the school which ended in Katie Lapetina's life studies class. We sampled cake waffles with an array of toppings.  I think that may be an annual visit from now on!

I checked out of my hotel in Lincolnshire a day early to stay with some friends who just moved into the area.  You may know them – Anne and Andy Ford! It was delightful to spend time with the Fords who I hadn’t seen since Big Bash.  They seem to be doing especially well. There was quite a bit of talk about grandchildren, golf and of course Wabash.

No more travel for a while.  My next trip will be Thanksgiving week when I accompany HIS 350 on an immersion trip to Mexico City.  I will be helping Professor Rick Warner, who has been tremendously supportive of admissions and a highly effective recruiter since joining Wabash eight years ago. I’m very excited about spending extended quality time with these 15 students – three of which I directly recruited out of high school.