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Hi Tom. 

Took this shot at the Wabash vs. Wooster basketball game.  They were both cheering for the Bash!

Wondered if they be sitting with each other at the end of the day...

That's senior Chad Sorenson celebrating a touchdown earlier in the football season.  Nothing out of the ordinary - Chad was always pretty much exactly where he needed to be.  At the football awards banquet head coach Erik Raeburn stated that Chad's so smart and knows exactly what to do as a tight end that Erik said he could make ANY coach the tight ends coach.

Chad's playing days are over at the Bash - he's had a great career.  But this next challenge lies immediately on the horizon - Medical School.  And Chad's ready.  Not only is he president of this fraterntiy and plays football, he's pulled down something well above a 3.7 GPA this past semester and has an over GPA of about 3.8.  (You'd have to add 2 of my semesters together to get to 3.8.)  

Jacob Grow, another senior football player and wide receiver, has a perfect 4.0...for his entire time here!  That's right, all "As"!  He's headed to Medical School as well.

So, Grow and Sorenson have absolutely ruined the myth that your grades will suffer as a result of playing sports.

Seriously, congratulations to Jacob, Chad, and all the senior football players and all the best! 

The first award given was the Ralph Lee Wilson Award.  The award was presented by the head football coach Erik Raeburn. The award went to the late Josh Linthicum, big #70.

Josh's family was in attendance and they accepted the award on Josh's behalf.  The standing ovation was loud and strong. It meant a great deal to everyone there for Josh's family to be there and to know they are and will always be a very special part of the Wabash football family.

But it didn't stop there.

At least 10 different players stepped to the podium and mentioned Josh, thanked his family for attending, and told everyone how special a young man Josh was.  Skip Tokar and Matt Hudson, both seniors, recall vividly their efforts to get Josh to come to Wabash.  Others recounted his infectious smile. Still others Josh's ability to give his best at all times and also get others to do the same.

It was one of those moments where one felt really proud to be a part of "this good place."

This piece is entitled "Billboard Landscape 4".  It's the work of alumnus Roscoe Wilson '97, son of Kerry Wilson '72.  Kerry has to be one, proud Dad. 

Roscoe is an accomplished educator.  Serves as an Associate Professor of Art at Miami of Ohio.

Roscoe is also an accomplished artist.  Not only can he teach - his work has been featured many, many times.  For more information on Roscoe, click here.  Make sure you view his on-line galleries.

However, one of his favorite experiences at Wabash, his time in the Phi Delta Theta house, was the center of the celebration of his life.  Donna Dawson, General Johnson's daughter, accepted an award from the International fraternity.  The award has been made only five times and goes to a member of the fraternity who truly distinguished himself in the service of our Country.  In addition, several current members of the fraternity were there to pay their respects.

It reminded me that we often focus our attention on the alumni who go on to be highly successful. And we should celebrate those whose leadership and effort make a difference out in the "real world".  But there are also those who toil behind the scenes - teachers, ministers, and those in the service - whose efforts often go without celebration but whose tasks are absolutely critical to the life we enjoy today.

General Johnson was indeed one of those difference makers.

What makes this listing so important is that the Top Doctors in each category are selected by their peers.  It's one thing to have a popularity vote, it's another to have your peers say you're the best.

In the November issue, Dan Kraft '85 was named a Top Doctor in the field of Sports Medicine.  Dan's approach seems like other Wabash doctors I have talked to who are also top notch - talk to the patient and don't be thinking surgery unless it's really needed.

To look over the Indianapolis Monthly list of Top Docs, click here.

Congrats, Dan!  Well done.    

Fast forward to this day, and he's on the calender at the 'Bash next Friday night (Feb 5)...performing in a Concert!  That's right, Rich Lehmann student is now Rich Lehmann professional musician!

That's quick career progression!

Congrats Rich!

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A Wabash Man, Ten Years Out

- The percentage of students bringing their own computer to Wabash - 95.3%

- The percentage of those that are laptops - 88%

- What operating system does your computer use?  25.4% use a Mac (that's up 600% in the last 5 years)

- The percentage of students who have a cell phone - 98%

- The number of Apple iPhones currently registered on the Wabash wireless network - 481 (yes, correct, 481!) 

- Distinct web pages on the Wabash web site - 101,822 (That's a lot!)

- Alumni who logged into Alumni eServices last year - 1,143 (almost 10 % of our living alumni)

- Number of Wabash blogs - 130 (And almost all of them have more than the 9 readers this one has!)  

Lessons learned?
1.  Buy your son a laptop - it's cheaper than a car.
2.  Might as well make it a Mac.
3.  Get the iPhone while you're in the Apple store.
4.  Make his home web site: www.wabash.edu

With a lot of PhDs in Political Science on the job search front, this is especially good news.

Congratulations Justin!

So, you may ask, what has this to do with Wabash.  Nothing, really.  But then again...

George is retired.  He didn't work at Oberlin College.  He does what he does because he's a fan of Oberlin.  H's a local resident who likes what Oberlin does for young people.   Wabash has many folks like this as well - and they make a difference every day. 

Community support is key for our small liberal arts colleges.  

At the center of this effort is Wabash's own Dick Buckingham '67, the company's CFO.  Dick's a part of a talent-laden leadership team that has the company on a path to using robotics in a number of fields.

Congratulations Dick! 

Recently, Steve Henke, a Wabash sophomore,  visited with Indianapolis law firm of Baker and Daniels. Dustin DeNeal '04, a young and gifted student and Wabash football player, who is now a rising star in the legal profession, hosted Steve.

That's all I'll say though - you need to hear about the opportunity from Steve himself.  Click here for that blog.

There are moments in your personal life story that you will never forget.  The assassination of JFK. 911.  Your wedding day.  The birth of your children.  The loss of a parent.

There are Wabash moments that are exactly the same.  Freshman Saturday.  Chapel Sing. Commencement.

and...C O M P S.

I can remember starting a Comps written answer with the sentence: "This is not the book answer and it probably isn't what you are looking for, but it is what I believe and why".  That was either going to work...or not.  I guess it did.

For my orals I only remember one of the three professors...and he wasn't in my major at all. It was Wabash legend Vic Powell.  The question was very straightforward - he asked: "Explain the benefits of a liberal arts education".  Somehow, somewhere, I found something to say.  Looking back on it now, I should have known that would be question #1.  It should be question #1.

Share your recollections of Comps with us.  Click here and let Steve Charles, the world's greatest Magazine editor, know your Comps story.

No, the photo is not from my student days.  No I did not take the picture while working here.  It's an Archives special from the good old days when we had a Study Camp for Comps.  Thanks to Steve Charles and Beth Swift for the photo.