Howard W. Hewitt – Here in the rolling hills of southwest Indiana, an area of strong German heritage and lingering cultural traditions, there is a field of dreams. It was a field of dreams for movie makers who re-created an old-time ballpark for the 1992 movie A League of Their own.
The dream continues for college-age baseball players participating in a summer Prospect League in the small town of Huntingburg, just south of Jasper. It also has become a field of dreams for photographer Alex Moseman ’11.
The Bloomington, Indiana, native was looking for a summer internship and learned at Wabash’s Career Center the Dubois County Bombers needed a photographer. Alex was uniquely qualified for the summer spot after spending the 2008 summer in the Present Indiana Program doing a photo project.
Alex joined the staff of The Bachelor and will be Photo Editor this fall. He admitted during an interview prior to Friday night’s game the two summers have him thinking about photography in a more serious way. He came to Wabash thinking about a career in law. Now, he’s not so sure.
Moseman stays with a host family in Huntingburg for the summer, the same as the players who may not accept a stipend because they are all NCAA athletes. He photographs each game but does dozens of other tasks including designing the program cover for each game, helping out in the front office, and some nights even shutting down the stadium. Here is a link to Alex’s website where you can see his photography.
The Prospect League gives college baseball players the chance to work on their game against a good level of competition. Teams in the league include Danville, DuPage, Hannibal, Quincy, Springfield, Butler, Chillicothe, Richmond, and Slippery Rock.
The Dubois County team’s roster includes college players from Indiana State, Creighton, SE Missouri State, Middle Tennessee State, Bellermine, Utah, Wright State, Indiana, Butler, and many others.
The Bombers were hosting the Hannibal Cavemen Friday night to the usual crowd of about 350. The old League Stadium was renovated for the 1992 movie. It now hosts Southridge High School’s home games along with the summer Bomber’s schedule of 28 home games from the first of June through early August.
Many of the movie makers touches remain with most of the signage noting it’s the home field for the Rockford Peaches. The 1992 movie starred Tom Hanks, Madonna, Geena Davis, and was directed by Penny Marshall.
We’ll have a complete profile on Alex and his unique summer internship near the start of the school year.
Howard W. Hewitt - During the summer months our students are engaged in a wide variety of internships and jobs it's hard to keep track of them all. Some of them are doing some really fun and interesting things.
Pat McAlster '10, former Bachelor editor and student leader, has spent his recent summers working for State Farm in Illinois. He has more of a leadership position this summer for a small army of interns hired by the insurance giant.
He got involved helping create a You Tube video project to launch State Farm's iPhone application. You have to see it to appreciate it. Patrick called upon his Wabash theatre stage experience and co-starred in this funny You Tube spot.
Jim Amidon — Two years ago, the folks in the Wabash College Alumni Office thought they had hit the peak for Big Bash Reunion Weekend attendance. I remember talking with Tom Runge and other people about how getting 356 alumni back from 36 states — and even Thailand and Australia — represented the best in Wabash; the best we could imagine for an alumni reunion weekend.
Those thoughts were confirmed last year, when the 2008 Big Bash softened a little and we felt like maybe we had leveled off — about 320 alums from a little over 30 states.
So you can imagine our hopes were tempered going into this past weekend’s Sixth Annual Big Bash. After all, the economy is in the tank and, to be honest, it was a pretty rough year for everyone close to Wabash College. A lot of us thought we might be lucky to get 300 alumni to return for the weekend, after which we’d close the door on the 2008-09 school year… and throw away the key! Forever!
But a funny thing happened this year.
My friend Steve Charles captured the pure essence of what happened when he spent Saturday evening with the Class of 1959 — the men celebrating their 50th, golden reunion.
Steve told me that past years, alumni from the College return for reunions to pick themselves up; to feel young again; to get a fresh start — like graduating all over again.
This year I think the tables were turned.
This year I think the alumni came back to pick up Wabash; to buoy the spirits of the faculty, staff, students, and administrators who suffered through a rough year and still managed to dust off the red carpet and welcome back the alumni with open arms and open hearts.
When the book that contains the official attendance figures — the Alumni Register — was closed Saturday night, Wabash had a new all-time reunion weekend attendance record. Runge tells me 389 alumni from 35 states — plus Greece, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Scotland, Chile, and Canada — returned to alma mater to be together and celebrate what was once good in their lives and which has carried them throughout their years.
They came to Crawfordsville, jogged their memories, shook hands with old friends, told tall tales (some of which might even have been true), sang their hearts out, and gave this mighty little liberal arts college exactly what it needed — a shot in the arm of pure spirit and love for this place and the men who call it their college.
If you think what I’m suggesting is less “pure spirit” and more pure hype, you needed only to be here to see it in their eyes; to hear it in their voices.
The Class of 1959 sang — at Friday’s Big Bash Banquet, at Alumni Chapel Sing, and again at their reunion. And let me tell you, even in their early 70s, those guys can really sing.
Steve told me they sang “Wayfaring Stranger” at their reunion dinner Saturday night. There’s a line in that song that goes, “I’m going there to see my brothers, who have gone before me one by one.”
I know those guys sang that particular song 50 years ago as members of the Glee Club. Just imagine the power of that song — of that one line — when more than 70 members of the class gathered to celebrate half a century of friendship.
Guys like Bob Wild, Roger Billings, Sherm Franz, Bob Wedgeworth, Hoyt Miller, Ray Riddle — all of them — have wisdom in their years. As President White noted, “These guys are the marathoners, not the sprinters. They have the long view.”
That “long view” on this particular reunion weekend was a perfect match. Those men back for their 50-year reunion have lived through the cold war, civil rights movement, Vietnam, at least two recessions, perennial unrest in the Middle East, and stock markets that have soared and that have tanked.
They have the long view. And to quote my friend Steve, “It is a beautiful view.”
So as we finish writing the chapter on the year that has passed in the history of Wabash College now 176 chapters long, we shall not write it with disappearing ink with hopes that the difficult events will vanish as if they never happened.
We shall write this chapter with deep, bold strokes — powerful lines that match the powerful voices of the men of Wabash, who by returning to their college to relive their past provided strength and courage to move Wabash boldly into an uncertain future.
“Dear Old Wabash, thy loyal sons shall ever love thee,” says the school song. “Long in our hearts we’ll bear the sweetest mem’ries of thee, long shall we sing thy praises, Old Wabash.”
McAlister '10 on campus to help with Big Bash Coverage
Howard W. Hewitt - For the past three years we've brought one or two student journalists back to campus for Big Bash to help us with our coverage and to tell stories of our alums.
Patrick McAlister '10 and Gary James '10 were here the past two years. The dymanic journalistic duo have become the cornerstone of Wabash journalism. This year The Bachelor won the Indiana Collegiate Press Associations's Small Newspaper of the Year Award. Not bad for a place without a journalism program.
James is off in Washington D.C. this summer doing an internship with NPR. He has already started to distinguish himself as an intern and has been given increased responsibilities in just a week. We were lucky McAlister was in Illinois and willing to return for the Bash weekend. Patrick was editor and chief this year when the Bachelor won a record 31 awards at the ICPA convention.
He'll be interviewing some alums, doing some video work, take a few photos, and maybe cover a colloquium session. Both of these young men's aspirations reach beyond journalism into politics, social activism, and beyond. But it's a pleasure for us to work with them and have them back for the summer months.
Brad Jones '10 testing culinary skills with Bon Appetit
Hewitt - Wabash men rise to many vocations and avocations. The College has many different ways to let each student find their path.
Brad Jones '10 developed a strong interest in the culinary arts. Bon Appetit's head chef Jordan Hall has taken Jones under his wing and teaching him some of the finer skills a head chef needs.
Friday afternoon Jones was busy doing prep work for Friday evening's Big Bash dinner. Bon Appetit didn't have an internship or position open, but when Mary Jo Arthur saw Jones' enthusiasm she found him a part-time summer spot.
Neal '04 glad he came back for Big Bash '09
Hewitt - At the end of every interview, many journalists will ask if there is anything else the person would like to add. Patrick McAlister asked Roger Neal '04 that question Saturday and got an unexpected endorsement for Big Bash.
"I was actually really apprehensive about coming to this weekend because I thought it would be kind of boring and not a very exciting time," Neal said. "But it's totally the opposite. It's just great to see everybody, even people I didn't hang out with a lot in college.
"It's like we just left each other and now we're here staying in the dorms. It's pretty fun."
Threatening to toss me out of my office, his bedroom!
Hewitt - It's happened a couple of times in my five years at Wabash College and it happened again Saturday during Big Bash weekend. While prepping some pictures at mid afternoon a gentleman and his wife found their way upstairs to Kane House.
Kane House was built in 1900 as the home of Wabash's fifth president William Patterson Kane. It has been a residence hall, fraternity, and, of course, is now home to Advancement.
All that Arturo Fontanes '59 knows is that it was his dorm room when he attended Wabash. He announced he was here to "throw you out of my room!"
He laughed heartily and recalled his across-the-hall neighbors (now SID Brent Harris' office) and where the beds sat in the room and how they lived in Kane House during the 50s.
Dr. Fontanes lives in Laguna Niguel, California, and is a retired physician.
It's moments like these that often go unreported but are cherished during Big Bash Weekend.
Rich Blastic ’82 found himself in an interesting position at the start of the year. As a new member of the school board for the Calvary Christian School in Highland, Indiana, he realized the school would need some assistance in fund raising. Already located in region of Indiana that has seen layoffs, closings, and tough economic times, Blastic turned to familiar territory — sports.
Blastic got together with two former teammates who have kept their hands in the professional sports world. One of his best friends, Dr. Chris Carr ’82, came up with the idea of hosting a sports clinic at the school. Carr was headed to lunch with another former teammate the very day he and Blastic discussed the idea. That teammate was Pete Metzelaars ’82. Carr's experience as a sports psychologist working with various groups from the US Olympic Ski Team and the Kansas City Royals and Oklahoma City Thunder to Ohio State and other college and professional athletes would be joined by Metzelaars' knowledge and time spent as a 16-year NFL veteran player and current NFL coach in Indianapolis.
Metzelaars jumped on board from the moment he heard about the plan for a sports clinic.
"The hardest part was finding a date that would work for everyone," Metzelaars said. His duties as the offensive quality control and assistant offensive line coach for the Indianapolis Colts have increased since the shakeup in the coaching staff with Tom Moore and Howard Mudd. Carr, "One we got the date set, I've just been looking forward to helping Rich with the school. They are in a tough situation with the economy the way it is, and I just wanted to help."
Blastic and the rest of the group set aside time on May 30 to conduct the sports clinic.
"Chris is going to speak to the kids, coaches, and parents in attendance about the mental training and psychological strength and skills that go into athletics. We'll follow that up with Pete sharing his experience as a player. With so many negatives out there in sports, it will be nice to present a positive view of athletics."
If the early word is any indication of how the event will be received, the school should see a major boost in its support.
"The community businesses have really embraced this event," Blastic said. "With two quality gentlemen like Chris and Pete willing to help, it was nice to be able to call the business in the area and hear the owners say they would be happy to be involved.
"We've been able to have businesses provide 10 free tickets to the event for over 20 schools in the area. That means 200 young athletes who might not have had the opportunity to attend based on their home finances. And the money for those tickets goes to Calvary Christian School."
With event on the horizon, Metzelaars was excited for the opportunity to assist.
"The main goal is to help the school," the former Wabash tight end said. "We get an opportunity to use sports and athletics to help kids. We'll be giving some thoughts, tips, and pointers on a lot of athletic fronts, but we'll also be providing life lessons and sharing ways to be successful in whatever area these young people choose."
Photo - Pete Metzelaars working during the Indianapolis Colts' training camp. Metzelaars will join former Wabash teammates Rich Blastic and Chris Carr at a sports clinic Saturday, May 30 at 4 p.m. to benefit the Calvary Christian School in Highland, Indiana. Photo courtesy of the Indianapolis Star.
Jim Amidon — The Class of 2009 was graduated from Wabash Sunday afternoon.
The men in the Class of 2009 had much to reflect upon as they sat in the sunshine on the College Mall. Who knows what they thought about? Maybe the friendships they have made with their classmates, professors, coaches, and people on the staff.
Prehaps they remembered specific moments from their classes that were turning points in their academic careers. Maybe they remembered big hits — on the football and baseball fields — and in performances on stage by their fellow students.
I was reviewing the list of graduates the other day and just kept smiling as I thought about the many accomplishments of these talented, curious, and bright young men. I know a good many of them personally, and those I don’t know, I have followed from my perch in Kane House.
I wish I knew Kyle Prifogle better. He’s one of our top students in mathematics and — in good liberal arts fashion — chose to minor in music. As a musician, he’s one of the most talented pianists to come through Wabash in decades, and he was also a pivotal leader of our world music ensemble, Wamidan. Now he’s headed to graduate school in mathematics, but I have a hunch that music will always be part of his life.
Andy Leshovsky, who came to us from St. Paul, Minnesota, really struggled his first couple of years at Wabash. After taking a year off, he turned things around to become an amazingly talented student and accomplished leader. His work ethic drove him through the second part of his Wabash career, and is one reason why Dean Gary Phillips selected him to give one of the two commencement addresses this Sunday.
The other address will be given by “Duncan” Dam, who is an international student from Hanoi, Vietnam. Not only did he graduate with Phi Beta Kappa honors as a chemistry major, he sang in the Glee Club and was a tour guide for our Admissions Office.
There are some pretty amazing student-athletes who graduated this weekend, too. Baseball players Matt Dodaro and Jake Thomas annihilated the record book as hitters and willed their teammates to the conference playoffs, a feat never before accomplished since Wabash joined the NCAC. Thomas not only set the single-season hits record, he earned a spot on the Academic All-District team with a sterling grade point average.
If you talk about athletes and grade point averages, Brock Graham quickly comes to mind. Technically, he graduated this weekend, but he finished up all of his course work in December — in just five semesters and with a grade point average just shy of perfect. On the football field, there was nobody any tougher when it came to picking up short yards or catching the ball in traffic.
Jay Horrey and Sean Clerget are among my favorite tennis doubles partners ever. See, these two guys were recruited as tennis players and both joined Beta Theta Pi fraternity. They chose to major in political science as pre-law students, and they traveled Europe together as juniors.
What makes them such good friends, though, are their differences — perhaps. Jay was president of the College Democrats; Sean edited the campus conservative journal, The Phoenix, and had an internship with Republican Senator Richard Lugar. Only at Wabash.
Matt Goodrich is another amazing senior. Over the last four years, he’s starred in about every role imaginable on the Wabash stage — from villain to hero to lover.
Most people know Rich Lehmann as a linebacker on the football team. Most don’t realize that he’s pursuing a career as a professional singer.
Speaking of singers, seniors Royce Gregerson, Justin Bilby, Jay Brouwer, and Tom Pizarek made up the backbone of the stunningly impressive Wabash College Glee Club these last four years. And if they didn’t have other options, I suspect all could join Lehmann in pursuit of professional singing careers.
Asher Weaver won the community service award during the end-of-year academic convocation. As two-year president of Alpha Phi Omega, Asher volunteered literally hundreds of hours of service to this community, and under his leadership, APO donated upwards of $25,000 to local agencies in the last two years.
Nathan Rutz didn’t receive honors for his service — to the state of West Virginia, where he has been an activist in the fight against the coal mining technique known as “mountain top removal.”
I could go on and on about the men in the Class of 2009. Each young man made his own way through Wabash, created his own memories, and etched an indelible mark in the College’s history. I wish all of them the best of luck as their lives unfold.
Jim Amidon — Yesterday Wabash celebrated its 171st Commencement and 195 young received sheepskin diplomas from President Pat White under blue skies on the College Mall.
Some of the new graduates are going to medical, dental, and veterinary school. Many are headed to law schools. A few are headed into graduate programs in business, humanities, and social sciences.
Some got really good job offers, which is great given the state of our economy. Some chose to teach — in the amazing Teach for American program. One will be a Governor’s Fellow in Indy — after he returns from working in a refugee camp in the Middle East this summer.
There are 195 young men in the Class of 2009 who represent 195 great stories of hard work, perseverance, and accomplishment.
I wrote about a few of them last week. I could probably write a book about these guys; they make me that proud.
One story, though, begs to be told.
It’s about a father and son. Actually, it’s about a father and three sons.
In 1975, Clay Robbins matriculated to Wabash from Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis. He had been a member of the first graduating class at Perry Meridian and he entered Wabash in the first class of Lilly Scholars. He was President of Phi Gamma Delta and sang in the Glee Club. He also earned the John N. Mills Prize in the Bible at the time of his graduation from Wabash in 1979.
The religion major went to law school at Vanderbilt and returned to his home city to practice law with Baker and Daniels in the early 1980s. In 1994, he became president of Lilly Endowment Inc., which grew to become one of the world’s largest private foundations.
There is, perhaps, no foundation in the country that has invested as much in its home state as Lilly Endowment has. Under Clay’s leadership, the Endowment has invested hundreds of millions of dollars building Indiana’s foundation in churches, schools, colleges, and communities.
Wabash is, of course, quite proud of Clay’s accomplishments. And we were also proud when Clay and Amy Robbins’ oldest son, Campbell, matriculated to the College four years ago.
When second son Luke chose to come to Wabash two years later it seemed too good to be true. These bright, well-rounded young men could have gone to college anywhere, and they chose to follow in their father’s footsteps at Wabash.
And so did their younger brother, Peter, who just completed his freshman year.
On Sunday, Campbell received his diploma just as his father had 30 years ago.
But Campbell had to share the stage with his old man, which was a delight to all in attendance who know the Robbins family — and know of their humility, warmth, good humor, and deep friendships.
Before Campbell and his 194 classmates received their diplomas, the College bestowed three honorary doctorates. Clay Robbins received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Crawfordsville native and legendary Wabash wrestling coach Max Servies ’58 received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, while long-time President of the University of Notre Dame, Reverend Edward “Monk” Malloy, received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.
It was an especially wonderful day for Amy Robbins — her humble, yet influential husband being honored by his alma mater for his service to the state of Indiana and her first son receiving his diploma with honors. And it must be special for Clay and Amy to know they will return to the College Mall in 2011 and 2012 and be equally proud when Luke and Peter graduate.
President White captured the essence of Clay Robbins’ servant leadership when presenting Clay’s honorary degree citation:
“You have modeled the highest standards of leadership for the Endowment, and every college and university in Indiana owes a debt of gratitude to your stewardship and mentoring as you call us all to our highest imagination of what education can mean and do for our state and our nation.
“You are committed to education, community development, and leadership at a local level. You believe that, by investing in schools, churches, and programs that inspire creativity in young people, our state’s most troubling problems can be solved by Hoosiers willing to give of themselves.”
Wabash could do no better when sending its newest graduates out into the world than to lift up and honor an alumnus in Clay Robbins, who has lived a life true to the College’s mission of thinking critically, acting responsibly, leading effectively, and living humanely.
It is our sincere hope that all of our graduates will live lives of purpose and meaning, while demonstrating ethical leadership. In doing so they will make all of us at the College very proud, indeed.
The Bloomington, Indiana, native was looking for a summer internship and learned at Wabash’s Career Center the Dubois County Bombers needed a photographer. Alex was uniquely qualified for the summer spot after spending the 2008 summer in the Present Indiana Program doing a photo project.
But a funny thing happened this year.
When the book that contains the official attendance figures — the Alumni Register — was closed Saturday night, Wabash had a new all-time reunion weekend attendance record. Runge tells me 389 alumni from 35 states — plus Greece, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Scotland, Chile, and Canada — returned to alma mater to be together and celebrate what was once good in their lives and which has carried them throughout their years.
The Class of 1959 sang — at Friday’s Big Bash Banquet, at Alumni Chapel Sing, and again at their reunion. And let me tell you, even in their early 70s, those guys can really sing.
That “long view” on this particular reunion weekend was a perfect match. Those men back for their 50-year reunion have lived through the cold war, civil rights movement, Vietnam, at least two recessions, perennial unrest in the Middle East, and stock markets that have soared and that have tanked.
Patrick McAlister '10 and Gary James '10 were here the past two years. The dymanic journalistic duo have become the cornerstone of Wabash journalism. This year The Bachelor won the Indiana Collegiate Press Associations's Small Newspaper of the Year Award. Not bad for a place without a journalism program..jpg)
Brad Jones '10 testing culinary
"I was actually really apprehensive about coming to this weekend because I thought it would be kind of boring and not a very exciting time," Neal said. "But it's totally the opposite. It's just great to see everybody, even people I didn't hang out with a lot in college.
Kane House was built in 1900 as the home of Wabash's fifth president William Patterson Kane. It has been a residence hall, fraternity, and, of course, is now home to Advancement..jpg)
"The hardest part was finding a date that would work for everyone," Metzelaars said. His duties as the offensive quality control and assistant offensive line coach for the Indianapolis Colts have increased since the shakeup in the coaching staff with Tom Moore and Howard Mudd. Carr, "One we got the date set, I've just been looking forward to helping Rich with the school. They are in a tough situation with the economy the way it is, and I just wanted to help."
I wish I knew Kyle Prifogle better. He’s one of our top students in mathematics and — in good liberal arts fashion — chose to minor in music. As a musician, he’s one of the most talented pianists to come through Wabash in decades, and he was also a pivotal leader of our world music ensemble, Wamidan. Now he’s headed to graduate school in mathematics, but I have a hunch that music will always be part of his life.
Jay Horrey and Sean Clerget are among my favorite tennis doubles partners ever. See, these two guys were recruited as tennis players and both joined Beta Theta Pi fraternity. They chose to major in political science as pre-law students, and they traveled Europe together as juniors.
Most people know Rich Lehmann as a linebacker on the football team. Most don’t realize that he’s pursuing a career as a professional singer.
In 1975, Clay Robbins matriculated to Wabash from Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis. He had been a member of the first graduating class at Perry Meridian and he entered Wabash in the first class of Lilly Scholars. He was President of Phi Gamma Delta and sang in the Glee Club. He also earned the John N. Mills Prize in the Bible at the time of his graduation from Wabash in 1979.
It was an especially wonderful day for Amy Robbins — her humble, yet influential husband being honored by his alma mater for his service to the state of Indiana and her first son receiving his diploma with honors. And it must be special for Clay and Amy to know they will return to the College Mall in 2011 and 2012 and be equally proud when Luke and Peter graduate.