Magazine
Winter/Spring 2002
From Center Hall
by Andy Ford
President, Wabash College
One hundred million was the largest number; 100,000,000 was the original dollar goal of the Campaign for Leadership, and thanks to some Trustees we exceeded that goal between their first and last meetings on Friday. The College now has about 17 months to raise the additional $32.5 million to attain the revised goal.
I can’t picture what $100 million or $132 million looks like, but I can see clearly the people and the efforts that generated this success. Especially for such a small community, this is a remarkable achievement. I can see all those on campus who worked so hard to make it happen and who themselves contributed to the Campaign; all those volunteers who have in so many ways worked on the Campaign directly and indirectly; and the thousands of alumni who have made donations. Your success enriches this community and strengthens it. Not all that long ago people worried about trying to raise $50 million; $100 million was considered a real stretch—reaching it early is truly remarkable. What a statement of faith in what this College does for the lives of our young men! This kind of support encourages us all, and we are all deeply grateful.
One thousand was the second number. On Friday, January 25, we surpassed 1,000 applications for admissions—the second year in a row that the College has managed to achieve this level. I can picture what 1,000 applications look like, and I have a real sense of how much work has gone into achieving this goal. Work by Admissions staff, by faculty, other staff, Trustees, alumni, parents, and friends. Just a few years ago, 1,000 applications seemed unattainable, but a lot of people doing a lot of things, big and small, carefully and reliably, have raised the College to a new level.
Four hundred was the third number. Mac Petty recorded his 400th victory as a basketball coach the Wednesday before the meetings began. I understand this number the least. How do you get twelve or so young men, year in and year out, to succeed as a team? They come to the College with such diverse backgrounds, ambitions, talents, and personalities, and you really have nothing concrete to hold them together. You have moral suasion, a vision, and personal ambition, but that ambition needs to be converted to teamwork. Year in and year out, Mac has focused first and foremost on educating our young men to think critically, act responsibly, lead effectively, and live humanely. This focus has undoubtedly enabled Mac to persevere through winning seasons and those years when you lose more than you win.
Lots of people work for Wabash diligently, year in and year out, but they do not get to keep score the way Mac does (nor do they get press coverage, whether they want it or not, a couple of times a week). But those of us not in the limelight can rejoice and celebrate with Mac, for his long term success symbolizes this extraordinary community that has again managed 1,000 applications for admission and raised over $100 million in the Campaign for Leadership. No wonder people here have been known for years as “Little Giants.”
A remarkable weekend, indeed.
You can contact President Ford at: forda@wabash.edu
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