Wabash College's annual alumni reunion weekend, Big Bash, opened Friday, May 31. Here Denton West '69 shares a laugh with a group of his classmates and spouses.
Sam Russell '21 (center) leads a campus tour. There was plenty to show the golden reunion honorees.
Jeff Torrell '69 (right) makes a point with Russell during the campus tour.
John Buford '69 (left) and West catch up.
Somehow, riding in a golf cart makes everyone smile.
Mike Lowe '71 (left) converses with Dave Hagen '68.
Here, Ted Wachs '69 (left) chats with friends on an Allen Center bench.
The benches near the Senior Arch were crowded on Friday afternoon.
John Sowers '99 was sharply dressed fro the occasion, and had a wonderfully memorable story to share as well.
Dave Livengood '64 (standing) was holding court on the Wally's patio.
Sherm Franz '59 smiles with a friend before heading into the Big Bash Banquet in Knowling Fieldhouse.
Dick Sadler '54 drove from California to attend Big Bash.
Dick Sadler '54 drove from California to attend Big Bash.
At Big Bash, first things first. Sign the book!
Darnell Frazier '94 visits with Hugh Vandivier and Aaron Selby.
The beautiful skies Friday welcome alumni home.
Big Bash Weekend is a great time to stock up on Wabash gear!
Big Bash Weekend is a great time to stock up on Wabash gear!
Alumni and friends tour campus to see what's new.
Each member of the Class of 1969 in attendance receives a 50th Reunion medallion.
Robert Pugh '49 celebrating his 70th reunion, photographed here with Ken Crawford '69.
Dave Knott ’69 talks with Gary Ross following Jake Gilbert's presentation.
Sport and Performance Psychologist Chris Carr '82, who works for the Green Bay Packers and Indiana Pacers: 'I deal with human beings. They just happen to be elite athletes. They have all of the frailties human beings have.'
Sports Medicine Physician Daniel Kraft '85 discusses the changes in concussion protocols--from youth football to the National Football League.
Campus was bustling as 293 alumni and their guests were on campus for Big Bash, Wabash College’s annual reunion weekend.
Reunion activities began Friday morning with a golf scramble and ran through Sunday’s Big Bash Awards Brunch with spur-of-the-moment mini-reunions, great meals, colloquia sessions, and the must-see Alumni Chapel Sing on Saturday.
“Big Bash really gets to the heart of what Wabash is all about,” said Steve Hoffman ’85, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations. “Our graduates leave with such strong connections to the people and the place, and returning to campus only reinforces those bonds. This weekend we witnessed old friends reunited and connections to Wabash strengthened. It’s personal. Ultimately, that’s Wabash.”
The 50-year reunion is the lasting Big Bash highlight and occurs during the Friday evening banquet. President Gregory D. Hess presented each 1969 graduate in attendance with a reunion medallion. In turn, the Class of 1969 surpassed last year’s record-setting class gift with its gift of nearly $12.8 million.
Now in its third year as a part of the Big Bash lineup (and 10th year overall) is the faculty, alumni, and staff symposium on Friday, which this year spotlights football and the liberal arts. This symposium, "Wally 1st & 10," featured alumni, faculty, and staff presenters who demonstrate the breadth and depth of the liberal arts. Presenters included alumni Steve Campbell ’92, Chris Carr ’82, Jake Gilbert ’98, Daniel Kraft ’85, and Steve Woods ’93; professors included Mollie Ables, Jim Brown, and Stephen Morillo, while emeritus professor David Phillips H’83 and sports information director Brent Harris H’03 also presented.
Saturday opened with a morning fun run and walk, a bike tour through Montgomery County, campus tours, more colloquia, academic and department receptions. Each class held individual Saturday night dinners at locations throughout campus.
Saturday afternoon Wabash President Gregory Hess delivered a State of the College address and alumni presented colloquia including Ken Crawford ’69, Nick D’Angelo ’84, Nnamdi Nwosa ’04, and Greg Scott ’79.
The 2019 reunion closed Sunday with the Big Bash Awards Brunch.
A Big Bash Podcast
This week’s edition of the “Wabash On My Mind” podcast talks with Dick Sadler '54, who talks of his Big Bash road trip, his Wabash experiences, and his love of cars. Sadler is driving his red convertible from his home in Laguna Woods, CA, to Big Bash!. Just click the red play button inside the graphic to enjoy an audio preview.