A big crowd was in Hays Hall 104 for John Caviglia's talk about his novel Arauco.
Author John Caviglia '64
Sharing thoughts and exchanging ideas - just like old times!
Roger Paluska '59 shared with a large group of Big Bash attendees his experiences traveling Europe by bike with his wife.
In the last decade Roger Paluska '59 has toured more than a dozen times in Europe by bicycle.
One on Roger Paluska's proudest bicycle treks in Europe was the 21 km ascent to the top of Le Mont Venoux.
President Gregory Hess presented to a packed Big Bash crowd sharing an update on the College's strategic plan and an overview of the new campus master plan.
President Hess kicked off his session by tweeting a 'selfie' of himself in front of the crowd.
President Hess outlined his vision to establish a culture of continuous improvement and his first four steps in that direction.
Jack Clarke ’69 provided the personal background on Ralph's Mother, the Wabash rock concerts of 1968 and 1969 which pre-dated Woodstock and were named after the mother of the College's head of security.
Rob Gorham ’69 shows photos from the first Ralph's Mother.
Gorham provided the historical context of the Ralph's Mother concerts.
Clarke recalls the day poet Allen Ginsberg came to Wabash.
Bob Charles ’59, inventor of the Happy Meal and the two lane drive-in, presented a talk titled Liberal Arts and Entrepreneur.
Charles talks with alumni following his talk, Liberal Arts and Entrepreneurship.
The entrepreneur also took time to talk with students from the College's Business Immersion program.
Dean of Student Mike Raters ’85 listens to Charles.
Alumni enjoy a laugh with Professor Emeritus Aus Brooks ’61.
Charles talks with students form the College's business immersion program.
Retired Foreign Service Officer Steve Fox '69 presented a colloquium on an insider's view of making U.S. Foreign Policy
Steve Fox '59 shared with a packed crowd his experience evacuating Kurdish refugees from Iraq in 1996.
Fox '69 took answers questions from the audience about his time as a Foreign Service Officer.
Wabash College alums arrived this morning ready to celebrate their class years with possible record attendance. The annual Big Bash celebration kicks off Friday morning and runs through Sunday.
Pre-registration is already at 380 alums which nears the all-time record of 389. Big Bash brings back classes for the “nines” and the “fours” – as in 1989 and 1974- for a weekend of fellowship and re-visiting the alma mater. Activities run through Sunday morning with Colloquia sessions, great meals, spur-of-the-moment mini-reunions, golf tournament and the popular Chapel Sing.
One of the driving factors behind the attendance is the growing participation from younger alumni.
Director of Alumni Affairs Tom Runge reports the Class of 2004 is bringing back 39 graduates. The record for any 10th reunion is 40. Jacob Pactor, class agent and reunion chair, is putting on the push to top that number. This 2004 class led all others on 4/30 with 62 donors. They beat the Donor Challenge by 22 donors.
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“It's great to see the growing participation of our young guys in the Bash,” Runge said. “I know it's tough for them to break away but they bring an energy to the Bash that is tough to beat. The Class of 2007, in 2012, really started the latest trend and the Class of 2008 last year came back in good numbers and won Chapel Sing! The Class of 2004 is poised for a good turnout and so is 2009 this year.”
Of course a big highlight is always the 50-year reunion guys, celebrated during the Friday night banquet. President Gregory Hess will present the 1964 graduates attending with a reunion medal. But one alum has all those guys beat. Dick Cherry ’49 is the oldest Wabash College graduate registered for Big Bash.
Friday morning features a golf outing at the Crawfordsville Country Club and registration in Chadwick Court. Five colloquiums will be presented by alums with President Hess talking at 3 p.m. about College strategies and the master plan.
Saturday is a full day with a morning fun run and walk, campus tours, more colloquiums and the always fun and popular 11 a.m. Chapel Sing on the Chapel steps. Each class will break off Saturday night for individual class dinners.
Everything wraps up at 11 a.m. Sunday with the Big Bash Awards Brunch. See a detailed schedule and colloquia detail here.