The Class of 2021 officially becomes Wabash men Saturday when President Gregory Hess rings in the 250 freshmen in Pioneer Chapel.
The time-honored tradition is part of Freshman Saturday, a day that kicks off the 2017-18 school year and is full of anticipation and excitement for the students and their families. The full orientation schedule is available here.
Check-in opens in the Allen Athletics and Recreation Center at 9 a.m. From there, students will be able to move into the residence halls and fraternities. Click here for a map of campus.
There will also be panel discussions led by current Wabash parents, open houses throughout campus, and opportunities to meet and interact with the deans and faculty.
The “Ringing In” ceremony starts at 1 p.m. Dean of Students Michael Raters ’85 will welcome everyone in attendance, while Director of Admissions Chip Timmons ’96 will discuss the unique attributes of the Class of 2021, and Rob Shook ’83, President of the National Association of Wabash Men, will welcome students and parents on behalf of the alumni.
Then, after his remarks, President Hess will ring in the Class of 2021, using the same hand bell the College’s first teacher, Caleb Mills, used to ring in the class of 1833. The event will be streamed live at www.wabash.edu/live.
The day ends with an introduction to the Gentleman’s Rule for incoming students. Orientation continues through Wednesday with presentations on various areas of academic support, meetings with advisors, class registration, and a picnic hosted by the deans.
All members of the Class of 2021 will connect with their Crawfordsville surroundings on Wednesday when they participate in community service activities throughout Montgomery County, join Mayor Todd Barton ’00 in a community gathering, and take part in a walking tour around Crawfordsville with faculty and staff. The day will end with the annual President’s Dessert in the Caleb Mills Courtyard.
Here's a handy checklist of what to bring to Wabash.
Classes begin on Thursday, Aug. 24.