The College’s first-ever NCAC Hunsinger Award recipient has been a compassionate leader across campus.
Erich Lange ’19 remembers himself as a “scared, shaky, naive freshman” in need of support and direction. He says his orientation leader provided that guidance, so in his sophomore year, Lange did the same for incoming freshmen.
“Becoming an orientation leader was my way of saying that I love this place,” he says. He found a lot of ways to show that love. He tutored students in the Writing Center, gave campus tours, and helped organize the nascent TEDxWabashCollege series.
He believes that “when you pass people on this campus you know every one of them truly cares about you.” He became one of those caring people.
He urged classmates to “open up and talk” and to visit the counseling center. He made it a point to call home every Sunday afternoon. “They always know what to say, so call home,” he would tell his fellow students. “They miss you.”
Off campus he volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club and he interned at the Legal Aid Society of Louisville.
He was ridiculously strong in the classroom, winning top prizes in German and political science, earning distinction in comps, being named a Mackintosh Fellow and Phi Beta Kappa. On his way to earning the Pre-Law Society’s top award he said, "I would rather people remember me for my desire to help others and being the kind of man I strive to be every day.”
And then there was baseball. He hit a game-winning home run his freshman year; was in the NCAC’s top 10 in batting average; and helped the Little Giants win their second-ever NCAC Tournament championship.
The NCAC took notice and this summer named him 2019 winner of the Don Hunsinger Award, given to the student athlete has “distinguished himself throughout his collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.”
That pretty much describes Erich Lange.
When he was giving tours to prospective students he used to say, “People who come here want to be something great.”
Lange’s got a pretty good start on that.