I love this good place. At the heart of the Wabash experience is a concept of “Always Wabash.” Wabash Always Fights and Always Means Always are phrases that capture the sense of brotherhood and lifelong commitment that is instilled in Wabash men from their first day on campus. They are reminders that the Wabash experience is not just about the four years of undergraduate education, but about the lifelong connections and values that are forged through the community.
In 1832, our society needed a tight-knit brotherhood committed to service, community, and excellence. It needed a place to develop leaders who tackled great challenges. It needed a college that would prepare men for the unknown journey ahead and provide them skills to navigate a changing world so they could leave it better off than they found it.
Wabash men support and challenge each other to be our best selves. We are encouraged to take risks, to pursue passions, and to become leaders in the careers we choose. In a world that is increasingly divided and polarized, Wabash offers a model for how men can be educated to be leaders who are committed to service, community, and excellence. From its first days as an educational institution to today, Wabash prepares men to be leaders that make a positive difference in the world.
When I was a high school senior and chose Wabash College, I did not realize how important this place would become to me. I did not realize how much I would mature and grow intellectually, nor did I realize how it would shape the principles by which I live. For the past 25 years, Wabash has been a central thread through the relationships and community that I hold dear. The past two years as the president of the National Association of Wabash Men (NAWM), I have been fortunate to have countless alumni, friends, and family members who want to share personal updates, who are delighted to reminisce over a great Wabash story, and who seek to raise up a classmate.
The lasting lesson I take away from my service of the NAWM board is how much you love Wabash College. Your passion, commitment, and celebration of our community are what make this place so special. Thank you for letting me share in this with each of you. Thank you for letting me share the stories of Jim ’61 and Susie Cumming, and President Andy Ford H’03, and for allowing me to bring my wife, Nicole, and our three sons on this journey. My hope is that you continue to feel that you belong at the College and that you will keep sharing your stories, showing up on campus, and supporting our timeless mission to “educate men who think critically, lead effectively, act responsibly, and live humanely.”
In Wabash,
M. Kip Chase ’03 | President,
National Association of Wabash Men