It was a great weekend to be a Little Giant! The annual Big Bash Reunion Weekend brought more than 400 alumni and guests to Wabash.
Festivities began on Friday morning with the official first chance to sign the alumni registration book, campus tours, a golf scramble, and reconnecting with friends.
After an informal lunch, the 13th annual Alumni-Faculty-Staff Symposium speakers shared stories and wisdom for the rest of the afternoon. This year’s theme was “Wally Belongs: A Symposium on Community and the Liberal Arts.” The symposium is free of charge and open to the public.
The speakers and facilitators included Professor Brad Carlson, Patrick Rezek ’15, John Roberts ’83, Professor Shamira Gelbman, Eric Rowland ’86, Professor Rick Warner H’13, Emeritus Professors Raymond Williams H’68 and John Zimmerman H’67, and Emilio Robles ’94.
The Big Bash Banquet on Friday evening included a special presentation by the 50th Reunion Class, the Class of 1974 - a $1.3 million class gift!
Saturday began bright and early with a bike ride around Montgomery County or a fun run and walk through campus.
Alumni Chapel Sing in Pioneer Chapel was a weekend highlight. The Class of 1974 was named the winner. There were no penalties for forgetting the second verse just plenty of smiles to brighten the rainy morning. At the event’s conclusion, all alumni in attendance were invited to sing on stage as a group.
Immediately following Alumni Chapel Sing was a picnic-style lunch and class photographs. Spouses, partners, families, and friends joined their beloved alumni to be archived as part of the reunion festivities.
To round out the afternoon, Wabash President Scott Feller gave a campus update and answered questions. The chemistry, mathematics, computer science, physics, and psychology departments hosted receptions in Hays Science Hall, Goodrich Hall, and Baxter Hall. The Huebner Gallery in the Fine Arts Center displayed photos taken by the late Martin See ’74. Wabash archivist Nolan Eller ’11 and Richard Gunderman ’83 presented late afternoon colloquia sessions.
All alumni participated in a reception in Little Giant Stadium before heading to individual class dinners around campus. The final event of the weekend was a buffet breakfast on Sunday morning.