Curiosity has been a driving force Keane Albright ’25, shaping nearly every choice he’s made at Wabash since his recruiting visit.
Recruited as a swimmer from Long Beach, New York, his lone campus visit consisted of conversations with the swim coaches and a quick pass through the Allen Center due to COVID-19 restrictions on campus at the time.
Still, something resonated with Albright as he worked through his college choices.
“Coming out here meant I had to grow up a little faster, which is something I wanted,” he said. “I wanted some independence, which made coming here exciting, but I didn’t understand what the liberal arts were. Wabash allowed me to dip my toes into each thing and that makes it a little easier to learn.”
There was plenty on his plate initially from adjusting to campus life, making friends, finding a place on the swim team, and deciding to study engineering.
Suddenly, scheduling was at a premium and it was stressful at times to find his footing.
“He always seemed incredibly tired and drained,” said Will Bernhardt, head swimming and diving coach. “Keane wasn’t getting enough rest outside of the pool and that was carrying over to his performances when the workload piled up. We had talks during his freshman and sophomore years to help him better process things, and eventually he was able to break through.”
Despite the early struggles, Albright eventually embraced what Wabash has to offer. The first step was simply to get out of his room and get involved.
“I changed my mindset,” he said. “I wanted to find people who have the same interests as me.”
He dove into a number of clubs to see what connections he could make, including the chess club, computer science club, and mixed martial arts. Albright changed his major and became a resident assistant. He also became active in the Malcolm X Institute of Black Studies (MXIBS).
Albright’s involvement in the MXIBS played a significant role in that shift. The organization provided a space where he found camaraderie, mentorship, and a sense of belonging.
There, his leadership style began to grow. Albright prefers not to lead from the top, but rather from within. His roles in the MXIBS are a testament to this. Rather than pursuing the highest leadership titles, he co-chaired the membership process, helping new brothers integrate into the organization.
Under his guidance, the MXIBS reinstated the tradition of reading “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” as part of the initiation process, encouraging personal reflection and meaningful discussions about identity and community. His ability to connect with people from different backgrounds and perspectives strengthened the organization, increasing engagement and participation.
“Keane has a bias toward action,” said Kim King ’99, assistant director of the MXIBS. “He made sure ideas turned into actions. He found a way to use that text to help our members think about what it means to be the best version of themselves, of self-reliance and allyship.”
He also demonstrated his selflessness and adaptability as a key member of the Wabash swim team. As a junior, the team got deeper and stronger competitively. Albright saw an opportunity to contribute in a different way—by shifting from swimming to diving, something he had never formally trained in.
Under the guidance of diving coach Alistair Frost, Keane took to the diving boards quickly.
“Keane is a smart diver,” Frost said of the switch from experienced backstroker to novice diver. “He maximized his efforts to build an 11-dive competition list at the collegiate level. “He always puts the team first. He made that transition to help us meet our goals. That says everything about Keane’s character.”
Albright has a sense of humor he’s not afraid to show off at times. During the swim team’s training trip to the Florida panhandle in December 2023, he was to try a back 1.5 somersault for the first time. On a particularly frigid morning, he watched a teammate attempt it and land hard on his back.
Coach Frost turned to Albright and asked if he was ready to give it a go.
“Keane tuned to me, grinned, and said, ‘Not today, coach,’” Frost chuckled at the memory. “Discretion before valor is always a smart move.”
Albright has firmly established his groove and an undeniable impact. Whether in the pool, at the MXIBS, or guiding freshmen in their transition to college life, Albright is proud of his legacy.
He leaves behind a strengthened MXIBS, a more competitive swim and dive team, and a spirit of perseverance, selflessness, and action—a reminder that leadership is about the willingness to serve and uplift others.
“The biggest thing that we preach at Wabash is the brotherhood and making connections,” said the computer science and computational mathematics double major. “I’ve made a lot of lifelong connections here in both spaces, even outside of those spaces. I have really good friends who aren’t a part of either that I’m consistently talking with, and that’s the best thing that’s happened to me here.”
As he prepares for the next chapter—graduate school and, eventually, owning his own business—Albright carries with him the lessons learned at Wabash. More importantly, he leaves knowing that his presence mattered.
“I’m proud of the leadership skills I’ve developed,” he said. “I also appreciate the resiliency, the ability to roll with the punches. Once you get this education, you’re going to be in a great spot. Sticking it out through the rough periods proves that there are definite rewards on the other side.”