At last Friday’s inaugural dinner for President Patrick E. White, “dreams” was definitely the watchword. The soft lighting and smooth jazz playing in the Knowling Fieldhouse of the Allen Center seemed to evoke an appropriate ambience of reflection. Sifting through the sea of 83 tables and more than 664 guests, one could find no deficit of students, faculty, alumni, and other guests reflecting upon their dreams for Wabash and themselves.
“I view this entire event as an opportunity to have the students on the front line tell me what their dreams are,” Walt Snowdell ’68, a member of the Board of Trustees, said. “Wabash has served the educational market well. I dream it continues to do that in a leadership role.”
“My dream is to get an education and that Wabash will help me accomplish any dream I have,” said Aaron Bonar ’10.
“I just want it to continue to play an important role in the lives of our men. I hope it is as important to them as it was to me as I was going here,” Bill Wheeler ’83 said.
“I dream that we will be able to do for students whatever we need to do as long as the school survives,” Dean Tom Bambrey said.
“I dream that we will all work hard to keep Wabash one of the best colleges in the country and appreciate what Wabash has done, is doing, and will do in the future,” Jon Pactor ’71 said.
These dreams and others glided around the room that night, and, on the notepads supplied to each table, are recorded in time, added to the 175 years worth of dreams that have kept Wabash fighting.