The campus was filled with excitement from more than 350 prospective students during last week’s Honor Scholarship Weekend held this past Friday and Saturday. Like the programs before it, the 115- year tradition helped to set the foundation for many students who will enroll in the fall. The two days most prospectives spent on campus were part of a process not only to compete for scholarships but to confirm their own inklings that Wabash has a place for them.
Robert Avalos, from Ft. Mede, Florida, used his time at Wabash this past weekend to investigate whether the college had a place for him. He was pleased with the result.
“Honors Scholars has been really good because it shows you all aspects of the College,” said Avalos, who resided at Kappa Sigma. “[It] shows you academics. [It] shows you fraternities and the clubs. And it’s really helpful. I attended the first rush night. I attended ‘shOUT and UPS events. I took fraternity tours, watched a little bit of the baseball game, and just walked around the College and talked to people. My impression has been really good. Everyone is welcoming and nice. It’s a tight knit community. Everyone is pretty much there for each other. There is lots of support.”
Honor Scholarship Weekend attendees lived and dined with current students in the Frank Hughes Sparks Center and fraternity dining areas. They followed a schedule that required a pace similar to that of a typical Wally, with tours, welcomes, exams, academic sessions, banquets, concerts, rush events, late night conversations, and opportunities to learn more about extracurricular activities on campus.
After registering at the Allen Center lobby, most students and parents went on tours of the College and living facilities. They then attended an official welcome in the Pioneer Chapel by President White, Student Body President Juan Carlos Venis, Independent Men’s Association President Mitch Rivers, and Interfraternity Council President Jim Leuck.
“In a new environment like this you will be independent, able to make your own choices, and your own mistakes,” said Student Body President Juan Carlos Venis ‘09. “This is true, but the best thing about Wabash is that you won’t be alone. Whenever you need additional support there is always someone you can look to, whether a roommate, pledge brother, or professor. Our sense of community [also] encourages individuality that gives us the freedom to exercise who we really are. This weekend avoid the long cell phone conversations with your girlfriends. Try talking to some students. You’ll be surprised at how friendly they can be.”
Observing the way many prospectives interacted with other students and with each other, it seems they took Mr. Venis’ words to heart. Mike Bellis from Sarasota Florida took Venis’ advice and found the students to be just as Mr. Venis described.
“I loved meeting the current students and building friendships with future classmates,” Bellis said. “I am definitely attending Wabash in the fall. The visit helped in that I realized how truly nice so many of the students are. Every current student I spoke with was more than willing to talk about every facet of the college and all of their ups and downs.” Attendance at Greek rush events and events sponsored by other organizations on campus showed the leaders of those organizations the level of engagement that can be expected from what could be part of the next incoming class as well.
“The incoming class seems bright and eager, not just about the Greek system, but for Wabash as well,” said Sigma Chi Rush Chair Jeff Austen, who played an integral role in the planning and organizing of last weekend’s events. “Jamie Watson and the entire Admissions staff did a great job. Honor Scholar is a weekend which achieves two goals: first, it allows Wabash to showcase its strengths as a school to the prospects, and second, it gives the college a brief glimpse of the incoming class. In terms of numbers, we’re looking to have about 18-22 freshmen in the house this fall. On Friday night alone, we had nine accepts, four accept-pendings, and six holds. Honor Scholar typically generates half the pledge class for Sigma Chi, a statistic which held true again.”