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2013 Deans' Breakfast and Commencement Rehearsal

a man in a maroon shirt

Two of Wabash’s award-winning journalists were honored with the College’s top prizes Saturday during the annual Deans’ Senior Breakfast. Gabe Watson ’13 (in photo above) was honored with the Frank Hugh Sparks Award for All-Around Student Achievement, given to a senior who has done the most ‘to promote the true spirit and purpose of Wabash College.’

a couple of men standing next to a podium
An English major, athlete, resident assistant, and former editor of the College’s award-winning newspaper, The Bachelor, Watson plans to teach high school English. The Sparks Award is given to a man ‘who personifies the Wabash spirit,’ said Dean of Students Mike Raters ’85 while presenting the honor to Watson. ‘The type of man Wabash can proudly call her own, and who has made the College a better place.’

a man shaking hands with another man
The John Maurice Butler Prize for Scholarship and Character was awarded to Riley Floyd ’13, also an English major, and who earned distinction on his senior comprehensive examinations, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, is a former editor of The Bachelor, and is one of this year’s Commencement speakers. Floyd also earned honors for his work in political science and English, and received the Stephens-Hall Senior Scholarship Award. He plans to attend law school. In presenting the honor to Floyd, Dean of the College Gary Phillips noted that the prize, voted on by the entire Wabash faculty, is given to a student ‘of high character and great ability.’

a man in a suit and tie smiling

Dean of Students Mike Raters gets ready to begin Saturday's breakfast, which started with a round of applause for the Bon Apetit staff, as well as College staff members who assisted with the event.

a man standing at a podium with a microphone

'The real power and purpose of the Wabash liberal arts mission is to enable the making of meaningful connections with people, places, and principles, to discover new relationships, to become poetic scientists and scientific poets, to get the left and right sides of your brains talking to each other, to make this world better,' Dean of the College Gary Phillips told the graduating seniors.

Re-arranging the elements of the College's mission statement 'to give 'living humanely' its due,' the Dean said the seniors were called 'to live lives of purpose—to live humanely, lead effectively, act responsibly, and think critically.'

a man sitting at a table with other men

The Senior Breakfast gives faculty and staff one last chance to sit down for breakfast with their students before the young men become alumni.

a man sitting at a table with a pitcher and a pitcher

Tyler Griffin ’13 enjoys the conversation.

a man in a suit talking to a woman

Ian Grant ’13 listens to a friend during Saturday morning's breakfast.

a man with a beard and a purple tie

Alejandro Maya ’13 takes in the Dean's speech.

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Liam Smith ’13 talks with friends.

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Professor of Theater Dwight Watson, with Jordan Hoerr ’13, listens to the Dean's speech

a child holding a stuffed animal

After breakfast, seniors walked from Knowling Fieldhouse to the Chapel for Commencement practice. Unable to find a babysitter for the morning, Commencement speaker Jose Herrera brought his daughter, Osiris, who was initially a bit overwhelmed by the 181 students surrounding her.

a man wearing a tie

Riley Floyd ’13 looks over the instructions.

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Patrick Alston ’13 practices receiving his diploma.

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Jacob Ahler laughs as he—and all his classmates—realize he has made a mistake during practice.

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Faculty Marshal Tobey Herzog laughs at Ahler's classmates' reaction.

a group of people clapping

The Class of 2013 applauded the work of Registrar and Associate Dean of the College Julie Olsen, who retires this year.

a woman clapping her hands

Registrar and Associate Dean of the College Julie Olsen

a man in a red shirt

Ryan Lutz ’13 takes it all in.

a man holding a baby

Even Osiris was more at ease after practice.

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