Nearly two-thirds of the Class of 2006 gathered for the annual National Association of Wabash Men sponsored senior cookout on Wednesday evening. Members of the faculty and staff joined the seniors in Chadwick Court for great conversation and delicious food as a way of welcoming the Class of 2006 to the ranks of Wabash Alumni.
Tom Runge ’71, Director of Alumni & Parent Relations spoke to the group about the National Association of Wabash Men and the importance of staying connected to the College. Jake Koenemen, one of the two Class Agents for the Class of 2006 urged his class to stay connected to each other and the College no matter where life takes them after graduation.
Taylor Backs, who was selected as the other Class Agent for the Class of 2006, was unable to join the group as he was traveling with the Wabash Baseball team during a busy last week of classes.
Joe Klen, the College’s Director of Annual Giving then spoke to the group about the importance of giving back to the College. "There are many ways to give back to Wabash, including referring prospective students and offering assistance to students who might need help through the Schroeder Career Center."
Klen also talked about the annual Senior Gift Campaign and the importance of philanthropy at Wabash, reminding seniors that their scholarships and financial aid during their time at the College were the result of alumni who have given so much over the years.
"It's not how much you give that is important, but that you give something back so that students who come after you will have similar opportunities as you have had," said Klen. He then announced that 117 members of he Class of 2006 have pledged over $11,000 to the 2006 Senior Gift Campaign, while 76 of the 117 made their first gift to the College for over $2,300.
Each senior is asked to pledge $25 per year, one gift during their senior year, and one gift each of their first two years after graduation.
Those seniors who made their first gift toward their pledge by the time of the Senior Cookout were eligible for a handful of incentive prizes including diploma frames and other Wabash College memorabilia. In addition, each year a Wabash alumnus donates two airline tickets to be raffled as the top incentive of the Senior Gift Campaign. The Class of 2006 incentive winners were Andrew DeYoung, Greg Mahoney, Phillip Eubanks, Justin Herd, and Raul Gonzalez. Chris Bly was the winner of the airline tickets to any destination in the continental United States.
The Senior Gift Campaign Living Unit Percentages as of April 27, 2006 are:
Beta Theta Pi (100%)
Delta Tau Delta (81%)
Kappa Sigma (85%)
Lambda Chi Alpha (59%)
Phi Delta Theta (100%)
Phi Gamma Delta (81%)
Phi Kappa Psi (100%)
Sigma Chi (80%)
Tau Kappa Epsilon (100%)
Theta Delta Chi (0%)
Independents (29%)
Class of 2006 Total: 61%
The Senior Gift Campaign and NAWM Cookout mark a great beginning to a season of recognition and celebration for the Class of 2006.
In the photos:
Top right: Jake Koeneman, Class Agent, chats with President Andy Ford H’03.
Middle: Greg Mahoney signs in with Roger Busch
Bottom right: Dean of Students Tom Bambrey dines with Brandon Roop.