Wabash College: News Crawfordsville, Indiana

Big Bash 2012 Third Biggest Ever

by Howard W. Hewitt • June 3, 2012

John Kerzey '77 kicked off Saturday's colloquium sessions with a talk about the internet.
This threesome of 1987'ers seem to be into Kerezy's talk.
his happens a lot at each Big Bash. A small group of alums gather to discuss
Cancer Treatment Centers of America Chairman & CEO Dick Stephenson '62 talks about the Wabash alumni at CTCA making a difference in the lives of the patients.
Bruce Monroe '62 gets ready for Chapel Sing
The Class of 1962 put a lot of time into rehearsing for Chapel Sing Saturday morning.
The library was busy with alumni and friends reminiscing.
Director of Annual Giving Joe Klen '97 and his son were excited to be attending Klen's 15th reunion.
The Physics Department hosted an Open House that drew a crowd of alumni eager to talk about how they put their physics courses to good use.
The Psychology Department also hosted an Open House that had a lot of traffic. The faculty were on hand to learn from alumni as well as share about the current department.
Alumni, including some of Professor Michelle Rhoades' former students, enjoy her colloquium on alumni travel.
Professor Rhoades discusses the planned alumni trip to France in 2013.
Director of New Media Howard Hewitt explains that part of the alumni trip would focus on French wineries.
Communications and Marketing Specialist Kim Johnson shared photos and thoughts from her travels with Professor Bill Cook and Wabash alumni in Italy.
sh'Out President Scott Cameron welcomes NAWM President Greg Castanias ’87 to the sh'Out Reception in Lilly Library.
Marc Nichols ’87 visits with students and alumni at the sh'Out reception.
Johanna Fewell directed the Class of 62 to an Alumni Chapel Sing victory.
President White greets Tony Caldwell ’07…
and joins in the chorus of 'Old Wabash.'

Big Bash 2012 concluded Sunday morning with the Awards Brunch in Knowling Fieldhouse. Wabash alums celebrated a Big Bash or records.

Director of Alumni Affairs Tom Runge announced that the 351 alums signing the register made 2012 the third biggest Bash in the weekend’s nine years.

“Also those super young guys from the class of 2007, cold showers and all, set a new record for the fifth-year class reunion,” Runge announced. “We also had five classes win the Donor Challenge, the second highest number of classes to ever do that. Congratulations to the Classes of 1962, 1977, 1997, 2002, and 2007.

Wabash men traveled from 31 different states and Washington D. C. to be a part of Big Bash.

The 1909 Trophy Cup Winner was the Class of 1962 with 30.3 percent of the class returning for the Bash. Terry Fewell and Thom Feit accepted the award from President Patrick White. The 1928 Attendance Trophy Winner was the Class of 1967 with 48 alumni signatures in the registration book. The Class of ’62 trailed the winners by just one attendee.

The Robinson-Ragan Award for Alumni Chapel Sing was also taken by the Class of ’62. The Class of ’67 was second with the class of ’07 winning third. Runge offered an honorable mention to the class of 2002 which had one participant – Ryan Daming!

The Dorman Hughes ’43 Award is presented by the alumni office to salute class agents who go above and beyond in organizing their class reunion. The office decided it was a tie this year with Thom Feit and Terry Fewell of ’62 along with Craig Miller and Justin Castle for the Class of 1997.

The Edmund O. Hovey Annual Giving Award also went to the Class of ’62 who ran away from the field with 65.79 percent participation from their class making a gift to the College.

President White wrapped up Big Bash weekend with remarks. He thanked all of the returnees and their significant others for returning to Wabash and their continued efforts to make young men’s dreams come true.

He also told the story of NCAA National Champion Track athletes Kevin McCarthy and Jake Waterman. He shared how both are hard workers, good students, and young men of perseverance. How the two represent the spirit of Wabash. He added how important scholarships are to the young men who continue to make Wabash the special place the alums treasure.

Runge thanked his office staff, Bon Appetit staff, campus services, and Communications and Marketing staff for their Big Bash work.

Short URL: http://wabash.edu/news/9523