Curiosity has been a driving force for Keane Albright ’25, shaping nearly every choice he’s made at Wabash since his recruiting visit.
A swimmer from Long Beach, New York, Albright made a lone campus visit consisting of conversations with the swim coaches and a quick pass through the Allen Center due to COVID-19 restrictions on campus at the time.
Still, something resonated with Albright as he worked through his college choices.
“Coming out here meant I had to grow up a little faster, which is something I wanted,” he says. “I wanted some independence, which made coming here exciting, but I didn’t understand what liberal arts meant. Wabash allowed me to dip my toes into each thing and that makes it a little easier to learn.”
There was plenty on his plate initially, from adjusting to campus life and making friends, to finding a place on the swim team and deciding what to study.
Suddenly, scheduling was at a premium and it was stressful to find his footing.
“He always seemed incredibly tired and drained,” says Will Bernhardt, head swimming and diving coach. “Keane wasn’t getting enough rest outside of the pool and that was carrying over to his performances when the workload piled up. We had talks during his freshman and sophomore years to help him better process things, and eventually he was able to break through.”
The first step was simply to get out of his room and find his focus.
“I changed my mindset,” Albright says. “I wanted to find people who have the same interests as me.”
He dove into a number of clubs to see what connections he could make, including the chess club, computer science club, and mixed martial arts. Albright changed his major and became a resident assistant. He also became active in the Malcolm X Institute of Black Studies (MXIBS).
Albright’s involvement in the MXIBS played a significant role in his mindset shift. The organization provided a space where he found camaraderie, mentorship, and a sense of belonging.
There, his leadership style began to grow. Albright prefers not to lead from the top, but rather from within. His roles in the MXIBS are a testament to this. Rather than pursuing the highest leadership titles, he co-chaired the membership process, helping new brothers integrate into the organization.
Under his guidance, the MXIBS reinstated the tradition of reading “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” as part of the initiation process, encouraging personal reflection and meaningful discussions about identity and community. His ability to connect with people from different backgrounds and perspectives strengthened the organization, increasing engagement and participation.
“Keane has a bias toward action,” says Kim King ’99, assistant director of the MXIBS. “He found a way to use that text to help our members think about what it means to be the best version of themselves, of self-reliance and allyship.”
He also demonstrated his selflessness and adaptability as a key member of the Wabash swim team. When he was a junior, the team got deeper and stronger competitively. Albright saw an opportunity to contribute in a different way—by diving, something in which he had never formally trained.
Under the guidance of Diving Coach Alistair Frost, Keane took to diving quickly.
“Keane is a smart diver,” Frost says of the switch from experienced backstroker to novice diver. “He maximized his efforts to build an 11-dive competition list. He always puts the team first. He made that transition to help us meet our goals. That says everything about Keane’s character.”
Albright has a sense of humor he’s not afraid to show. During the swim team’s training trip to the Florida panhandle in December 2023, he was to attempt a back one-and-a-half somersault for the first time. On a particularly frigid morning, he watched a teammate try it and land hard on his back.
Frost turned to Albright and asked whether he was ready to try.
“Keane turned to me, grinned, and said, ‘Not today, coach.’” Frost chuckles at the memory. “Discretion before valor is always a smart move.”
Albright firmly established his groove and made an undeniable impact.
He leaves behind a strengthened MXIBS, a more competitive swim and dive team, and a spirit of perseverance, selflessness, and action—a reminder that leadership is about the willingness to serve and uplift others.
As he prepares for the next chapter—graduate school and, eventually, owning his own business—Albright carries with him the lessons learned at Wabash. More important, he leaves knowing that his presence mattered.
“I’m proud of the leadership skills I’ve developed,” he says. “I also appreciate the resiliency and the ability to roll with the punches. Once you get this education, you’re going to be in a great spot. Sticking it out through the rough periods proves there are definite rewards on the other side.”