Wabash was not the first choice for Aidan Geleott ’25. It was actually his third.
The Spanish major and education studies minor started his journey as a swimming recruit studying economics at DePauw University. With high hopes for his swimming career, the college freshman soon found himself desiring a greater focus on academics and his passion for Spanish.
He transferred to Butler University for his sophomore year. Despite a promising vision of a bustling city atmosphere, he faced the difficult reality of a disconnected community amid the pandemic that stifled his ability to make friends.
“I thrive in an environment where I have a sense of community and comfort and an ability to pursue challenging things,” says Geleott. “I knew I would not be able to be as happy at Butler.”
He finally found what he was looking for at Wabash.
“Even as a two-time transfer, my campus visit felt special. I got a one-on-one tour, met with professors, and even met my advisor, Professor Rogers,” says Geleott. “Through the conversations I had that day, I knew this is where I was supposed to finish.”
Professor of Spanish Dan Rogers shared that same energy as the prospect came to his office one spring morning.
“Sitting with Aidan, it became apparent that a close connection to the community was important to him for his educational experience,” says Rogers. “I could see he would find his place here and would thrive.”
Rogers saw the benefit of a student with a unique path and a deep academic maturity joining the Wabash community.
“I knew landing him as a transfer student would be a huge asset to Wabash in all that he had to offer,” Rogers continues. “He was the star recruit everyone wanted.”
In his two years on campus, Geleott has made good use of the resources, engaging in everything from La Alianza to ’shOUT. Geleott is also a brother at Phi Gamma Delta and a founding member of Mariachi Los Pequeños Gigantes.
“After I arrived, I got involved in some organizations on campus,” he says. “I quickly realized that this is home.”
Although Geleott began his Wabash career alongside his brother, Zach ’27, he quickly had more than just one brother on campus.
“People always talk about your biological family and your chosen family—I think about my brothers at Wabash who are always going to be a part of my life, no matter the distance and no matter the time,” Geleott says. “I have found my chosen family, people who bring me peace and comfort. That’s all I wanted in my college experience.”
Members of his fraternity and the clubs he joined became an extension to his family. Similarly, he found comfort in his classmates, who challenged him both academically and socially.
“Something I love about the Wabash education is the emphasis on discussion-based learning,” Geleott says. “The class sizes are never going to be too large for active participation. It made it easy to get to know the other students and professors on a personal level.”
Rogers recognizes the value Geleott adds to this discussion space.
“Aidan is a value-added participant. If you ask him a question, he’s not going to immediately blurt out the first thing that comes into his head,” says Rogers. “He’s not there to impress you, but he is going to listen to what you said and give you a thoughtful response.”
Geleott’s engagement and desire for connection grew during Rogers’ Spanish Literature and Culture course. The course included an immersion component in which students completed the last 100 miles of the Camino de Santiago, a trek across the northern countryside of Spain.
He describes the days as hard but rewarding, with many moments fostering a profound relationship with his friends and a love for the Spanish culture.
“Above all, I loved the amount of fun conversation we had together as a group,” he says. “The laughs we shared each day of the journey are something I’ll never forget.”
While his time at Wabash was shorter than most, Geleott values what he gained along the way.
“I have grown so much here in two years. I attribute my transformation to the people who have served as advisors and friends, but also people who pushed me in the right direction,” he concludes. “I’m sad to only have two years here. But I have learned to trust the process and realize if you live and lead from the heart, you’ll end up in the right spot. For me, that was my two years at Wabash.”