So who are the freshmen who will spend the next four years of their lives at Wabash?
A bunch of them—12 to be precise—are from Montgomery County, which keeps strong one of the College's oldest traditions of educating local men.
Forty-eight of this year's freshmen are legacies, which means they had a father, brother, uncle, or grandfather attend Wabash. That, too, is a wonderful Wabash tradition. Few things make Wabash alumni more proud than when a family member chooses to attend the same school. Through their associations with the College, legacies share a special bond—Wabash traditions-that links them forever.
Speaking of alumni, almost half of this year's freshmen were referred to the admissions office by Wabash alums. Who better to make first contacts with prospective students than the men who already have experienced the many benefits of a Wabash education?
The freshman class also represents the most selective class in Wabash's history. This year the College received 1,310 applications for admission. Only half—655—were admitted.
And while this class is bright—the high school grade point average is 3.6—Wabash selected this class based on a range of factors, from leadership ability to those men who will both contribute more to and benefit from a Wabash experience.
Still, it's a very bright group. Eleven men were either the valedictorian or salutatorian of his graduating class, while 63 men had SAT scores of 700 or better on the math or verbal portion. Four of these guys registered a perfect 800 on one part of the test or the other.
"Being a Wabash man, of course, goes beyond academic achievement," Dean of Admissions Steve Klein told the freshmen on Saturday. "It means character, competitiveness, balance, a pioneering spirit, leadership, and making a difference in society.
Klein then went on to say, "From athletics to music, from student government to theater, from community service to world travel, you have much to offer to Wabash and to each other."
He then went on to list some of the unique attributes of some of the individuals in the freshman class.
One was an Olympic torchbearer. Another student plays 12 different musical instruments, and one guy speaks four languages.
One freshman may have a really easy time adjusting to fraternity life since he grew up in a house with seven sisters!
They are a creative bunch, too. One owns his own computer company, while another is the founder of a concert production company. There is a student here who was a columnist for a major daily newspaper, while another produced a documentary film.
Perhaps what most surprises and excites me about this year's class is that so many seem to be involved in their communities. They've worked on mission trips; built homes for Habitat for Humanity; manned soup kitchens; rescued dogs and protected tortoises; taught kids to skate; assisted the elderly; and worked in domestic violence and homeless shelters.
What a vast resource this group of men will be to the people and agencies of Montgomery County. And they will be introduced to the county's schools, churches, and service agencies today, when all 275 students join with faculty and staff to engage in an afternoon of community service.
I hope you'll get to know this year's Wabash freshmen. They have much to learn over the next four years. Much of that learning will come from books and lectures. But an incredibly important piece of their learning will take place in this community as they learn to think critically, act responsibly, lead effectively, and live humanely.