Sometimes I walk over to the Alumni Terrace, where all the bricks from the circa 1998 "brick campaign" are located.  I take a picture of the first brick that catches my eye.  Nothing scientific here, just walk around a little and pick a brick.

The brick terrace always draws a crowd on busy alumni weekends – something permanent about those bricks.

Well…I came away surprised when I did this just last week – picked the brick of a fellow 1971 grad, Steve McDaniel.  Hope to see Steve at this year’s Big Bash!   

I was eavesdropping – I’ll admit that.  At the home of Jane and Greg Castanias on March 10, 2006, five of our Jim Graham ’65 externs were deep into conversation with two local alumni, Matt Mickelson ’98 and George Patton ’84.

I smiled as I overheard the conversation.  A discussion of Wabash College…the not-too-distant then…and the now.  The benefits.  The challenges.  The opportunities.

Made my earlier in the day one vs. one with a Washington Metro bus seem worth it…    

As has been the custom, one that has been practiced too many times in recent years, the senior bench gets a special paint job when we lose a student.

After Han Jiang’s tragic accident last week, his TKE brothers painted the bench. In addition to the normal colors and remembrances, they added some moving touches.  The "guards" of the bench caught my eye.  The picture speaks for itself.  As a student in Chapel said this morning, "We have a hole in our heart."

That’s Joe Cooper ’07 on the left.  During Wabash’s spring break Joe traveled to Washington, DC on the Jim Graham ’65 Externship Program.  Joe’s mentor was George Patton ’84, a Washington-based partner with Bose McKinney & Evans LLP.

Last year I was amazed one of our externs, who was only on the job for 5 days, had his own office.  Same thing with Joe this year – that’s his office!

The Jim Graham Externship program is a great experience for our young men – a terrific learning opportunity.

As you can see, JB Bachman ’61 is now the proud owner of the "Wabash" license plate in Tennessee.  Congrats JB!

How many others out there own a "Wabash" plate in your neck of the woods?  Let me hear from you!

Manbar Khadka ’07, works on some research information with his mentor for the week, Matt Mickelson ’98. Matt works for Customer Value Partners (CVP) in Fairfax, VA, a suburb of Washington. CVP is a consulting firm with clients in business and government.

Manbar spent the week performing research for CVP’s clients and performing several tasks that would normally fall to a regular employee of the firm.

The Jim Graham Externships, sponsored by the National Capital Association of Wabash Men, create opportunity and links to our alumni network. †Everyone involved lauded the experience.

Mario Joven ’90 and his Irish band will be in Indianapolis for three gigs on St. Patrick’s Day – go see them. †Here are the details from Mario.

March 17, St. Patrick’s Day. Coach’s Tavern is at 28 S. Pennsylvania, across the street from Conseco Fieldhouse. We are unofficially called the Coach’s Tavern Irish Band (original, I know), a four piece band consisting of fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and Irish percussion.

We will be playing Irish music, celtic fiddle tunes, drinking songs, and maybe a couple surprises. We will play two sets: 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. or so. We later perform at Tip Top Tavern (1341 N Capitol Ave) from 8 PM to 11 PM.†

Come out, have some green beer and listen to some Irish tunes.

†

The Class of 1956 will be here for their 50th Reunion. They have done a great job of preparing.

Paul Kimball worked tirelessly to produce a reunion book that mailed in February! If that doesn’t get the memories flowing, nothing will. Thanks Paul!

Another Paul, Paul "Howie" Hawksworth (pictured), has been busy rallying the class to attend. Paul’s the class agent for the ’56 guys.

Both Pauls will be here in June – and we hope you’ll join them. To sign up, click here.

It’s Tuesday of Spring Break week.  Some of our young men are enjoying the time at Cocoa Cocoa Beach or San Padre Island.  The baseball and golf teams are sweating it out…in Arizona!  Meanwhile, back at the ranch…it’s pretty foggy here.  Not England foggy, mind you…but foggy still.

For more photos taken this morning, click here.

Yesterday’s class agent?  JB Bachman, class agent for the "Many Milers", the Wabash Class of 1961.

Do you recognize this class agent? He’s one of the most active, most engaged class agents we have and his class will be back in force at the 2006 Big Bash.

From the looks of it, his class might just have the most members returning for this Bash…

Answer tomorrow.