Jim Amidon — They say Wabash is a tradition-rich school, and it is. They also say traditions at Wabash take decades to form. Now that I’m well into my third decade at the College, I know for a fact that traditions take, on average, about three years to take hold.
The latest, greatest tradition is the Celebrating Scholarships Luncheon, which was held for the third year in a row. As President Andy Ford aptly pointed out, the luncheon has come to signify spring on campus, even though snow showers fell from the sky at this year’s event, which was attended by over 300 students, donors, parents, faculty, and staff.
Ever since Marilyn Smith of the Advancement Office hosted the first Celebrating Scholarships Luncheon, those of us on the north side of campus have been saying out loud, "Why haven’t we been doing this for years?"
It seems like such a natural, common sense thing to do — matching scholarship recipients with the alumni, friends, and foundations who gave the gifts to establish the scholarships. There’s nothing more exciting for those of us in Advancement than to see people like David and Betty Givens ’56 meeting the young men who benefit from their generosity. That connection provides a living philanthropic link between our College’s past and its future.
Vic DeRose ’74 has come to all three luncheons, I think, and he loves nothing more than meeting the guys who have earned his family scholarship. And the students suddenly have learned to network, too; Vic is a very connected person in the business world, whose contacts can benefit DeRose Scholars long beyond their time at Wabash.
It was a bit of a family reunion for Fran H’85, Tom ’56, and John ’59 Hollett, who enjoyed their time with men who have received scholarships in the Hollett name.
And true to the three-year tradition, the link between past and future was made when the guest speakers at the event were a past scholarship recipient, Nelson Alexander ’90, and a current scholarship winner, David Fitzgerald ’06, who spoke eloquently about the College’s philanthropic tradition.
Alexander, who received the Charles Maurice Hegarty Scholarship, was recently listed as one of the "40 Under 40" in Indianapolis and is the managing partner of his law firm. Instead of focusing on the success he has gained at such a young age, he challenged students to pursue their real dreams at Wabash, something scholarships allow them to do. Fitzgerald, a recipient of the John B. Goodrich Grant-in-Aid, issued a gentle reminder: "Remember the help you received and return that favor to future Wallies throughout the years."
Indeed, the Celebrating Scholarships Luncheon has evolved ever-so-quickly into an important, calendar-marking Wabash tradition.
