Jacob Pactor ’04

I traveled to Indianapolis yesterday to talk to some young alumni about a new idea for engaging our students as alumni – before they graduate.  We think the concept just might work.

I missed talking to Jacob Pactor ’04 at lunch because Jacob’s a teacher at Speedway High School and getting away for lunch is…well…not an option.  So I met Jacob at school.

I was lucky enough to catch the last 15 minutes of Jacob’s class.  In many ways, I was immediately back at Nolan Catholic in Ft Worth, Texas watching a pretty good teacher named…Bill Placher ’70..teach a high school Religion Class.  I’ve also seen Jacob’s uncle, Peter Pactor ’65 in the classroom there and he’s exceptional as well.

Jacob Pactor works with a student

Jacob is good…no great.  He has exactly the right DNA to get the best effort possible for young men and women.  Peter – you should be so proud!

Good Hoops by the Legends

This coming Saturday, February 9, 2013, you can catch our basketball alumni in action.   Mac Petty Floor in Chadwick Court, tipoff set for 1:00 PM.

It’s great fun to watch round ballers from different eras take on each other in a Wabash-style way – they want to WIN!

After that game, stay for an important NCAC matchup with Kenyon.  Kenyon is currently 6-6 in the conference and Wabash is 5-7.  A win Saturday could be huge for the NCAC playoffs.

Houston Hodges’ Look Says It All

Wabash record on January 29th = 5 Wins and 14 Losses.

Then…
Wabash 52 – DePauw 48
Wabash 55 – Wooster (#8) 48

Neither game pretty…at one time in the Wooster game the score was 15-2 in favor of Wooster…but…the defense never stopped and the offense caught on…

For some Grunge photos, click here, here, here, and here.

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS!

Long In Our Hearts!

Professor Laura Wysocki

Let’s cut straight to the chase scene.  Don’t read this any further.  Click here to go to the Wabash You Tube web site and watch Laura Wysocki’s Chapel talk.

She teaches Organic Chemistry.  She’s an athlete.  She loves to teach.  She loves the team and family concepts.  She believes that Wabash Always Fights.  She loves Wabash.  And she is, by the Grunge’s account, tougher than titanium nails.

If you look up “Get’s Wabash” in your Scarlet Funk and Wagnells, she’s pictured.

Footnote: She Crushed It! Standing “O”.

Enough…go…go watch it.  Like NOW!

Did Wabash Win? YES!!!

It hasn’t been a great season for the Little Giants, but last night they rocked Chadwick Court with 40 minutes of great defense.  Here’s the link to the story.

More photos here and here.

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS!

Find out here.

Kip Chase ’03

Kip Chase ’03 was selected as the next Vice President of the board of directors of the National Association of Wabash Men.  Kip will become Vice President at the conclusion of the May board meeting and will automatically serve as President two years hence.

Kip’s been very active on campus, serving Wabash as a class agent, a member of the Steering Committee for the Challenge of Excellence, and most recently as the alumni board representative on the Presidential Search committee.

Kip works at Eli Lilly, is married to Nicole, and has two sons.

Congratulations Kip!

Ray Jovanovich ’84

I knew when I walked into Baxter 114 a little before noon that there wouldn’t be enough room.  I knew, given the topic and speaker, that people would be standing side by side.  I was right.

He had everyone’s attention.

Trustee Ray Jovanovich, having just flown from Beijing to Chicago 36 hours prior, was going to talk about the challenges ahead for China.  For those of you who don’t know Ray let me give you the fighter pilot summary.  Personality of your best friend…the one you have know forever.  Wicked smart…no, I mean WICKED smart.  A communicator who can take the absolute toughest concepts and talk about them at your level – whatever that level is.  A life-long student who deeply admires the efforts of other students and who genuinely applauds their efforts.

Ray, with four slides and no notes, talked for 50 minutes about China.  In the space of that time, he wrote a plan for China for the next two decades.  Challenges and opportunities.  Gap analysis.  You name it and he covered it.  Not is tech talk – in real talk.  Forget some expensive consultants – Ray’s got it.  Heads nodded – faculty heads, student heads, even bio major staff member heads – repeatedly.

Ray crushed it – just as Eric Wetzel had done in Chapel only minutes before.

Two things though give you a look at the talents and personality of this great man.

1.  He encouraged the group to go see the presentation on China of Terrance Pigues ’14 the following day at the Celebration of Student Research.  Not in any way other than one expert plugging another’s work.

2.  Ray will be a broadcaster of the Super Bowl for Chinese Television.  He also does MLB and NBA games.  Yes, he loves and enjoys that as well.

Talk about the liberal arts in action!

This is the first-ever guest post for the Grunge.  It comes from an old flying buddy – Fred Trebleone, ASC.

Psst.  The Grunge prefers not to be called “Colonel”, especially when accompanied by a smear or a look down the nose.  He doesn’t consider service men and women as second class citizens.  Thought you ten would want to know and pass it along as you see fit.

FT

Professor Eric Wetzel

If you look Professor Eric Wetzel up on the Wabash web site, you’ll find out he is an Associate Professor of Biology.  That might be enough for anyone – certainly, given my Bio 1 grade, much more than ever possible for me!

But, with a little research, you’ll also quickly learn that Eric is an explorer and a game changer.  His blog is a great read.  Explorer is the easy part – what do I mean by game-changer?

Eric Wetzel wants our students to get out of their comfort zone, find a cause that turns them on, and go change the world.  Simply as that.  Rock their personal ecosystem.  Jump into something not just to learn about it but always with an eye toward making a difference…a better difference…a game-changing difference.  A better future for all mankind difference.

He said that all in Chapel…much better than I summarized.  Get on You Tube and check it out.  You won’t be disappointed.