All Alumni Reunion
Please use the links on the left to view photos/videos of the weekend.
Wayland’s Alumni could not have asked for a better fall Wisconsin Weekend for the All Alumni Reunion Weekend! Alumni began arriving around noon on Friday, October 7, allowing them time to walk around their alma mater to see what is new and what has remained the same from their days at Wayland. That evening all were invited to attend a reception at the President’s House.
The All Alumni Meeting and Breakfast on Saturday morning was well attended. Trustee Chair Susan Peterson `63 gave everyone a warm welcome and thanked them for making this the best attended reunion since the Sesquicentennial. She asked, “How many of you were here when Ray Patterson was president and headmaster? Also known as Radar Ray?” The room fell quiet and many hands were raised. She continued, “As you may already know, Ray Patterson `40 recently passed away. Mr. Patterson `40 was Wayland’s Headmaster for 17 years – longer than most of our presidents – from 1953 to 1970, and he had an incredible impact on this school. As Headmaster, he had the foresight to purchase 33 acres from the Dodge County Fairgrounds, now known as the South campus, doubling Wayland’s footprint. He raised more than a million dollars – big money back then – to fund the construction of this dining hall and Kimberly Chapel…before he left to manage the Milwaukee Bucks and the Houston Rockets.” Last year, by unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees – Mr. Patterson was elected an Honorary Trustee and President Emeritus of Wayland Academy.
Susan had another sad update; a beloved faculty emeritus – Victor Sampon H`60, passed away in September at the age of 87. She recalled that, “Mr. Sampon was on the faculty for 27 years – before retiring in 1986. He was a skilled fencer, coaching Wayland students in fencing. One of my classmates observed that Mr. Sampon always had a smile on his face as he walked around on campus.” She then went on to urge everyone to take a stroll around campus, visit the museum, and recall all the fond memories alumni have of their time spent at Wayland.
Then, lightening the mood, Susan invited all members of the classes of 1961 and 1986 to join her at the front of the room so they could be recognized for their 50th and 25th reunions respectively. The class of 1956 was also honored because of their large turnout. All were given commemorative Alumni Reunion pins. Wayland’s President Brian Cheek followed with a State of the Academy address, and ended with an explanation of how attending the memorial for Ray Patterson `40 left him inspired. Then he said that “he hopes to bring the same success to Wayland that the school saw during the Patterson years.”
Following the alumni group photo on the steps of Wayland Hall, a dedication ceremony took place to honor two of Wayland’s baseball players who went on to play in the major leagues. Emerson “Pink” Hawley, class of 1891, and Adrian “Addie” Joss, class of 1898, now have monuments placed in their honor on the Kris Boucher H`90 Baseball Field, on South Campus. Pink pitched for the St. Louis Browns, the Pirates, Reds and Giants in the National League. His best season was in 1895 with the Pirates: he won 31 games and batted .308. Addie Joss made his major league career with the Cleveland Blues on April 26, 1902. His career featured four consecutive seasons with at least 20 wins, two no-hitters (one being a “perfect game” against the formidable Chicago White Sox), and a 1.89 career run average. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978.
The All Alumni Class Photos, Social Hour and Dinner were held Saturday evening at Beaver Dam’s Old Hickory Country Club. Following the invocation by Trustee Dick Kimberly `54, everyone enjoyed a fine dinner while socializing with other alumni, friends, and current and former faculty.
Honorary Diploma Recipient
When dessert was served, all were welcomed by President Brian Cheek, who then introduced Trustee Chair Susan Peterson `63. Susan stated that, “One of my favorite things about being Chair is being able to recognize wonderful people, often good friends, who have helped to make Wayland a great school. This couldn’t apply more than to the recipient of tonight’s Wayland Honorary Degree: Linda Spaans Esten.
“I have personally witnessed how Linda Esten has sacrificed much for the Academy. Yes, she was the wife of our last president, Robert Esten `64, but she also served the Academy in many more ways. One example: she is the mother of an alumnus – Jordan Esten class of 2002. As every parent knows, it’s difficult to ‘let go,’ but when Jordan left home to attend Wayland as a boarding student, Linda knew he was leaving for a good reason – to get the best education the Midwest has to offer.
“When Bob became President of Wayland Academy, after many years as a Trustee and a Trustee Chair, Linda jumped into her role as ‘First Lady’ of the Academy with great enthusiasm. She put her heart and soul into her role as hostess for various school functions.” Susan came to know Linda well during the three years of preparation for Wayland’s Sesquicentennial. “Let me tell you – the Academy was fortunate that Linda went to half-time with her job for the state as a nutritionist. If not for her, this spectacular event could not have been the tremendous success that it was. Her event planning skills went into overdrive! She helped plan the menus, organized multiple events both on and off campus. In fact, Linda was involved in so many ways that it’s nearly impossible to list everything.”
Soon after the Sesquicentennial Linda became a full-time Wayland employee working in the Development Office helping to organize a variety of events. She was instrumental in the design and decorating of Wayland Hall prior to, during and after its renovation. Susan said, “Although the Academy misses her presence, it’s clear that Linda has left an indelible mark on the school. So we are very proud to award her this honorary degree and welcome her as a member of the Wayland class of 2011.”
Linda thanked Susan, the Trustees, and Brian Cheek, and acknowledged Bob’s sister who was in attendance. She said, “I soon found out after I married Bob that I also married into the Wayland Family, and I had no idea how strongly I would come to feel about the Academy.” She said that although their time was cut short, “Bob is in a better place, likely bantering with Walt Thiede `43 or Ray Patterson `40, and as a longtime fan of Apple and Mac computers, having a great time talking with [Apple’s Co-founder] Steve Jobs.”
Volunteer of the Year
Wayland’s Volunteer of the Year Award is one of Wayland’s highest honors. It recognizes a person who gives of themselves to others in major ways. Susan asked Trustee Mike VanHaren `82, to come up and receive the award. She said, “As you all probably know, Mike is one of the sons of Marilyn and Roger H`84 VanHaren – both former Wayland teachers. So we know that Mike had terrific role models when it comes to giving back to your community – and the value of volunteering. Mike has been a member of Wayland’s Alumni Board since 2003 and served as its President since 2008, until last month when he was elected to become a member of Wayland Academy’s Board of Trustees. We are honored to have him ‘on board.’ And believe it or not, he does have a day job – at Quad Graphics as a National Sales Director – Data Sales. At Quad Graphics, Mike volunteers at the company family picnics and is always offering to help coworkers with ‘projects.’ This frequently extends his workday.
“Mike coached his daughter Ella’s soccer team this past spring and he’s now the manager for the team – even creating a team website for them to check schedules and scores. And I understand Mike volunteers ‘t-ball tips’ with his son Nolan and supports his involvement in cub scouts. Last spring, Mike lent his support and creativity to Plowshares in Waukesha by designing a program for their annual fundraiser. Their mission is to ‘Make Peace Relevant to the World Around Us.’
“Over the years Mike has volunteered his time to Wayland in a variety of ways. He produced an interactive CD-ROM presentation titled ‘Prepare for Success.’ He’s helped with Habitat for Wayland, and even had several pieces of his artwork on display at Wayland’s Sesquicentennial art show. Mike also served as co-emcee with his father Roger, at the Academy’s Spring Gala & Auction and helped lead the overhaul of Wayland’s website, giving valuable input and feedback. Through his commitment to Wayland, his family, and his community, you can see that Mike is a very deserving recipient of this year’s Alumni Volunteer of the Year Award.”
Having kept the recipient of this award a secret, Mike was taken by surprise. His first comments were “Now I know why my wife is here this weekend, and I now know how Curt Radford `73 felt last year when we did the same thing to him.” He thanked everyone and said his children are already asking when they get to come to Wayland.
President Cheek concluded the event by thanking everyone for a wonderful weekend and the warm welcome he has received from the Wayland community.