Like many seniors, Gage Businger feels that his Wabash College journey has been transformational.

What started as a chance to play football turned into an experience that sharpened his skills, built his confidence, and gave him a vision for the future.

Businger arrived at Wabash in August of 2021 as a student-athlete, hoping to make an impact as a defensive back. Soon, he realized that football wasn’t in his future and tried to figure out who he was outside of the game.

“It was difficult because that’s all I had known — being a student-athlete,” recalled the rhetoric major and business minor. “Once I lost interest in football, I had to attain a different identity.”

That shift allowed him to focus on academics in a way he had never done before.

Businger found himself captivated by the study of communication and persuasion. He enjoyed the new challenge of engaging with texts and ideas, and learning to analyze, present, and advocate.

“I like to dive into things,” he said. “I’ve spent who knows how many hours in the library preparing for class or a presentation well in advance. Rhetoric offered me a way to do this through established methods. It’s helped to organize my approach to learning.”

Rhetoric Professor Jeff Drury remembered Businger’s work from his Reasoning and Advocacy class, where his final project advocating for wind farms in Montgomery County in a video stood out.

“Gage is a measured, thoughtful student who seeks to provide meaningful contributions,” Drury said. “His research and advocacy skills are exceptional. I was so impressed with the quality of the research, the strong audience adaptation, and the effective vocal delivery that I have used his project as a model for other students.”

Now into his last semester, Businger appreciates the liberal arts approach at Wabash that allowed him to explore subjects beyond his major.

“Heading into college, there can be a ton of pressure to focus solely on a major and minor,” he explained. “But here, you’re pushed to take classes that challenge you to think outside the box.”

One example was a course Businger took in jazz history. Initially unfamiliar with the subject, he grew to appreciate the cultural and historical significance of riverboat jazz. His dive into the subject led to a presentation at the 2024 Celebration of Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Work. It was an experience that not only strengthened his public speaking skills, but expanded his curiosity.

“It opened my eyes and ears,” he said. “Since then, I started listening to more jazz.”

Experiences outside the classroom provided more opportunity to grow and find a career path. He’s long had an interest in motor sports and has been the leader of the motor sports club on campus.

Last summer, he interned with Pro Sport Competition, an IMSA sports car racing team in Indianapolis, which gave him the ability to apply the skills he learned in a real-world setting. He handled the team’s social media efforts, designed their website, and worked on sponsorship activation for races in places like Wisconsin, Virginia, and Texas.

“It was a great experience to expand their story and share it with a broader audience,” said the Monticello, Indiana, native. “I love that racing is such a team sport. Whether your focus is the tires, the fuel, or even the social media, we’re all trying to save tenths of seconds on each lap. Every detail matters. I want to help tell those stories.”

The experience went so well that he hopes to pursue motorsports communications as a career after graduation.

“I feel more mature and prepared for the professional world than I ever imagined,” he continued. “I’ve learned to take initiative, to lead, and to build relationships both personally and professionally.”

Similar to his experiences with Little Giant football, racing Aston Martin cars, or even walking across campus to class, Businger appreciates shared experiences.

“Everyone goes to class in these halls. 皇冠足球比分_澳门皇冠体育-在线|平台@ eat in the same spaces,” he said. “There isn’t a lot of differentiation on a small campus, so you are able to form really strong relationships. I like the feeling of being a part of a team. 皇冠足球比分_澳门皇冠体育-在线|平台@ have similar goals and share in each other’s successes.”

From a freshman unsure of his path to a senior with confidence, Businger is proud of who he’s become in these last four years. 

“I’ve refined my skills at being a friend, a responsible citizen, and a dedicated student,” he said. “I didn’t know what I was capable of before Wabash. Now, I do.”