Events and Experiences

In this Issue:

• Photostory: a day in the life of Caleb Walsh (’26)
• Videos of recent events and a preview of an upcoming one: Jam for Janey
• Student art show on exhibit at The Bridge in the ZSR Library

Tonight is Face to Face with Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, and I hope your students have already claimed their free ticket and aare planning on attending. There will be shuttle buses for students to take them to the LJVM Coliseum for the event.

It should be a great night – and if tradition holds, they will announce the 2026-27 lineup for Face to Face. We already know Cynthia Erivo will be here in September (she was scheduled to speak this year and had to reschedule), but I am eager to see who else will be speaking. For families who wish to purchase season tickets, you can do so here.

Because today is an event day with Magic Johnson, we’ll share a few more events and experiences in today’s blog. Let’s get to it!

Photostory: a day in the life of Caleb Walsh (’26)

Continuing our series of ‘a day in the life’ of our current seniors, today we bring you Caleb Walsh (’26), a health and exercise science major and dance minor. You can see his photostory here.

After graduation this May, Caleb will move to Boston to attend Boston University to pursue his Doctor of Physical Therapy and PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences. “I hope to continue working with older adults to identify alternative ways for them to age healthily.” Go Deacs!

Videos of recent events and a preview of an upcoming one: Jam for Janey

Our video team has been hard at work capturing some of the many events that happen this spring. Here are a few for your viewing pleasure:

DESK, our campus service project where students paint desks for and with local schoolchildren.

Campus Day for Accepted Students, which took place this past Friday and yesterday for students admitted to the Class of 2030 (and their proud parents/family members).

Entrepalooza, where student entrepreneurs pitch their businesses.

And I also wanted to acknowledge an event coming up this Thursday: Jam for Janey. This is from one of the event organizers:

“Janey Thompson was a second-year Wake Forest student that passed away in April 2024. To honor her, Jam for Janey was created as a 3v3 basketball tournament for all students around campus.

Janey was an active member of the Club Basketball Team and held the Wake Forest Ledford Physics Scholarship. Combining two of her greatest passions, basketball and physics, this Wake Forest campus initiative aims to commemorate Janey by supporting the Janey Thompson Scholarship. This scholarship supports students with a similar passion for physics, helping them pursue their studies at Wake Forest.”

Jam for Janey will be held this Thursday afternoon. Students can register a 3×3 team and buy tshirts at this link. This is always such a meaningful event. You can see last year’s photostory from Jam for Janey to see what it is all about.

Student art show on exhibit at The Bridge in the ZSR Library

I was just at a meeting in the library yesterday and wanted to highlight this great new student art exhibit at The Bridge. Here’s how the exhibit is described:

“Celebrate the arrival of spring with a new student art show, on exhibit at The Bridge in the ZSR Library. Information Systems is pleased to host Botanical Bridges – Observation and Invention, featuring student works from Professor Lydia Smith’s Spring 2026 Life Drawing (ART 218) class.

Inspired by the Wake Forest University Herbarium and its intriguing collection of plant specimens, Professor Smith’s students created and personally framed each of the twenty-four watercolor and colored pencil drawings in the exhibition. Through a Wake The Arts grant-funded initiative, the works are on view now at The Bridge (atrium level of ZSR) through Spring 2027.

An opening reception will be held Friday, April 17, from 2-4 pm at The Bridge. IS extends special thanks to Professors Lydia Smith, Art, and Christopher Krieg, PhD., Biology, Wake The Arts, Erin Kye, University Collections, and most of all, WFU’s talented student artists.” 

If students finds themselves in ZSR – and they are all there as finals approach! – I hope they pop in to The Bridge to see these artworks.