Skip to Main Content

The Class of 2023 Commencement Speakers

Benjamin Bullock '23Benjamin Bullock
 
Benjamin Bullock was a history and humanities double major and music minor. Bullock is a historian of China with a focus on early 20th century labor history. He was a four-year member of the Wabash College Glee Club, sports editor for The Bachelor, a consultant in the Wabash College Writing Center, and a broadcast announcer for the soccer team. Bullock studied abroad in Vladivostok, Russia, and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, earned Distinction in comprehensive examinations, and was named a George Lews Mackintosh Fellow and a Julia Rosenberg Writing Scholar. His honors include the Dean Stephens Award, Walter L. Fertig Prize, John F. Charles World History Prize, Glee Club Senior Award, and the Jim Leas Outstanding Student in Journalism Award. He will be pursuing a master’s degree at the Yenching Academy of Peking University in Beijing, China. He is the son of Donna Benson (Richard Ditchfield), and Kevin Bullock. He is from Stourbridge, England.

 


Allen Edward Johnson Jr. '23Allen Edward Johnson Jr.
 
Allen Johnson Jr. majored in psychology and minored in Black studies. Allen was a member of the Malcolm X Institute of Black Studies and served as chairman as a junior. He was the 2023 recipient of the Malcolm X Institute Service Award. Allen was also a member of the Wabash golf team, a senior peer career advisor, and server/cook for Bon Appetit food management. Allen served as the SAAC member for the Wabash golf team in 2020. He served as junior marshal at Wabash’s 184th Commencement ceremony. In his free time, he loves playing basketball, cooking, making memories, and listening to music. Allen will attend Ball State University to pursue his masters’s in student affairs administration in higher education. Allen is the son of Lauren and Allen Johnson Sr. and has two brothers. He is from Indianapolis, Indiana.

 


In their final semester, Wabash On My Mind podcast host Richard Paige sat down with the 2023 commencement speakers ahead of the ceremony, discussing what it’s like to speak for their class, belonging at Wabash, and reminiscing on their most important lessons learned in their four years (Episode 342).