Each year at Avon Old Farms, the Woodwell Leadership Award is given out to one rising junior who best demonstrates the potential for community service and leadership. The Award was created by Al O’Connor ’75, in memory of his classmate and friend Richard H. “Woody” Woodwell ’75, who lost his life in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The award recipient is chosen through an essay contest. Each recipient then receives the funding to attend an Outward Bound program of their choice. Outward Bound programs are outdoor education retreats that promote personal growth, leadership capabilities, and environmental appreciation.

When Ignatius “Iggy” Waluk ’28 first heard about the award from past winners, he was intrigued. “The trip looked really cool, and I’ve never been camping or anything like that, so I was really interested. Plus, the last few winners were all students that I admired, guys that I look up to and want to be like,” he shares.

So, Waluk decided he would submit an essay. In it, he detailed how his leadership strategies don’t rely on being the loudest in the room. Instead, he leads with his actions. “I also talked about how getting out of my comfort zone on a trip like this would allow me to help others get out of their comfort zones here at Avon.”

In addition to the essay submission, a student’s resume is also taken into account when deciding the winner, and Waluk has already built a good one. He is a member of the Student Council, an Admissions Ambassador, Big Brother, Day-Student Monitor, Avon Record editor, and co-head of Avon Outreach.

He remembers sitting at a Morning Meeting last spring with his fingers crossed when it was announced he was the latest winner of the Woodwell Leadership Award. Chris Webb, who coordinates the award every year, says Waluk impressed with his submission. “I think a big reason that Iggy was selected was because of his self-awareness as an aspiring leader and his willingness to be vulnerable. He not only captured this in his application essay, he also shared some of his greatest learning moments happened when he allowed himself to be vulnerable,” Webb shares.

Winning the award is only the beginning. Waluk quickly had to decide which outdoor excursion he wanted to embark on, ultimately choosing a rafting and backpacking trip through the canyons of southern Utah. On July 5, the West Hartford native flew across the country to meet with the rest of his group in Grand Junction, Colorado. From there, it was a two-hour drive south to their first campsite along the Green River. That would be the last night for a while where the group would have access to comforts like running water and cell phones.

The group, which consisted of Waluk, eight other participants around his age, and two instructors, set out the next day on another long drive through the canyons and into the wilderness. “It was like Radiator Springs from the movie Cars,” Waluk jokes. “There was no civilization anywhere nearby.” That afternoon, they gathered themselves and all their gear into two rafts and set off down the river.

For the next seven days, Waluk and his companions spent most of every day paddling down the river, and every night camping somewhere along the bank. “The instructors gradually declined in how much they spoke or guided us. By the time we were halfway through, it was all being run by us students.” The crew rotated jobs like cook, photographer, etc., with one student designated as the leader each day. “A lot of the kids were younger than me, so they took a lot of motivation to get going sometimes. I quickly learned getting angry at people doesn’t help in motivating them. Being a leader is more than just the title. It takes a lot of effort,” Waluk shares.

After a week spent rafting, the group gathered all of their gear into camping backpacks and set off on foot for another six days of backpacking. The group operated the same way for most of the backpacking portion, but halfway through they all split up for a 30-hour solo experience. Waluk tried his best to pass the time with journaling, sleeping, and even improvised a workout using rocks free weights. “One kid got so bored he caught a crow with his bare hands,” Waluk shares. In the end, it came down to him and his thoughts. “It was weird to think about life without any awareness of time. I realized that my life is so dictated by the clock.”

One of the highlights of the trip for Waluk came on the final day. The group set off on a run near their final campsite and stumbled upon a herd of free-range cattle. “I was just suddenly in this herd. I was running with these cows along either side of me. It was like I was part of their stampede. That was a crazy experience.”

In the end, Waluk and his companions had traveled over 100 miles. He got the life-changing wilderness trip he was hoping for, but couldn’t help but feel a bit of relief when he arrived at his hotel near the airport. “I missed so much during that trip—running water, daily showers, working toilets. That first shower and real bed in that cheap hotel were amazing.”

Now back at Avon, Waluk says that feeling of gratitude hasn’t left him. “I take that with me still today. Sometimes, I look at the sink and just smile. I have an appreciation for this place and all that we have, and I hope that’s rubbing off on others.”

Waluk says he also hopes to utilize some of the lessons he’s learned about leadership here at Avon. “It’s already helped a lot with cross country. In both instances, I had a bunch of kids struggling around me, and I try to motivate them as I lead by example.”

Webb says he isn’t surprised to see Waluk already utilizing the lessons he learned on his trip. “I have no doubt that Iggy will continue to grow as a leader and will find ways to impact the Avon Old Farms campus community in increasingly positive ways because of his Woodwell Leadership Award experience.”