For senior Caleb Adcock, choosing Walsh University was about finding a place where both his faith and academic ambitions could flourish. A Criminal Justice major with a minor in Government and Foreign Affairs, Caleb transferred to Walsh from Michigan and quickly discovered a community that challenged him intellectually and strengthened him spiritually.
“The greatest gift that Walsh gave me was an environment where both faith and reason can be nurtured,” he said. “While many believe that faith and reason are opposed to each other, the Catholic tradition proposes a unity between them. In providing for both spiritual and educational growth, Walsh has helped me to inform my faith with strong reasoning, and to support my studies with faith in the God from whom all truth flows.”
That integration of faith and inquiry has shaped Caleb’s academic journey from his first semester. He has made the Dean’s List every year and immersed himself in the classroom culture of open, thoughtful discussion. “Throughout my courses, I was encouraged to critically assess many ideas, even my own,” he reflected. “A theory simply being proposed in class did not mean that I had to accept it, only that I should interact with it. This helped me to refine where I stand in relation to the world and strengthen my ability to make judgments about what is true.”
One of Caleb’s most memorable early experiences came during Walsh’s speaker series on diplomacy, when he met Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations. “I had thought about the questions I could ask him related to the talk, but by the time I reached him, the magnitude of getting to meet someone so close to the pope had sunk in,” he shared. “I simply thanked him for coming and asked if he would tell the holy father about his visit, which he graciously agreed to.” The archbishop also shared photographs of the pope with students—a keepsake that Caleb treasures.
Faith life has been a cornerstone of Caleb’s Walsh experience. He is a sacristan and altar server in campus chapels and serves on the leadership team for Cavs for Life while also acting as treasurer for the Pre-Law Club. Each role expresses a different facet of his mission: “Cavs for Life is devoted to the defense of the dignity of the human person, the Pre-Law club helps students to prepare for the pursuit of excellence in future law studies, and the chapel activities help to honor the Lord with good, reverent worship.”
Caleb credits many Walsh faculty and staff with shaping his formation, but one influence stands out. “One who has been a profound influence since the beginning is Dr. Collins,” he said. “Even when I was a new student here, he always treated me like I was a good friend and was a constant source of encouragement. He urged me to go deeper in my practice of my faith, and to do my absolute best in my studies. I credit him with much of the work that I have accomplished here and believe that his vision has played an important part in keeping Walsh alive.”
Originally from Bay City, Michigan, Caleb came to Walsh as both an out-of-state and transfer student—new not only to campus but to the state of Ohio. The transition from commuting to living on campus brought challenges, but he found the support he needed. “The strong educational, religious, and social features of Walsh were more than enough to encourage me to remain enrolled,” he said. “The fact that my time here will soon be at an end is difficult to accept.”
Caleb’s academic achievements and commitment to justice have already opened extraordinary opportunities. He has received full-tuition law school offers from the University of Toledo, the University of Dayton, The University of Akron, and University of Detroit Mercy, with more decisions still to come. His internship with the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office affirmed his path. “The internship allowed me the opportunity to experience the court process, behind-the-scenes work with victims and witnesses, as well as the documentation that is important to every case. This experience helped me to confirm a strong commitment to justice.”
After graduation, Caleb plans to pursue his Juris Doctor, specialize in business law, specifically contract litigation, and eventually sit for the bar. Inspired by mentors like Fr. David Jenuwine, a priest and attorney from his home diocese, Caleb looks ahead with clarity and purpose.
