Sally Rodgers Award for Lifelong Achievement 2015

The Sally Rodgers Award for Lifelong Achievement was created in 1999 to honor Sally Rodgers, long time director of alumni relations. This award is given every other year by the Alumni Association to "an individual/or individuals who graduated from Whitman College over 50 years ago and whose life exemplifies the qualities of a liberal arts education." This award is presented at the 50-Plus Reunion.

Recipient for 2015 is Winnifred Collier Ringhoffer ’50

Winn Collier Ringhoffer '50 graduated from Whitman with a degree in music, then earned a master’s degree from Boston University and a Soloist Certificate in Voice. She has spent her life since bringing music into the lives of audiences and students alike, providing service through song at a local, regional and national level.

After earning her Master’s degree and a Soloist Certificate in voice, Winn settled in Walla Walla and continued to perform while raising her family. She played Anna in the Little Theater’s production of “The King and I,” gave numerous local recitals and played roles in a variety of Harper Joy Theatre productions as well as coaching vocalists. Winn performed with the Walla Walla Symphony and worked behind the scenes, serving on the board; she also wrote the Symphony program notes for 30 years.

Winn was a public school music teacher, then a voice instructor in the Whitman Music Department for many years. When asked to list her accomplishments, she instead names the multitude of students she has taught and coached to success, from stages in Ashland, Ore., to the New York City Opera; from a national tour of “Phantom of the Opera” to the Vienna Folk Opera.

Since retiring from the Whitman Music Department in 1994, Winn completed two terms as Governor of the Intermountain Region, National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). She has adjudicated and presented workshop classes in Washington, Oregon, Alberta, Idaho, as well as attending national conventions in Tampa, Seattle, and St. Louis to fulfill her duties on the National Board. She has adjudicated District Metropolitan Auditions in Spokane, and has been an active member of the Music Teachers National Association, the Washington State Music Teachers Association, the American Musicological Society, the Walla Walla Community Concert Association and the Walla Walla Choral Society and sang in the Congregational Church choir.

In her ‘spare’ time throughout her life, Winn also taught children to ski, served as president of the Junior Club of Walla Walla and has been a 50-year member of Chapter Q P.E.O. Following her retirement, she continued to give voice lessons in her home in Walla Walla and, after a recent move to Lake Stevens, Wash., was recruited by the local high school drama teacher to coach lead singers for six musicals (and counting).

The Whitman College Alumni Association is proud to present Winn with the 2015 Sally Rodgers Award for Lifetime Achievement.