from the president Commencement is a time to reflect on our successes Commencement is one of the most joy- ous days on Whitman’s campus. It’s a cel- ebration for families, proud to see their sons and daughters reach this milestone; a day for faculty and staff to recount and savor the results of their contributions to student success; and a chance for the young graduates to revel in their accom- After receiving his diploma, Adriel Borshansky ’12 gives President plishments. George Bridges a hug during the 2012 Commencement. It’s also a day to reflect upon graduates of years past, so many of whom have be- come alumni as devoted to their alma mater as they were devot- Joseph and Curt are two of numerous members of the Whitman ed to their studies. community devoted to sustainability and environmental issues, Among them isColleen Seidelhuber Willoughby ’55, who and this issue of Whitman Magazine shares a number of their received an honorary Doctor of Humane letters at Commence- stories. ment 2012, Whitman’s 126th such ceremony. Willoughby served Commencement Day, of course, also honors our newly minted on Whitman’s Board of Trustees and remains an active Trustee alumni as they look forward to a future of opportunity. ASWC Emerita. presidentMatt Dittrich ’12, who attended Whitman thanks to “Voluntarism and civic engagement are honorable work,” Wil- the Paul Garrett Scholarship, gave a humorous and moving Com- loughby told graduates in her acceptance speech. She also urged mencement speech urging his 2012 class to join him in the “mud- students in the Class of 2012 to share their talent and expertise wrestle of our lives.” and become engaged in voluntarism. “Rather than distract ourselves with what was, let’s address Willoughby’s life exemplifies how a liberal arts education can progress – the grapple, the struggle, the mud-wrestle for positive shape the endeavors of alumni. Known as “Seattle’s superwoman change,” Matt said. of voluntarism,” she organizes and hosts “Women’s Education: This fall, Matt is moving to london to work for Bain & Com- Forliving and leadership,” an annual symposium bringing in- pany, a top consulting firm. like Colleen, Joseph and Curt, Matt spirational female leaders to Whitman since 1981. has qualities typical of Whitman alumni: He is academically tal- I believe a liberal arts education gives our graduates a deep ented, intellectually curious and socially conscious. I’m going to understanding of the world they inherit, and it encourages them miss Matt’s leadership on campus, but I’m excited to welcome the to look at issues from many different perspectives. It enables Class of 2016 as they follow in the footsteps of generations of alumni who answer calls such as Willoughby’s to use their ana- Whitman graduates. lytical skills to develop fitting solutions to the challenges they And with the support of alumni and friends of the college, the face. Now Is the Time Campaign will help to ensure that our graduates Joseph Bornstein ’08 is one such alumnus. He graduated Phi can set shining examples as they serve as leaders in their com- Beta Kappa and received a $30,000 Truman Scholarship for his munities and respective careers. Thank you for supporting Whit- graduate studies. Currently he’s pursuing a master’s degree in man through the campaign and for your many efforts in assisting public administration through Columbiauniversity’s School of us to advance the mission of the college that we hold dear. International Public Affairs. While at Whitman, Joseph discov- ered a problem and then embraced and addressed it with energy Most sincerely, and creativity. After a trip to Nicaragua, where he befriended a widow and her son who had just lost a husband and father in a fishing accident, he raised more than $6,000 for them. But he didn’t stop there. He and a group of friends built them a house. While working on the house, Joseph witnessed the devastat- George S. Bridges ing impacts of petroleum dependence in Central America, so he and fellow studentCurt Bowen ’09 founded Whitman Direct Action, with the mission of aiding “marginalized communities by … creating a Central American biodiesel network in support of sustainable, community-based growth and independence.” 2 Whitman Magazine
Whitman Magazine July 2012
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