Pete Reid Award for Young Alumni
The Pete Reid Award for Young Alumni is given by the Alumni Association to someone whose youthful exuberance is demonstrated toward his or her career, community, and Whitman College as exemplified by Pete Reid ’49, in his service to the College. This award is limited to graduates of the last ten years. Standards for recognition include outstanding recognition in his or her career or field of work or outstanding commitment in service to others, and a demonstrated commitment to Whitman College.
The 2026 Pete Reid Award Winner, Gillian Friedman ’16
Gillian Friedman ’16 exemplifies the commitment to career, community, and Whitman embodied by this award’s namesake. At Whitman, she graduated first in her class, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, with Honors, earning a degree in Race and Ethnic Studies and a minor in History.
After graduation, Gillian began a career in journalism as an investigative reporter for The Deseret News in Salt Lake City. Her work earned first-place honors from the Associated Press Association, the Society for Features Journalism, the American Jewish Press Association, and the Utah Society of Professional Journalists.
In 2020, Gillian was selected from more than 3,000 applicants as the David Carr Fellow at The New York Times. During her year as a reporter on the Business desk, she covered the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, writing more than 300 stories, including 10 front-page articles. While at The Times, she also participated in a virtual Student Engagement Center panel for Whitman students interested in journalism careers.
Following her fellowship, Gillian pursued a longstanding interest in the law. She was named a Rubenstein Scholar at The University of Chicago Law School, a merit-based award covering the full cost of tuition and housing. While there, she received the Joseph Henry Beale Award for Best Performance in Legal Research and Writing.
After graduating in 2025, Gillian began two consecutive federal judicial clerkships: first with Judge John J. Tharp Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and then with Judge Joshua P. Kolar of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Gillian credits Whitman with fostering her love of learning, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to rigorous inquiry. She remains deeply grateful to the faculty mentors who challenged and encouraged her, particularly Professors David Schmitz, Anne Helen Petersen, Tarik Elseewi, and Elizabeth Vandiver. Through countless conversations, drafts, and revisions, they taught her to think critically, engage deeply with competing perspectives, and pursue excellence with humility.