Newsroom

Henniger Scholarship Provides Helping Hand for First-Generation Students

November 6, 2019 When Mike Henniger '70 graduated in 1966 from Richland High School in Richland, Washington, he wasn't sure what was next. "I was one of those high school grads who didn't have a clue in the sense that I didn't know where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do," he said. He may have been fuzzy about his future, but Henniger was certain of one thing: He loved football.

W Club Support of Assistant Coaches Elevates Blues Athletics

November 6, 2019 Tommy Richards believes failure is key to success. "It's about taking risks and getting out of your comfort zone," said Richards, Whitman assistant baseball coach. "I try to take that same approach with the team. I want to make sure we're challenging them to the point they're failing and getting out of their comfort zone."

Broze Scholarship for First-Generation Students Supports Boundless Curiosity

November 6, 2019 When it came to higher education, Vincent "Jay" Broze '69 and Diana Cochener Broze '69 came from very different backgrounds. In Diana's family, the Quaker tradition meant that even her great-great-grandmother went to college.

Chris McDade Internship Endowment Honors a Life of Meaning and Purpose

November 6, 2019 After Chris McDade died in September 2018, Sandy wanted to create a tribute to her at Whitman that recognized her passion for nonprofit work and volunteerism. He established the Chris McDade Internship Endowment to support students interested in careers in community service. The endowment funds summer internships at nonprofit organizations for students who apply to the Whitman Internship Grant program.

For Whitman Internship Grant Recipients, Practice Makes Prepared

November 6, 2019 For Emily Rigsby ’20, music is a superpower. “Playing violin and being a musician has built my confidence and personality in so many ways,” said the Whitman music major from Boise, Idaho. “Through all the adversities I’ve faced in my life, music has been the constant thing that has reminded me I am capable of overcoming any challenges. It makes me feel limitless.”

Scholarships Create a Ripple Effect of Opportunity

November 6, 2019 Growing up in Walla Walla, Miguel Baza ’20 always admired Whitman College — it held a certain mystique. “Whitman was kind of in its own bubble. I didn’t know much about it except that it had this prestigious name and that it was a private liberal arts college rich in academics,” he said. “To locals it’s like the holy grail if you go to Whitman. I remember thinking that there was no way a kid like me will ever be able to go to a school like that. Just no way.”

Perry Endowment Provides Quantum Learning Opportunities for Summer Students

November 6, 2019 Undergraduate research experiences can have a big impact on student learning, mindset and career choice. Just ask chemistry major Kaia Martin '21. "Before I was doing this research, I didn't really know what I was going to do after Whitman," said Martin, who spent the summer between her sophomore and junior years conducting research in the laboratory of Assistant Professor Mark Hendricks.

Class of 1969 Makes Historic Gift for 50th Reunion

November 6, 2019 In recognition of their 50th Reunion, the Whitman College Class of 1969 raised more than $2.6 million in gifts and pledges and documented more than $4.5 million in bequests and future gift intentions — making theirs one of the largest class gifts ever.

Visiting Artist Eddy Vazquez ’15 Shares Insights on Designing a Career

November 6, 2019 With humor and humility, Eddy Vazquez ’15, a visual designer at Amazon, shared his journey with Whitman students. Vasquez’s talk at Fouts Center for Visual Arts was the second installment in the Visiting Alumni Artist Series. He encouraged his fellow Whitties to take advantage of the opportunities they have on campus and in the wider world, to gain experience and to develop a dynamic portfolio.

Meet Our Whitties: Liam Twomey '21

November 4, 2019 Meet Our Whitties is an occasional feature produced by the Office of Communications. It features a Q&A with students from across Whitman College.

Photos: "Playing With Fire" Showcases Student Talent

October 30, 2019 The fall 2019 production "Playing with Fire (After Frankenstein)" reimagined the classic monster tale while showcasing student talent in makeup, acting, stage design and lighting.

Scientific Illustration Course Pushes Students to Examine the World in New Ways

October 30, 2019 On a clear October day, students sit scattered across Ankeny Field, cross-legged with sketching notebooks balanced in their laps, using pencils, pens and colored pencils to capture the countless trees surrounding the grassy center of campus. It's a scene typical of any college campus art class. Except these students aren't just artists - they're budding scientists.

Philosopher James Garrison ’04 Shares Hard-Won Wisdom with Soon-to-Be Graduates

October 30, 2019 During a visit to Whitman, James Garrison ’04 gave two talks. “Black Bodies that Matter,” his public lecture, focused on his current philosophical work and writing on race. The other was a lunchtime session for students considering pursuing graduate school and careers in academia. Garrison walked students through his own journey, and offered tips and insights on how to navigate processes can be intimidating and daunting.

Special Topics Psychology Class Examines Development of School Shooters

October 29, 2019 This fall, Whitman College psychology Professor Melissa Clearfield is teaching PSYCH 347A, a special topics class examining how teen school shooters develop, looking at cases from Columbine to Parkland. Clearfield spent her sabbatical during the 2018-2019 school year developing the syllabus for the course, including searching for scholarly resources on a topic that has drawn lots of interest, but little research.

History Professor Elyse Semerdjian Discusses Turkish Incursion into Syria

October 23, 2019 Semerdjian, who teaches Islamic world and Middle Eastern history at Whitman, shed light on Turkey's actions against Kurdish fighters in the region following the abrupt withdrawal of U.S. forces from Northern Syria, as well as how Russia is now seizing the opportunity to fill the power vacuum.

Maria Lux's Research-Driven Art Explores Emerging Field of Animal Studies

October 22, 2019 Maria Lux teaches courses in beginning, intermediate and advanced drawing in the Art Department at Whitman College. This spring, Lux will be teaching “Animals and Art,” a course that explores relevant issues regarding animals from an interdisciplinary perspective that includes historical and contemporary depictions of animals in art.

New Consulting Corps Benefits Nonprofits, Students Equally

October 21, 2019 Funded by a $231,000 Core Grant from the Sherwood Trust, the Consulting Corps is a three-year pilot program that brings benefits to both area nonprofits and Whitman students, said Shelly Rasmussen, the community consulting specialist in the Student Engagement Center (SEC) who oversees the corps.

Director of Financial Aid Services Marilyn Ponti on FAFSA Tips for Families

October 20, 2019 Ponti recommends that families facing issues such as divorce that might impact their child's college funding reach out to the financial aid office to discuss the situation. Financial aid officers have some discretion when it comes to considering the use of only one parent’s income on the FAFSA and can use professional judgment in some of these special circumstances.

New Mayo Clinic Partnership Guarantees Research Spots for Whitman Students

October 16, 2019 This summer, Whitman College students have new access to biomedical research opportunities with the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Under a new Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) partnership, Mayo will hold two spots for current Whitman students to participate in research at one of three research centers in Arizona, Florida or Minnesota.

Donation Expands College's Collection of Handcrafted Artists' Books

October 15, 2019 Peter Newland ’67 and Robyn Johnson have shared their love of artists’ books for nearly 25 years. Now, they are sharing that love — as well as their collection of dozens of the handcrafted works of art — with the Whitman College community.