What Whitties Do: A profile of the Class of 2015

Whitman has attracted yet another class of students from across the country and the globe who represent the Whitman mosaic – down-to-earth, high achievers with diverse interests. Members of the Class of 2015 bring a shared dedication to community service, proven and potential leadership skills and a focus on academic excellence.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the achievements of the 423 members of the incoming class:

348 (82%)

Number of students who participated in community service while in high school.

Types of service:

• Volunteer interpreter and researcher at the Seattle Aquarium.
• Assistant to medical teams in San Ramon and surrounding villages in Nicaragua.
• Helped raise and invest $12,000 for two non-profit organizations through Social Venture Kids.
• Coached a free Ultimate Frisbee camp for youth in Cambodia and in the States.
• Taught English and arts in India.
• Built a playground in Thailand.
• Worked on community improvement and trail restoration in Costa Rica.
• Started a non-profit with friends to raise money to send South African students to universities.
• Assisted in riding lessons for children with learning and physical disabilities.
• Traveled to Panama to help implement sustainable agricultural practices.

38 (9%)

Number of students who founded a club or organization while in high school.

Clubs founded:

• Bohemian Beat Club
• "Bellas" all-girl a capella singing group
• Spartan Sparkles cheerleading squad for students with disabilities
• Writers Block Poetry Club
• Freethought Club
• Seattle South African Scholarship Foundation
• Chinese Medicine and Biology Club
• Roller Skating Club
• Random Acts of Kindness Club
• Flapjack Club

320 (76%)

Number of students who attended a public high school.

100 (24%)

Number of students who attended a private high school.

More than 80

Number of countries to which students have traveled.

Countries they have traveled to:

Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, England, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, Tahiti, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Bahamas, Tunisia, Turkey, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Wales, Zambia

12

Number of languages other than English spoken at home.

Languages:

Burmese, Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Portuguese, Punjabi, Sotho, Urdu, Vietnamese, Xhosa.

10

Number of male students who have earned Eagle Scout status.

6

Number of female students who have earned their Girl Scouts Gold or Silver Award.

16 (4.5%)

Number of students who were ASB or class presidents.

10 (2.4%)

Number of students who were editor or co-editor of their high school newspaper or year book.

97 (23%)

Number of students who were captains or co-captains of a varsity athletic team.

Other accomplishments of members of the entering class:

• Won National Novel Writing Month for a 50,000+ word novel.
• Raced in the North American Cups, also known as Norams, for ski racing (one level below the World Cup, the premier stage for ski racing).
• Worked with a CSU San Marcos professor on a trilingual database for Q'aniob'al (a Mayan language), Spanish, and English.
• Creator, coach and captain of The Sparkle Effect, a nationally-acclaimed cheer squad for students with disabilities that received a $100,000 “Do Something” award grant; featured as "Hero of the Year" in People Magazine and interviewed on the Oprah Show.
• Guest lecturer at Augustana College on social inclusion of students with disabilities.
• Completed a cross-country bicycle ride.
• Medical intern in a laboratory in France.
• Conceived of and organized a music showcase in Sign Language benefiting Haiti earthquake victims.
• Breeds fish native to Africa and the Amazon.
• Has traveled to 44 different countries.
• Went on a three-day solo hike without a tent.
• Graduated high school at the age of 15.

Popular Academic Interests

As reported on the Common Application:

• Environmental Studies and Natural Resources
• Biology
• Foreign Languages and Literature
• History
• Pre-Medicine
• Psychology
• English Language and Literature
• Chemistry