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A Place Like No Other: Fall 2025 in Photos at Whitman College

What a semester! Check out photo highlights from an unforgettable fall on campus

Two students walk down a campus pathway surrounded by fall foliage

Fall is for friendship. From first steps on campus to moments in and out of the classroom that transform lives—join us on a journey back though some of the highlights of the Fall 2025 semester.

There’s something magical about Whitman College in the fall. From the moment the Class of 2029 arrived on campus to landmark events like the opening of the new Nancy Serrurier Village to moments in and out of the classroom that transform students’ lives, these are days worth remembering. 

Join us on a journey back though some of the highlights of the Fall 2025 semester. 

Two students carry their belongings along a pathway on campus
A family stands in a residence hall lobby under a “Welcome home!” banner
Students carry their belongings inside the front door of Lyman House
A student wearing a Whitman College hat hugs a parent
A family poses for a selfie in front of Memorial Hall

Welcome home! New students and the Class of 2029 arrived on Move-In Day ready to bond, nest and make a difference on campus. All told, this year’s new students came from 35 states, 40 countries and three tribal nations! (Photos by Patrick Record.)

A student takes notes in a journal
Four students look at class materials while sitting in camp chairs at the Johnston Wilderness Campus
A circle of students seated in camp chairs at the Johnston Wilderness Campus listens to Associate Professor Lyman Persico

Westies get under way. Semester in the West students and faculty gathered at the Johnston Wilderness Campus to kick off a 14-week, 6,700-mile odyssey exploring public lands and rural life in the American West. Read their reflections on water, conflict and community from their one-of-a-kind field program. (Photos by Patrick Record.)

A student slides down a blow-up slide
Students line up outside the Blues Bites food truck
A student wearing an “I need my space” NASA T-shirt looks into a telescope on the roof of the Hall of Science
Students on the roof of the Hall of Science line up to look at the moon through a telescope
A person hands out Walla Walla tote bags to students downtown
Two students walk down Main Street in Walla Walla

Falling for Whitman. The first weeks of fall semester were packed with fun. Top: The Interest House Community hosted a carnival-style get-to-know-you event. Middle: Stargazers gathered on the roof of the Hall of Science to get a closer look at the nearly full moon. Bottom: Whitties got to know their downtown neighbors at the first Whitman on Main block party. (Photos by Rogan Deptula ’29 and Patrick Record.)

A group of students looks inside a tunnel at LIGO

A one-of-a-kind field trip. In September, Whitman students, faculty and staff attended a private tour of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) at Hanford, Washington. LIGO is one of the few places in the world with gravitational wave detectors that can measure minute ripples in space-time caused by cataclysmic events such as colliding neutron stars, black holes and supernovae. (Photo by Patrick Record.)
Yahir Tzec and Oliver Dickson stand by a lowrider car parked in front of a drive-in movie screen.
Cars parked at a drive-in theater at sunset, with the movie title “Roll Modelz: A Lowrider Documentary” projected on the screen
Visiting Assistant Professor Robin North and a student look at a photographic print in a red-lit darkroom
A student holds a sepia-toned photographic print
Four students look up at a projection of the moon in Clise Planetarium
Associate Professor Andrea Dobson speaks to a circle of students in Clise Planetarium

Bright spots, dark places. Whitties shine even in the dark. Top: Recent graduates (from left) Oliver Rodriguez Dickson ’25 and Yahir Tzec-Carrasco ’25 premiered their award-winning documentary “Roll Modelz” at the Milton-Freewater Drive-In. Middle: Photography students learned about Van Dyke printing with Visiting Assistant Professor of Art Robin North. Bottom: Students visited the Clise Planetarium in Whitman’s Hall of Science with Associate Professor of Astronomy and General Studies Andrea Dobson. (Photos by Patrick Record.)

A gallery wall displaying models of fists
A sculpture hanging in a gallery with students looking at artwork in the background

Creating and advocating. Whitties put their artistic talents and community passions on display this semester. Top: “To Make Us Free: Witnessing Activism at Whitman and Beyond” spotlighted the work of Whitman students, faculty and staff to bring about change—on campus, in the community, and in the world. Bottom: “The Transfer Collective” showcased the artwork of transfer students—made at prior colleges, in between schools and during their time at Whitman. (Photos by Patrick Record.)

Jude Clum-Stockton celebrates at a game against the University of Puget Sound
Kevin Serrano Maldonado celebrates in front of a soccer net

Moving the goal. The men’s soccer team rose to new heights in 2025 with its first outright Northwest Conference Championship title. The Blues swept all major awards, including Offensive Player of the Year (Lucas McAllister ’26), Defensive Player of the Year (Adrian Valencia Alcaraz ’26), Rookie of the Year (Remy Marcks ’29) and Coach of the Year (Jose Cedeño)—with several other players earning all-conference honors. (Photos by Patrick Record.)

Erisa Baba jumps in the air to high-five Chloe Anderson, with other teammates on the women’s soccer team in the background
Melia Ferraro and Lilli Thompson jump up to block a hit over the net at a volleyball game
A Whitman golf player mid-swing
Ella Harrington runs at a cross-country meet

More from the highlight reel. The Blues always give fans something to cheer about. Top left: This semester, the women’s soccer team landed five players on the all-conference roster—with Kiki Glorioso ’27 earning a Defensive Player of the Year nod. Top right: The women’s volleyball team ended the season with two all-conference honorees: Lilli Thompson ’26 and Addie Belt ’29. Bottom left: At the Confluence Classic, the men’s and women’s golf teams topped the leaderboard with team and individual titles (Grady Brown ’27) on the men’s side and an individual title (Beatrice Archer ’26) on the women’s side. Bottom right: And sophomore Ella Harrington ’28 capped her breakout cross-country season with a trip to the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships. (Photos by Patrick Record.)

A gelatin mold with colored corn syrup flowing out of it. Two students take notes in the background.
Five students look at a gelatin mold while one films it with a phone

Modeling magma. In Volcanoes and the Solid Earth (GEOL-405), Whitman Geology students learned about magma transport by injecting corn syrup into gelatin volcanoes to study where eruptions are most likely to occur. (Photos by Patrick Record.)

Looking up at the facade of Harvey Hall toward the sky
Nancy Serrurier stands at a microphone at a gathering in Harvey Hall
Three students study in their apartment in Harvey Hall

Introducing Nancy Serrurier Village. A project years in the making reached its culmination in November with the dedication of Nancy Serrurier Village—named in honor of Trustee Nancy Serrurier (top right)—thanks to the generous support of more than 160 donors to the Upward Together campaign. The three new apartment-style residence halls are already transforming the way Whitman juniors and seniors live and contribute to campus life. (Photos by Patrick Record.)

A student applies makeup at a wall of mirrors before a performance
Two students play the flute and cello on stage at the Feast of Carols
Five motion-blurred students dance on a stage
A student dancer poses with one leg in the air and arm outstretched
A conductor with a raised baton directs a student wind ensemble

All the world’s a stage. As the semester drew to a close, Whittie talents were on full display in events like the annual Feast of Carols; “Feeling Forward,” a new dance performance choreographed by Whitman faculty, students and guest artists; and the Wind Ensemble Fall Concert. (Photos by Patrick Record.)

A gloved hand holds an instrument over a petri dish
A student in a neurobiology lab looks into a microscope

The building blocks of the brain. Students in the Neurobiology Lab (BIOL-320L) got hands-on experience with advanced techniques used to study the brain, such as optogenetics—a relatively new technique that has transformed neuroscience. It reveals what happens when specific cells, or circuits, are activated and has great potential for illuminating the role of specific neurons in healthy behaviors and pathological conditions. (Photos by Patrick Record.)

A group of students stands around a campfire at night with cars, tents and camping gear in the background
A student uses a rope swing on the banks of a lake
Aerial view of students playing volleyball on a sand court
Three students sit on the stairs outside Penrose Library
Two students walk across a bridge over ivy-covered banks
A squirrel climbs a tree holding a nut in its mouth

It’s a wonderful (and wild) life. Of course, fall days at Whitman aren’t just about academics. From Outdoor Program trips to study breaks to peaceful walks across campus, this semester was filled with fun, friendship and growth. (Photos by Quinn Skinner ’29 and Patrick Record)

Wishing all of our students a restful winter break—and looking forward to seeing you back on campus for spring semester!

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Published on Dec 22, 2025