Alum’s Gift To Improve Accessibility of Prentiss Hall & Whitman Sororities

A $500,000 gift commitment from Whitman College alum Matt Osborne ’93, together with $250,000 in matching funds authorized by the Whitman College Board of Trustees, will fund much-needed renovations to make the century-old Prentiss Hall more accessible to its residents, sorority members and campus guests.

“We are deeply grateful to Matt for his continued generosity,” says President Sarah Bolton. “Students living on Whitman’s campus will benefit from this gift now and for many years to come.”

Welcoming All Students

Built in 1926, Prentiss Hall houses close to 150 women-identifying and gender nonbinary students and is home to Whitman’s four sororities: Alpha Phi, Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta and Kappa Kappa Gamma. Due to the building’s age, Prentiss Hall includes many two- and three-step landings in stairwells, 90-degree turns and low ceilings. None of the sorority chapter rooms currently meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“Whitman College is committed to providing inclusive, accessible access to each chapter room and has prioritized accessibility improvements across campus,” says Tony Ichsan, Assistant Vice President for Facilities Services.

The planned renovations in Prentiss Hall will include the installation of exterior ramps and powered chair lifts, architectural and structural adjustments, and relocation of some existing electrical systems and power connections. The project is expected to begin this summer with the goal of being completed before students return in the fall.

The Changing Shape of Campus

Whitman has approved approximately $5 million in accessibility-related investments on campus in the past three years, including the renovation of Deshler Auditorium in Maxey Hall, also expected to be open by Fall 2026.

The recent Osborne gift is in addition to a 2024 gift from the Osborne family that supported upgrades and renovations to Whitman’s fraternity houses. Both gifts are part of the Upward Together campaign, which has raised more than $220 million to date as it nears its final months.

While at Whitman, Osborne majored in English, competed in varsity tennis and was an active member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Today, he is President of Osborne Construction Company in Kirkland, Washington, and also serves on the President’s Advisory Board at Whitman. He is also a member of a proud Whitman family, including his late father, George Osborne ’67; his mother, Susan Wilbanks Garrison ’67; and his aunt, Barbara Osborne ’69.

“Building on our family’s gift for fraternity chapter renovations and facility enhancements, I am delighted to make this investment to help make Prentiss Hall accessible to sorority members and all residents,” Osborne says.