This Summer at Whitman: It All Happened Here!

This summer, Whitties gained new skills and made a difference in the community through internships in the Walla Walla Valley. They did cutting-edge research alongside faculty in campus labs. They met up for summer fun—with regular soccer matches, sand volleyball and get-togethers. And, yes, a few lucky students even enjoyed a surprise visit from Jelly Roll when he played Walla Walla as part of the Little Ass Shed Tour!  

Country Music Star Makes a Surprise Stop

It’s not every day that Whitman has the opportunity to welcome a Grammy-winning recording artist to campus. But that is exactly what happened on Wednesday, July 22, when Jelly Roll stopped by Sherwood Athletic Center before his concert at the Wine Country Amphitheater.

Jelly Roll and his band were looking for a spot to take a break and play some basketball before their evening performance in Walla Walla. Whitman was happy to offer up some court space.  

Jelly Roll and members of his band spent some time shooting hoops on the court and visiting with Whitman students. During the visit, he was also presented with his own Whitman Blues basketball jersey. The musician expressed appreciation for the gesture since he said he was not able to attend college himself.

The impromptu stop gave students a memorable opportunity to meet the Grammy-nominated artist and wish him well before he took the stage in Walla Walla.

After their time on campus, the Walla Walla Police Department escorted the band to the concert venue where they performed for a sold-out crowd of about 6,000 fans.

Students Dig Into Research & Internships

While classes were out, learning continued on and off campus. Through support from the Whitman Internship Grant and Summer Research awards, over 100 students spent the summer exploring interests with professors or community organizations, several of them in the Walla Walla Valley.

Eilo Woodward ’28 (a Chemistry major from Vancouver, Washington) synthesized nanocrystalline materials with Associate Professor of Chemistry and Paul Garrett Fellow Mark Hendricks. Weeks of experimental problem-solving in a laboratory setting fueled creativity they’ll employ in the future as an art conservationist.

“Labs were always my favorite part of taking Chemistry classes,” Woodward says, “and so I really wanted to be able to experience what it was like to work in an actual lab where we’re doing actual research.”

At the Fort Walla Walla Amphitheatre, Olivia Wiebe ’27 (a Theater major from Federal Way, Washington) ran the soundboard and assisted in set design for the Walla Walla Summer Theater’s productions of “Newsies” and “Godspell,” even learning to weld and building pieces of scaffolding that held the stage together.

Seth Robertson ’29 (a sophomore from Seattle) supported Bluewood Ski Resort’s expansion into summer activities. Interning with Tamarack Trailworks in the Umatilla National Forest, he flagged and logged routes that will become sustainable mountain biking trails.

And back in the Hall of Science, Adrian Dulong ’28 (a Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology major from Damascus, Oregon) was excited to carry out genetics research with Visiting Assistant Professor of Microbiology Sabrina Mostoufi, whose teaching he really enjoyed the previous semester. 

“I love that Whitman lets you work with the professors,” he says.

Work Hard, Play Harder

Beyond gaining valuable hands-on experience, students enjoyed a lively campus community this summer. Afternoons and evenings at Whitman include dinners with friends, opportunities to explore a new side of campus and community-building activities coordinated by the Office of Global Programs. (Photos courtesy of the Office of Global Programs.)

Summer Fly-In Soared Again

Whitman’s Summer Fly-In brings members of the incoming class to campus for a free preorientation experience. Now in its 11th year, the program is designed for students who are either the first in their family to attend college or have limited resources. The primary goals are to help these first-year students get to know one another and everything Whitman has to offer.

For a week each in July, two separate cohorts of future Whitties came to campus to explore, learn and play. And fly in they did! Nearly 65 students came to Walla Walla from all over the country, from New Jersey to Florida, Tennessee to Texas, Alaska to Hawai’i, and more. 

“One of my favorite things about Summer Fly-In is watching them all reconnect when they return to campus,” says Juli Dunn, director of the program and Assistant Vice President of Student Life.

“They carry themselves differently. They know their way around. They have a community, so they can engage their peers and really throw themselves into Whitman,” Dunn says. “Their summer experience and bonding gives them a certain strength to navigate this new place and new experience.” 

Along with staff, the visitors were hosted on campus and in residence halls by a dozen current student leaders, many of whom were former Fly-In participants. 

That’s a Wrap … for Now

Summer may be over, but fall fun is just getting started. Keep an eye on Whitman’s Events Calendar for more fun happening on campus this semester!