Unforgettable! Revisit Whitman’s Spring Semester
By Melissa Welling ’99
Photography by Patrick Record and others as noted
It’s a llama fun here! Whitman students took a break from studying for finals to pet llamas on the lawn outside of the Cleveland Commons.
As we get ready to welcome new and returning students to campus in the fall, take a look back at some of the people, places and experiences that make Whitman College so special.
Study hard, play hard. In the stacks at Penrose Library, laughing with friends or blowing off steam between classes, Whitties know how to hit the books and have fun.
Growth experiences. From the lab to the stage, Whitties put their learning into action this spring. Top: Students in the Plant Physiology Lab (BIOL-253L) grew pea plants hydroponically. Middle: In Cells, Molecules and Mechanisms (BIOL-102), students analyzed DNA from their own cheek cells. Bottom: During the One-Act Play Festival, students had the opportunity to stage original scripts from their Playwriting/Writing Performance (THDN-330) class.
Meet the makers. Creativity flourished at Fouts Center for the Visual Arts, where students developed their ceramics, printmaking and painting skills.
A taste for adventure. The Outdoor Program took Whitties on adventures near and far—from making s’mores in front of Reid Campus Center to ice-climbing in Oregon to backpacking in southern Utah.
Exploring the meaning of belonging. At the annual Power & Privilege Symposium, Whitman students gathered for peer-led conversations about what it means to belong in the face of power. Left: Seamus Kelly ’27 (left) and Anthony Covert ’28 (right) discussed navigating youth in Ireland. Right: Deo Rubangakene ’28, a Davis United World College scholar from Uganda, issued an invitation to belong at Whitman. (Photos by Lizzett Zaragoza ’27.)
Always something to do! Volunteering, clubs, concerts, events—spring semester provided all kinds of opportunities for students to get involved. Top left: Student clubs introduced themselves at the annual Spring Activities Fair. Top right: Hui o Moananuiākea performed a traditional hula to celebrate Lā Mei. Middle left: Volunteers taught local elementary students to climb during a Friends Rock activity. Middle right: The Whitman College Equestrian Club hosted a Pet a Horse activity, where students got to meet mini horses Buttons and Coco. Bottom: The Wallapalooza Music and Art Festival featured performances by six bands from around the world.
They came to compete! This year, Whitman’s men’s soccer and women’s lacrosse teams made their first-ever appearances in the NCAA Tournament—joined by men’s and women’s tennis, women’s basketball, and Whitman’s first NCAA individual qualifier in cross-country since 2019, Ella Harrington ’28! See more highlights from the stellar 2025–2026 season.
More to the sports story. Beyond Whitman’s varsity teams, many Blues are competing and thriving at the national level in club sports—including our Gender Diverse Sweets Ultimate team, which made it all the way to the national championship match, as well as climbers Lily Iseminger ’27 and Orion Killian ’27, who claimed the top spots in the women’s and men’s categories in the Northwest Collegiate Climbing Circuit.
Student scholars in the spotlight. At Undergraduate Conference, students from every corner of campus showcased their work through live talks, panel discussions, poster presentations and performances.
And off they go! Capping off another amazing year at Whitman, we said goodbye (for now) to more than 300 Whitties who crossed the stage to collect their diplomas on a beautiful Sunday in May. We can’t wait to see what you do, grads! (Photos by Kim Fetrow ’96 of Kim Fetrow Photography.)