Whitman Stories

Enjoy highlights from the launch of Upward Together: The Campaign for Whitman College. This historic and ambitious campaign will focus on key priorities to enhance and enrich the student experience—from access and affordability to campus life and mental health.

The Knapp family’s connection to Whitman College spans three generations and eight family members over 80 years. Their commitment to the institution is underscored by the establishment of the Knapp Family Scholarship Endowment, which supports underrepresented students at Whitman. Roger and Rosemary Knapp, both Whitman alumni, emphasize the transformative power of education and the value of a liberal arts education.

Darrell Baggs, a Montana native, broke barriers to attend college due to his mother’s unwavering belief in education. He established the Frances Jane Ford Baggs Scholarship at Whitman College to help students from rural backgrounds access a liberal arts education. Baggs has been a dedicated supporter of Whitman, both financially and through his service on the Board of Overseers. His story epitomizes the enduring impact of a mother’s dream and the transformational power of education.

Whitman College received a gift of $1.5 million for student scholarships and aid from Gordon ’68 and Kathy Britt Keane ’67 to support the recently launched Upward Together campaign.

Esther Hook Milnes ’73, her mother Laura Rodgers Hook Kurtz ’45, and son Douglas Hook Milnes ’02 share a strong connection with Whitman College. Their enduring commitment to giving back has provided scholarships and support to numerous students over nearly five decades.

The Whitman community came together on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, to celebrate the launch of “Upward Together: The Campaign for Whitman College.” The campaign will focus on key priorities, including access and affordability, academic excellence and a vibrant campus community.

Whitman College announces its largest fundraising campaign in its history: Upward Together: The Campaign for Whitman College. The Whitman College campaign will focus on key priorities, including access and affordability, and academic excellence and distinction.

Whitman College is grateful to announce a significant gift from a late alumna of the college. More than three decades ago, Helen McAuslan Logan-Schneider ’55 set up a charitable trust that with her passing gives the college ownership of three rental properties near campus which will provide housing support for faculty and staff.

Donor gifts are making possible a new clubhouse facility to serve the Whitman Blues baseball program. Located at Borleske Stadium in Walla Walla, the $3.7 million, 3,300 square-foot clubhouse will include locker and training rooms, as well as recruiting and multipurpose team meeting spaces.

The Whitman College Board of Trustees, alumni and friends of the college made gifts of $10 million toward the first building of a student residential village—Harvey Hall—which will be named in honor of the college’s longest-serving Chief Financial Officer Peter Harvey.

Wendy Sanger McGuire ’77 lives a life of adventure and meaning—and when she did retirement planning, she thought of her alma mater, Whitman College.

Whitman College intercollegiate soccer and lacrosse teams will train and compete year-round on a new FieldTurf synthetic field starting in the fall 2023 season.