Whitman Stories

Gwendolyn Trice standing in front of a wooden fence

Historian & Justice Advocate Gwendolyn Trice To Speak at Whitman’s 140th Commencement Ceremony

Gwendolyn Trice has been selected as speaker for Whitman College’s 140th Commencement Ceremony on May 24. Trice is Founder and Executive Director of the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center in Enterprise, Oregon, which celebrates the rich history of African American, Indigenous and immigrant loggers in the Pacific Northwest.

February 12, 2026

Bill Neff ’67 and Rita Neff ’69 stand outside the entrance to a home

Bill Neff ’67 & Rita Neff ’69 Provide Challenge Gift for Endowment To Expand Immersive Learning

With their lead gift, Trustee Emeritus Bill Neff ’67 and Rita Neff ’69 have taken significant steps toward funding the Employer Engagement and Immersive Learning Opportunities Endowment to help provide all Whitman College students with research and internship opportunities in preparation for a strong graduate launch.

February 11, 2026

Jody Allen next to blue and green tinted photos of Lumen Field

Congrats, Seahawks! Facts About Owner & Whitman Alum Jody Allen’s Life & Legacy

From Whitman College to the helm of the Super Bowl champion Seahawks, Jody Allen ’80 has crafted an impressive journey. Working alongside and then continuing the work of her late brother, Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen, she's become a significant player in professional sports ownership and global philanthropy, building on his foundation while forging her own influential legacy.

February 09, 2026

Elliot Kalauawa (right) and Luana Kalauawa (left) sit in a crowd at an outdoor banquet

The Good Doctor: Meet an Alum of Merit Making a Difference in Hawaiʻi’s Medical Community

Elliot Kalauawa, M.D., ’75 received the 2025 Alumni of Merit Award from Whitman College in recognition of his nearly 40-year career as an HIV/AIDS specialist in the same Hawaiian community where he grew up.

February 06, 2026

Hanna Grinstead climbs a snowy hillside in a helmet ski gear

Whitties Make the Most of Their Gap Year

From global travel to impactful service to unique learning experiences, taking a gap year can cultivate independence, purpose and lifelong skills. Here, four students share how their transformative gap-year experiences helped prepare them for Whitman College.

February 04, 2026

Next to a climbing wall, a student gets fitted to use an adaptive climbing chair.

Whitman’s Climbing Community Brings Students to New Heights

Whether your goal is to learn, teach, compete or just have fun, the climbing scene at Whitman has something for everyone—from Adaptive Climbing Nights to volunteer and leadership opportunities to a club climbing team.

February 02, 2026

Coach Jenn Blomme stands on a platform smiling down at student-athletes swimming in Harvey Pool

Making Waves: Whitman’s Head Swimming Coach Stacks Up the Wins by Putting People First

On her way to one of the winningest records in Whitman Athletics history, Head Swimming Coach Jenn Blomme finds season after season of success by embracing the competitiveness, camaraderie, whimsy and well-being of student-athletes who are people first, swimmers second.

January 30, 2026

Portrait of David Guterson in front of the Eiffel Tower

‘Snow Falling on Cedars’ Author To Visit Whitman

Award-winning author David Guterson will read from his newest novel, “Evelyn in Transit,” at Whitman College on Friday, Jan. 30. The event is open to the public.

January 28, 2026

Noah Henry-Darwish stands in front of a rocky cliff wall

Whitman Connections Continue To Inspire Alum’s Career, Service & Generosity

For Noah Henry-Darwish ’12, finding one thing to join on campus opened up a world of Whitman connections—and helped him find a rewarding career in higher education.

January 22, 2026