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Whitties Earned Dozens of Noteworthy Fellowships & Grants This Year

Whitman College students and alumni once again showcased their scholarship, skills and spirit of adventure—and were recognized with more than 45 prestigious fellowship and grant opportunities in the U.S. and abroad during the 2025–2026 academic year.

July 17, 2026

[Alt] Portraits of Bassett Fellows Ruth Iiyambo (left) and Ishaan Swami (right).

Two Whitman Grads Will Have Global Experiences as 2026 Bassett Fellows

Congratulations to Ruth Iiyambo ’26 and Ishaan Swami ’26, this year’s recipients of the Bassett Fellowship, as they prepare for global travel and research after graduation. Learn more about their projects and where they’re headed.

June 05, 2026

Selfies of John Bannon (left) and Keenan RiggsTurpin (right)

Two Blues Named 2026 Goldwater Scholars

Whitman College juniors John Bannon and Keenan RiggsTurpin have been named 2026 Goldwater Scholars. This national award recognizes their outstanding promise in STEM research and supports their journey toward leadership in the global scientific community.

June 01, 2026

Dancers in traditional Mexican attire perform on an outdoor stage

Whitman & Community Partners To Co-Create Learning Experiences That Center Indigeneity, Immigration & Incarceration

A $1.5 million Humanities for All Times grant from the Mellon Foundation will create opportunities for students to learn from diverse communities in the Walla Walla Valley and understand how studying the humanities can fuel real-world change.

May 21, 2026

An artistic illustration by Patchanop Boonsai of Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, the largest dinosaur discovered in Southeast Asia

Whitman Alum Discovers New Species of Dinosaur in Thailand

Biology-Geology major Thitiwoot “Perth” Sethapanichsakul ’20 identified and described a new species of dinosaur, Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, in Thailand. The discovery was published in Scientific Reports and featured on NPR.

May 19, 2026

Collage of Seattle landmarks and Whitman students (from left): Pike Place Market, Ellie White, Museum of Pop Culture, Larissa Pforte

Whitman College Launches Summer in Seattle Program

Whitman’s new Summer in Seattle program will enhance students’ Seattle internships with a host of immersive learning opportunities like workshops, speakers, networking events, grad school visits and more. Applications are now open!

March 31, 2026

Marika Cartier stands in front of the Hall of Science

Charting a Path to Med School & Beyond at Whitman

Whitman College surrounds pre-med and pre-health students like Marika Cartier ’26 with a supportive system of personalized advising, immersive learning opportunities and peer support as they prepare to launch their healthcare careers.

March 27, 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

Dan Hoch and Jane Erb stand by a rose garden on Whitman’s campus

New Endowment Paves the Way for Impactful Mentorship in Neuroscience

Dan Hoch ’75 and Jane Erb grew up in inquisitive families—the inspiration behind their new endowment to support student-faculty neuroscience research in Whitman College’s Brain, Behavior and Cognition program.

December 10, 2025