Whitman Stories

A celebration of life will be Saturday, Nov. 23, with a 4 p.m. service at Cordiner Hall and a reception to follow in the Reid Center Young Ballroom.

Whitman's president spoke to host Dan Thesman on the Grapeline Podcast about the ways Whitman students get off campus and interact with local businesses and non-profits in the community.

When Mike Henniger '70 graduated in 1966 from Richland High School in Richland, Washington, he wasn't sure what was next. "I was one of those high school grads who didn't have a clue in the sense that I didn't know where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do," he said. He may have been fuzzy about his future, but Henniger was certain of one thing: He loved football.

Tommy Richards believes failure is key to success. "It's about taking risks and getting out of your comfort zone," said Richards, Whitman assistant baseball coach. "I try to take that same approach with the team. I want to make sure we're challenging them to the point they're failing and getting out of their comfort zone."

When it came to higher education, Vincent "Jay" Broze '69 and Diana Cochener Broze '69 came from very different backgrounds. In Diana's family, the Quaker tradition meant that even her great-great-grandmother went to college.

After Chris McDade died in September 2018, Sandy wanted to create a tribute to her at Whitman that recognized her passion for nonprofit work and volunteerism. He established the Chris McDade Internship Endowment to support students interested in careers in community service. The endowment funds summer internships at nonprofit organizations for students who apply to the Whitman Internship Grant program.

For Emily Rigsby ’20, music is a superpower. “Playing violin and being a musician has built my confidence and personality in so many ways,” said the Whitman music major from Boise, Idaho. “Through all the adversities I’ve faced in my life, music has been the constant thing that has reminded me I am capable of overcoming any challenges. It makes me feel limitless.”

Growing up in Walla Walla, Miguel Baza ’20 always admired Whitman College — it held a certain mystique. “Whitman was kind of in its own bubble. I didn’t know much about it except that it had this prestigious name and that it was a private liberal arts college rich in academics,” he said. “To locals it’s like the holy grail if you go to Whitman. I remember thinking that there was no way a kid like me will ever be able to go to a school like that. Just no way.”

Undergraduate research experiences can have a big impact on student learning, mindset and career choice. Just ask chemistry major Kaia Martin '21. "Before I was doing this research, I didn't really know what I was going to do after Whitman," said Martin, who spent the summer between her sophomore and junior years conducting research in the laboratory of Assistant Professor Mark Hendricks.

In recognition of their 50th Reunion, the Whitman College Class of 1969 raised more than $2.6 million in gifts and pledges and documented more than $4.5 million in bequests and future gift intentions — making theirs one of the largest class gifts ever.

With humor and humility, Eddy Vazquez ’15, a visual designer at Amazon, shared his journey with Whitman students. Vasquez’s talk at Fouts Center for Visual Arts was the second installment in the Visiting Alumni Artist Series. He encouraged his fellow Whitties to take advantage of the opportunities they have on campus and in the wider world, to gain experience and to develop a dynamic portfolio.

Meet Our Whitties is an occasional feature produced by the Office of Communications. It features a Q&A with students from across Whitman College.