President's Breakfast Logo

Photos from the President's Breakfast

All photos by Brad Elliott
  • Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates spoke at the seventh annual Westmont President’s Breakfast March 2.
  • The Westmont College Choir performs “America the Beautiful” at the sold-out event.
  • Westmont Foundation Chair Brad Frohling welcomed more than 750 people to the Grand Ballroom of Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort.
  • President’s Breakfast Steering Committee Chair Gerd Jordano welcomed many distinguished guests to the breakfast.
  • President Gayle D. Beebe introduces Dr. Robert Gates, who served as a trusted advisor to eight U.S. presidents of both parties.
  • Dr. Gates explains his vision of how the U.S. can reclaim its confidence and credibility in the global stage.
  • The Westmont Foundation and area businesses sponsor the event to promote discussion and consideration of current issues.
  • Dr. Gates says “compromise has become a dirty word, too often synonymous with a lack of principals or selling out.”
  • Jordano was thanked for chairing the breakfast committee every year since its inception.
  • Susan Penksa, Westmont political science professor, introduces Dr. Gates to more than 1,000 people at convocation in Murchison Gym.
  • President Gayle D. Beebe introduces Dr. Penksa at convocation.
  • In convocation, Dr. Gates said, “Bipartisanship and political will, upon those lines, are somewhere between short supply and non-existent.”
  • Students Emily Dawson, Lauren Gaylord , Wesley Zuidema and Emily Ecklund asked Dr. Gates several questions.
  • Dr. Gates says it’s up to voters to support bipartisan approaches to solutions to our problems.