May 2024 Alumni 955 Newsletter
Dear Fellow Alums,
Seasons ebb and flow: busy seasons, slower seasons, brutal seasons, lighter seasons, seasons of trials and seasons of profound joy. Summer brings a slower pace and time outside for many of us. Growing up in the Central Valley, I remember summers filled with double-digit temps, water fights with the hose, rollerblading until dark and lots of popsicles.
When my kids were young, we used to make a summer bucket list together: run through the sprinklers, make ice cream, pick blueberries, sell lemonade, host an outdoor movie night and make s’mores. Summer changes our normal rhythms, giving us an opportunity to shake things up, try something new and make new memories.
My teacher friend challenges herself every summer by picking something new and scary to try. One summer she trained for and completed a half marathon; in another she took lessons to learn how to surf; and one year, she moved her family to Central America for a Spanish language immersion program. Her ease in stepping into something new, scary and hard impresses me. I often encourage my kids to do difficult things because that’s how we grow and develop perseverance and grit.
How will you challenge yourself to grow this summer as a “thoughtful scholar, grateful servant and faithful leader" in accordance with our mission statement? Read a book, bring a meal to a sick friend, or provide guidance to someone younger than you? Things that challenge us change us. I encourage you to try something new that you’ve always wanted to do and have been putting off. Do something scary and relish feeling empowered when you complete it.
Homecoming 2024
Plan to attend Homecoming 2024, October 4-6. Read the schedule of events below.
Friday, October 4
10:30 a.m.
Chapel featuring Campus Pastor Scott Lisea ’88.
11:45 a.m.
Memorial remembering the 35th anniversary of the Potter’s Clay accident that took the lives of Lisa Bebout, Alan Voorman and Garth Weedman and badly injured Megan Harter Adams and Patty Hallock Crosby.
12:00 p.m.
Westmont Classic Golf Tournament Sponsorship opportunities available. Find three friends and create a foursome of fun.
1:10 p.m.
“Changing Geopolitical Landscapes,” lecture by Katherine Bryant, assistant professor of political science.
2:15 p.m.
Spiritual Formation Panel with Steve Porter, senior research fellow and executive director of the Martin Institute.
5:00 p.m.
Pickleball Tournament.
6:15 p.m.
Sunset Sips and Snacks at the Biltmore Wall.
8:00 p.m.
Stargazing at the Westmont Observatory.
Saturday, October 510:00 a.m.
Westmont Alumni Awards Brunch (Registration required; $40).
12:30 p.m.
ALL Alumni Tailgate in front of the gym (FREE lunch and ice cream to the first 200 attendees).
12:30 p.m.
Kids Carnival (FREE. Includes: Inflatable slide, carnival games and prizes, face painting and more).
2:00 p.m.
Volleyball game vs. Dominican University.
TBA Baseball game.
2:00 p.m.
“Deliberation and Dialog” lecture by Deborah Dunn, professor of communication studies and director of the Westmont Center for Dialog and Deliberation.
3:15 p.m.
“Generative AI” lecture by Maryke van der Walt, assistant professor of mathematics and computer science.
3:30 p.m.
Westmont in San Francisco (Urban) Reunion with Associate Director Brad Berky.
4:00 p.m.
Vespers.
5:00 p.m.
Celebration of 50 years of Westmont Women in Sports. (Registration required; $40). Former female athletes, we’re celebrating you and your impact on the success of Warrior Athletics.
Sunday, October 6
9:00 a.m. Santa Barbara Zoo: Enjoy a discounted group rate of 20% off for entrance, train ride, giraffe feeding, food, beverage and retail. Get tickets on the Santa Barbara Zoo website and use the discount code WMONT24 at checkout.
All Weekend Cal Coast Adventures offers a 24% discount on all rentals and adventures. Use the promo code HOMECOMING2024 to apply the discount at checkout. Their rentals include kayaks, paddle boards, surfboards, beach cruisers and e-bike, something for the entire family.
Reunions
2019:
5 years TBA. Reunion rep: Madison Cowan.
2014:
10 years TBA. Reunion rep: Danielle Brandt Staffileno.
2009:
15 years TBA. Reach out to alumni@westmont.edu if you’d like to help plan your reunion.
2004:
20 years Saturday, October 5, 5-8 p.m. at Kiva Coworking. Kids are welcome. RSVP HERE Reunion rep: Leslie Miller.
1999:
25 years Friday, October 4, 6-9 p.m. at Westmont’s GLC.RSVP HERE. Reunion rep: Dalina Lowdermilk Klan.
1994:
30 years TBA. Reunion reps: Toby Theule, Shelley Fogg and Mo Hislop.
1989:
35 years Saturday, October 5, 2-4 p.m. on the President’s Patio. RSVP HERE. Reunion reps: Albie Stadtmiller, James Province, and Greg Vettel Johnson.
1984:
40 years Saturday, October 5, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the home of Brian and Liz Hammer. RSVP HERE. Reunion reps: Brian and Liz Hammer, Steve and Lauren Baker, and Jamey and Cindy Lewis.
1979:
45 years Friday, October 4, 6:00-8:30 p.m., at the home of Ruby Jeanne English Shelton. RSVP HERE. Reunion reps: Carolyn Russell and Ruby Jeanne Shelton.
1974:
50 years The Golden Warriors gathered and reconnected at Commencement in May. You’re welcome to participate in all Homecoming events.
1969: 55 years Saturday October 5, 2:30-4:30 p.m., at Westmont’s Hieronymus Lounge. RSVP HERE. Reunion rep: Rick Josiassen, who is considering shifting this event to a home off-campus and possibly changing the date. Connect with him at rcjosiassen@gmail.com.
1964: 60 years Saturday, October 5, 5:45-7:45 p.m. at Samarkand. RSVP HERE. Reunion reps: David and Carla Talbott, Caryl Taylor Goehner, Gene and Arleen Whitney, and Dottie and Terry Johnson.
Class Giving CompetitionAll reunion classes will participate in a class-giving competition and encourage alums to donate any amount to Westmont. At the Homecoming Awards Brunch on Saturday, October 5, we’ll recognize and celebrate the class with the highest participation percentage as well as the class raising the most money Submit a class gift here!
Meet Wallace or Wally
The Westmont mascot has a new name! In the late 1950s, Westmont named its Warrior mascot “Willie.” This spring, the Westmont College Student Association (WCSA) created a campaign with the student body to rename the Warrior. Students submitted a variety of names, and students selected Wallace or Wally at Spring Sing.
Upcoming Alumni Events
Let There Be Light: Tuesday, December 3
Each year, alums gather at Kerrwood for winter festivities. Children take pictures with Santa, all enjoy hot cocoa and cookies, and the crowd sings Christmas carols while holding electronic candles, counting down to the lighting of Kerrwood Hall and trees.
Movie on the Lawn Spring 2025; Saturday, April 26, 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Westmont alums gather on Kerrwood Lawn for an eventful evening. Westmont Activities Council (WAC) provides free pizza, sodas, popcorn, cotton candy and a snow-cone truck before the movie This past April, alums enjoyed “The Lorax.”
Creation Care: Done in a Day Service Project Spring 2025; Saturday, April 26 9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.
This past April, alums gathered at the Westmont Garden for the first service project harvesting the crops and planting new seeds. Participants enjoyed donuts and coffee while listening to biology professor Jeff Schloss talk about the importance of caring for creation. Annelise Henderson ’21 led children in painting rocks. painting craft. Paul Willis, professor emeritus of English, closed the morning with nature-themed poetry.
Summer Lodging in Santa Barbara (June 10- August 5)
Looking to get away this summer? Located in the heart of campus, the Global Leadership Center (GLC) offers excellent accommodations. All GLC rooms have private bathrooms and air-conditioning. The rate includes linens, bath amenities, daily breakfast in the Dining Commons, and free parking. Click HERE to make your reservation. If you have kids, you might want to explore enrolling them in Westmont Summer Camps while you’re in town. If you want to get away for a date night and need a sitter, post a babysitting job HERE. If you have high schoolers, you might want to explore enrolling them in Trailhead, where they can explore God’s call to a meaningful life. You can also reach out to admissions@westmont.edu to set up a tour.
Commencement 2024
This year another 300 Westmont students graduated and joined the Westmont Alumni Association. Rick Pointer, professor emeritus
of history, delivered the address. Golden Warriors celebrated their 50th reunion and marched in the procession with the class of 2024. The Alumni Relations Office added a Legacy Pinning Commencement morning on the President’s Patio, where parents who are alums placed a commemorative pin on the stole of their graduates, welcoming them into the community of more than 25,000 living alums.
How to Find a Career That’s a Good Fit
The decisions we make about what career to pursue are monumental. Mark Twain said, “The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you figure out why.” According to a 2023 Business Insider article, the average person spends more than 90,000 hours of their life working. Statistics like these can make career decisions seem overwhelming. But every step you take will help you gain new skills and serve others in various ways.
Niche Review
The website Niche leads the market in connecting colleges and schools with students and families. With in-depth profiles on every U.S. school and college, more than 140 million reviews and ratings, and powerful search and data tools, Niche helps millions of students and families find and enroll in the right school for them. Niche’s reviews include comments from students, alums and school employees. Click HERE to write a review of Westmont. A significant portion of Niche’s rankings come from student and alumni reviews. Positive and accurate reviews drive their rankings and reflect well on the college.
The Crucibles That Shape Us
Westmont President Gayle D. Beebe shares in his newest book the power of life’s crucibles — those pivotal moments of trial and triumph — that have defined his personal and professional life and leadership. Beebe has responded to several crucibles forged by natural disaster: The Tea Fire, Thomas Fire and Montecito debris flow, challenges unforeseen in the idyllic seaside Santa Barbara setting in California. He explores and reflects on defining crucibles that confronted and challenged him in “The Crucibles That Shape Us: Navigating the Defining Challenges of Leadership.”
Engrave Your Westmont Brick
In April, Westmont installed its first engraved brick path, replacing asphalt in the formal gardens. More than 375 alums, families and friends have submitted messages, and the college will add more bricks for years to come. As students make their first and last processions through the gardens — at Orientation and Commencement — they’ll see this testament to the generosity and commitment of the Westmont community. Click HERE if you would like to purchase a brick and leave your mark.
Select Brick and Compose Message
Gaede Institute for the Liberal Arts Helps Pastors and Churches to Thrive in Their Ministry
Church ministry continues to be an essential activity that presents special challenges today. Fulfilling God’s call in a changing world requires churches and pastors to be creative and often do more with less. That can be both exciting and exhausting. Westmont’s Gaede Institute offers two free programs that help pastors and churches step back, reconsider the big picture and be refreshed. If you’re connected to churches or pastors who might benefit, we hope you’ll be in touch.
New Frontiers is a free, yearlong program that helps pastors cultivate relationships and vision that can sustain them in their work. Through three four-day retreats in California and ongoing peer and senior mentoring, pastors connect to friends who can share the journey, gain access to rich sources of professional wisdom, and find genuine wellness and rest. New Frontiers might be especially helpful to pastors in their first seasons of ministry, but congregational-ministry professionals at every stage in their careers are welcome to apply. New Frontiers is open to current or aspiring pastors anywhere in the United States, and the program covers all expenses, including travel.
The Westmont Center for Thriving Communities convenes groups of Christian congregations on the Central Coast for new conversations about ministry, exploring how churches can respond to their changing contexts, discover their deeply held values and grow in the midst of conflict. Participating teams gather on Westmont’s campus for three daylong discussions throughout the academic year, drawing inspiration and support from diverse area churches. We also offer participating congregations small seed grants and coaching to help them begin new experiments in ministry.
Generous funding from the Lilly Endowment enables Westmont to offer both New Frontiers and Thriving Communities completely free of cost. We're grateful for their partnership, and for yours, in extending the resources of the college to churches. If you or someone you know might be interested, please contact us at libarts@westmont.edu or 805-565-6230.
Westmont Launches New Certificate in Theological Leadership
This spring, Westmont launched a new Certificate of Theological Leadership that offers an extended course of study, which participants can complete as a standalone certificate or apply credit to several leading seminaries throughout the country. The program is designed for ministry professionals, laypeople eager to grow spiritually, and recent college graduates considering seminary.
Courses are taught in a hybrid format, beginning with a few days of retreat and study in person in Santa Barbara. Our beloved religious studies faculty teach the remainder of each semester online, providing flexibility for those with busy schedules and in various locations. If you’re interested in this program, you can email theoleadership@westmont.edu.
Recent Lectures for our Thoughtful Scholars
The Westmont Foundation sponsors Westmont Downtown: Conversations about Things that Matter.
Aging and Mobility: Fundamentals and Frontiers by kinesiology professor Adam Goodworth and alumnus Maury Hayashida ’95 who owns Hayashida & Associates Physical Therapy. This lecture examined how aging affects balance and mobility and provided practical tips, key research data, and information about the latest technology and future directions. Click HERE to watch the April 2024 talk.
The Transformative Power of Storytelling by theater arts professor Wendy Eley Jackson . This lecture resonated with every demographic as it explored the importance of harnessing the influence of storytelling to make a positive impact in communities. Jackson serves as the CEO of Auburn Avenue Films, a production company specializing in entertainment that brings social awareness and engages audiences to participate in social change. At Westmont, she teaches documentary filmmaking, screenwriting, and creative writing. Click HERE to watch the February 2024 talk.
The Changing Geopolitical Landscape and Role of Foreign Aid by political science professor Katherine Bryant . Foreign aid is one of the most commonly used tools of foreign policy, but the landscape in which states are operating is rapidly changing. This talk explored how these major shifts in the geopolitical landscape affect foreign aid spending, particularly in the United States. Click HERE to watch the November 2023 talk.
Asteroids and Exoplanets: How Scientists Are Exploring Our Universe by physics professor Jennifer Ito . Scientists are actively studying our own solar system through recent asteroid missions as well as distant planets with data from the Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope. Fascinating results from these studies continue to develop our understanding of our complex universe. Click HERE to watch October 2023 talk.
Heinmiller Lectures on Spiritual Formation by Steve Porter , senior research associate and executive director of the Martin Institute for Christianity and Culture. Established in 2011, the Martin Institute assists Christian individuals and organizations in deeply understanding, intelligently communicating, and effectively implementing reliable and psychologically realistic pathways of becoming more like Jesus for the sake of the world. Click HERE to watch the February 2024 talk.
The Spiritual Life in the Secular World: The Alternative Augustine by Stan Rosenberg . The Martin Institute sponsored this event. Rosenberg founded and directs Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford (SCIO). He is an academic member of Wycliffe Hall and a member of the faculty of theology and religion at the University of Oxford, teaching early Christian history and doctrine and science and religion. Click HERE to watch the March 2024 talk.
Attend a Game and Cheer on your Warriors, San Diego, Orange County, LA, Bay Area and Hawaii Alums!
Fall Volleyball Schedule
Fall Women’s Soccer Schedule
Fall Men’s Soccer Schedule
Fall Men and Women Cross Country Schedule
Alumni Regional Events
The Alumni Office seeks to relaunch regional events, and we’re working with alumni representatives in Orange County, San Diego, Sacramento, San Jose, Portland, Seattle, Phoenix, Dallas, Honolulu, Austin, Boise and Santa Barbara to plan events for alums in your area.
You have an opportunity to help us plan events in Pasadena, the Inland Empire, Fresno, San Francisco, East Bay, Denver, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Minneapolis. Email alumni@westmont.edu if you’d like to join the planning team in your town.
Alumni Connections:
- Click HERE to update your contact info
- Expecting a baby? We’d love to send you a Westmont onesie. Please email alumni@westmont.edu.
- Prayer requests. Interested in a Prayer Chain? email alumni@westmont.edu.
- Do you have a high schooler? Send us their name. We’d love to connect them with our admissions office. alumni@westmont.edu.
- Are you interested in posting jobs or internships for our students or attending an upcoming career fair? Please email careerdev@westmont.edu.
- Are you interested in participating in a virtual Westmont Book Club? We are considering bringing this resource back for our alumni. Email alumni@westmont.edu if you would like to participate.
Thank you for being thoughtful scholars, grateful servants, and faithful leaders in the world.
May the strength of God sustain you;
May the power of God preserve you;
May the hands of God protect you;
May the way of God direct you;
May the love of God go with you always
May the will of God give you a peace that transcends understanding as you trust in His providence.
Janay Marshall '01, M.A.
Director of Alumni Relations