Westmont Magazine New Buildings Named

The two buildings included in the Campaign for Westmont, Embracing the Past, Ensuring the Future, have been named.

In January, Westmont’s Board of Trustees announced the new art center will be known as the Adams Center for the Visual Arts in honor of Stephen and Denise Adams of Montecito, who pledged $10 million toward the building.

“It is our hope that this gift will make a difference and that it will inspire others to make a difference as well,” the Adamses said when they announced their donation. “We can say from the bottom of our hearts that this is the best investment we will ever make.”

The Adams gift is the largest donation the college has ever received. Denise Adams, a gifted artist, is a college trustee and a member of the Westmont Art Center Council. Stephen Adams is chairman of the board of Affinity Group, headquartered in Ventura, Calif.

To honor Chancellor David Winter, who retired as president of the college last June after serving for 25 years, the new science building will be the David K. Winter Hall for Science and Mathematics. The longest-serving and most influential president in college history, Chancellor Winter succeeded in strengthening every aspect of Westmont’s program and identity.

Trustees also decided to name the circulation gallery in the Winter Hall after Helene Winter, David Winter’s wife. She serves on the Westmont Art Center Council and is a strong supporter of the arts on campus.

“On behalf of the board, I want to say how delighted we are to honor the wonderful generosity of Stephen and Denise Adams and the leadership and service of David and Helene Winter,” said David Eaton, chair of the board of trustees.