Physics Department Spring 2024 Newsletter

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

 

Dear friends of the Westmont physics department,

We hope that you enjoyed our Fall newsletter update!

Since then, we have concluded many exciting activities, including publishing new promotional material for the secondary education track, (see recent APS article to read more), and a new minor program in astrophysics. Finally, we are looking forward to the graduation of a large cohort of physics students in May (look for more details in our next newsletter). 

The spring recruitment phase:

We are currently entering a phase of recruiting the next cohort of students, who will begin in the Fall of 2024 and join the physics graduating class of 2028. As a department, we strive to grow the number of students who come to Westmont with a desire to study one of our physics majors. A stable target is 6 graduates per year, which is around the 60th percentile nationally for primary undergraduate institutions according to AIP. 

Our applicant pool is strong this year, with around 10 students interested in the physics major. On the other hand, we are faced with the challenge of providing the financial resources needed to enable these students to attend Westmont. Many prospective students have excellent options at other liberal arts colleges or state universities. 

What are we doing?

To attract passionate and talented students who want to attend Westmont, the physics faculty has created the first Ken Kihlstrom Scholarship for Promise in Physics, named affectionately after the renowned professor, Dr. Ken Kihlstrom, who recently retired. This scholarship will be added to the two scholarships already administered by the physics department for current students, the George Bate Science Scholarship Endowment, George Blount Scholarship, Theodore and Grace Cannon Physics Scholarship Endowment and William S. Klug Scholarship Endowment for Faculty and Student Research. 

The Ken Kihlstrom Scholarship for Promise in Physics is a single award of $2,000. As part of the selection process, the faculty are interviewing students who are interested in the scholarship. We are looking for individuals with a passion for science – not just high test scores. In addition, the interview process allows us to share our excitement about our programs with prospective students in a way we have previously been unable to do.  Finally, it gives us a place to identify ways to grow in the future, ideally to provide significantly more financial resources for students who want to study physics at Westmont. 
 

How you can help:

Our short-term target for this spring is to raise $2,000 in new funds for the Ken Kihlstrom Scholarship for Promise in Physics to be able to give at least one more scholarship to recruit a new student this year. These new students will begin to form a cohort of Kilhstrom scholars. To put in context our immediate ask and to dream a little, here are some ways you could make an impact:

  • $2,000 would match the current scholarship and create an additional Ken Kihlstrom Scholarship for Promise in Physics for an incoming physics student. 
    [For example, we could meet this target with four gifts of $500]
  • $20K would generate a scholarship (in a name of your choice) to give an award of $5,000 / year for four years
  • $50K is the minimum amount needed to fund an endowed scholarship that would create a new $2,500 scholarship for an incoming student in perpetuity

How to give:

If you are interested in supporting the Kihlstrom Physics Scholarship to support an incoming student, there are a few ways you can make a gift:

  • Online - You can give through our secure giving form.  Under designation, select “Other” and enter “Kihlstrom Physics Scholarship"
  • Check - You can give by check. Make your check payable to “Westmont College” and write “Kihlstrom Physics Scholarship” in the memo line.
  • Phone - To give by phone, call (805) 565-7073.
  • Stock - If you would like to make a gift of stock, you can find more information here.

Donate Now

In conclusion – we believe in our physics program offerings here at Westmont. As alumni, we trust that you see the benefits as well. Thank you for helping us build on our strong physics program for future generations.  Thank you for joining us in cultivating thoughtful scholars, grateful servants, and faithful leaders through the physics program at Westmont.

Sincerely, 
Bob Haring-Kaye – Professor of Physics 
Ben Carlson – Assistant Professor of Physics 
Jen Ito – Assistant Professor of Physics