Westmont Magazine President Gaede Gives His Parting Shot

It was a big day for the Gaede family. On May 6, Judy ’70 celebrated her birthday, Kirsten ’06 graduated from Westmont with 340 classmates, and Stan ’69 delivered the address, “Every Time I Think of You.” It was his last Commencement as Westmont’s president. After five years, he steps down June 30 to become scholar in residence at Gordon College in Massachusetts.

“This moment right now isn’t the end of something,” he told the graduates. “It’s the beginning. Today we not only give thanks for how God has worked in every one of your lives to bring you to this moment. But we also send you out to do the work for which you have been prepared, knowing that He who began the good work in you will complete it.”

Gerd Jordano, a longtime Santa Barbara civic leader, accepted the Westmont Medal. A founder of the Friends of Westmont and a charter member of the Westmont Foundation, she chaired the successful 2006 President’s Breakfast in February featuring author David McCullough. The Jordanos also sponsor the annual Golden Eagle Awards Banquet to honor scholar-athletes.

The Westmont Medal is just one of many honors Jordano has received for her energetic and gracious community service. In 1995, she and her husband, Peter, accepted the Santa Barbara News-Press Lifetime Achievement award. The Jordanos have been recognized as Alumni Couple of the Year by Santa Barbara High School. She was chosen to be a torch-bearer for the Santa Barbara stretch of the 1996 Olympic torch relay. When he was a California state senator, Jack O’Connell selected Jordano as Woman of the Year. She has served on many boards, including Cottage Hospital, Hospice and the Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation.

Ken Kihlstrom (natural and behavioral sciences), Marilyn McEntyre (humanities) and Chris Milner (social sciences) were honored as Professors of the Year. Katherine Schick won the Faculty Scholarship Award for the highest grade point average as well as the Dean’s Award for the top male and female scholar-athletes with Nathan Fleming. Betsie Frei, who co-chaired Potter’s Clay, won the Dave Dolan Award for social action. Nick Burwell and Katie Dietrich accepted the Monroe Award for out-standing leadership and academic achievement.