Westmont Magazine Wallace Emerson Society

When Kirk and Bonnie Steele’s daughter, Lisa, transferred to Westmont from UC Santa Barbara, they wondered why she left the prestigious university. But when they visited campus and met the faculty, they fell in love. “There are a lot of great liberal arts colleges, but Westmont takes it to the next level by teaching Christian values,” Kirk notes. “We have been so impressed by our kids’ professors and friends.” Both their children went to Westmont, and the Steeles chaired the Parents Council for three years. Kirk also represented parents on the board and greatly respected his fellow trustees. After selling his insurance business, he became an executive vice president with a national insurance brokerage. Bonnie directs an art education program for kindergarten through eighth grade, Meet the Masters Inc. Members of the President’s Associates who support Westmont annually, the Steeles have also remembered the college in their estate plan and belong to the Wallace Emerson Society. “We saw Lisa and Patrick change so much at Westmont,” Bonnie says. “They became the people we hoped they would become.”

For more information about the Wallace Emerson Society, call Iva Schatz, Director of Planned Giving, (805) 565-6034 or (800) 998-5652.