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Alumni Achievements

Additional Alumni Achievements

Featured Alum
Aimee Goodwin, '04
Major: Communication Studies

Career Path: The summer after I graduated from Whitworth, I interned on the news desk of The Washington Times, where I designed and laid out pages. My internship led to a full-time job on the Times' copy desk. In summer 2006 I was hired as the copy chief of Express, a daily commuter newspaper published by The Washington Post.

Why Whitworth? I was drawn to Whitworth's Christian atmosphere, the professors' care for their students, the small class sizes, the relatively small campus, the chance to participate in varsity sports, the community of believers, and the emphasis on small Bible study groups within the dorms. The fact that Whitworth offered journalism as a major was also very important to me.

Whitworth Activities: Cross-country, track and field, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Jubilation ballet classes, reporter, editor and copy editor for The Whitworthian; participated in the Summer Institute of Journalism, a one-month, intensive reporting program in Washington, D.C.

Quote: "As copy editor of The Whitworthian my senior year, I developed many of the skills I use in my job as copy chief of Express. I copy edited all sections of The Whitworthian, which helped me learn how to handle diverse sections such as hard news, sports, arts and entertainment, and opinions. Given that at my current job I copy edit the entire paper, these skills come in very handy."

Influential Whitworth Experience: Professor of Communications Ginny Whitehouse challenged me academically. She demanded high-quality work and gave praise when it was warranted. She guided me toward internship opportunities, gave me the chance to evaluate papers as her teaching assistant, and, most importantly, helped me see that copy editing was my strong point. I could (and still can) count on her for straight answers; I know she cares and wants me to succeed.

• Amanda Martinez, '07 (communication studies and Spanish double-major), graduated with distinction from the University of Bedfordshire, in England, with a master's degree in intercultural communications. She now works in London as a cross-cultural trainer and researcher at Global Excellence, a business development company.

• Natalie Danielson, '06, is project manager for Spokane's 14Four Communications working for clients such as Microsoft, McDonalds and Amtrak.

• Lisa Fox, '06, attends Mercer University School of Law.
  
  
• Chris Collins, '05, is a courts reporter with The Fresno Bee.
  
  
• Teresa Koeppel, '05, is earning a master's degree in the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University.
  
  
• Emily (Brandler) Proffitt, '05, received first place in science and medical reporting from the Inland Northwest Society of Professional Journalists for her work at the Journal of Business, in Spokane. She now serves as public information officer for Whitworth.
  
  
• Ryan Moede, '04, is director of client strategy for Spokane's 14Four Communications. He previously served as digital communications strategist for Viget Labs in the Washington, D.C., area.
  
  
• Colin Hesse, '03, earned a doctorate at the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University and now is a professor of communications at the University of Missouri.
  
  
• Jessie Quintero Johnson, '03 (communication studies and psychology double major), is a graduate student in the speech-communication department at the University of Illinois, Urbana.
  
  
• Jenna Ronnquist, '03, earned a master's degree and received the Outstanding Teaching Associate Award from California State University-Fullerton Department of Human Communication.
  
  
• Keith Spitzer, '03, is a photojournalist with KCOY-TV, in Santa Barbara, Calif.