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Alumni Achievements

Additional Alumni Achievements


Featured Alum
Ben Tkach, '07
Majors: History and Political Science

Current Position: Received a fellowship for a top Ph.D. program in political science at Texas A&M University, where he is studying peace-keeping operations and diplomacy.

Why Whitworth? Two reasons: My brother had recently graduated from Whitworth and still lived in the area, and the sheer beauty of the campus. At just about any point in the year Whitworth has a certain reflection of tranquility that I knew would foster personal growth. The campus grounds mirror the quality of the faculty, staff and facilities.

Whitworth Activities and Honors: President's Cup recipient for maintaining a 4.0 GPA; study-abroad programs to Central Europe, Core 250 in Europe, and China; participated in the American Foreign Policy Washington Semester and interned in the office of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole; community-advocate intern at Spokane's nonprofit Center for Justice; student government, spiritual-growth small group, intramural sports, Ballroom Dance Club, Jubilation Sacred Dance, Political Activism Club

Quote: "While studying in China I walked through the hutongs (traditional Beijing housing units) and viewed poverty unlike any other I had seen; I realized the blessings of being born an American with the opportunity to receive an education. Witnessing absolute poverty refined my commitment to dedicate my life to the Kingdom of God through service. I want to seek justice in a world in which so many suffer from its absence."

Influential Whitworth Experiences: Being a teaching assistant to Professor John Yoder for his International Relations class. During the semester, Professor Yoder made two trips to Liberia to assist in the country's election process. Just prior to his second departure, he told me that I would deliver the next class lecture. His trust and faith in my abilities astounded me. I was and continue to be blessed by his friendship.

Whitworth Favorites: The freedom to construct a major that fit me. Although the rigors of the history program are constant, each person can develop areas of his or her interest and choosing. The quality of friendships I had the privilege to develop; Whitworth provides an environment in which strong friendships can mature.


Here's what some Whitworth graduates are doing with their history degrees:

• Jennifer Bincsewski, '08 (history and communication studies double major), is enrolled in a master's program in classics at King's College in London.

• Kyna Herzinger, '05, is a graduate student in public history and library science at the University of South Carolina.

• Kelsey Rice Bogdan, '03 (history and English double major), is earning a doctorate at Harvard Divinity School.

• Lyndsey Downs, '02 (history and political-science double major), graduated from the Seattle University School of Law in 2006 and is a law clerk in the Thurston County Superior Court.

• Jeff Naslund, '06, is a history and math teacher at Mt. Spokane High School.

• Clayton Erickson, '07, is serving in Iraq with the 1041st Transportation Company of the Washington National Guard.

• Jasmine Wilson, '05, is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

• Nichlas Fox, '04, works for the White House Conference on Aging.

• Danelle Feddes, '05, earned a master's degree in history museum studies through the Cooperstown Graduate Program; she is now an assistant curator at the Puget Sound Navy Museum, in Bremerton, Wash.

• Ashley Johnson, '08, is teaching English at Sawala Secondary School, in Mafinga, Tanzania.

• Kelsy Brown, '06, is attending Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

• Erin McPherson, '05, earned a master's degree in public history from Colorado State University and is a cultural resource assistant at the National Parks Conservation Association's Center, State of the Parks.

• Nicole Montoya, '07, is enrolled in the Master's in Teaching program at Northwest University, in Seattle.