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Alumni Achievements

Additional Alumni Achievements


Featured Alum
Nathan Williams, '06
Majors: Physics and Math

Current Position: Plans to pursue graduate studies at the Centre for Energy Research at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. His main interest is in the applications of solar technology to rural development, particularly in Africa. Previously, he was enrolled in a doctorate program in the theoretical study of cosmology at the Arnold Sommerfeld Center for Theoretical Physics, in Munich. Before that, he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Burkina Faso, in western Africa, teaching science to youths who live in remote villages.
"The Peace Corps offers people unique opportunities to really give themselves to communities in some of the poorest places in the world," Williams says. "My current research interest has its roots in my experience in Burkina Faso."

Why Whitworth? I transferred to Whitworth my sophomore year. I applied to two schools when I was looking to transfer: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Whitworth. I ultimately chose Whitworth because of the opportunity to participate in Division III athletics and because when I visited campus, I got the impression that Whitworth had a very positive, friendly and supportive atmosphere. That impression turned out to be correct.

Whitworth Activities: Conducted research at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center and the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. Wrote software that automates the operation of Whitworth's observatory dome, which houses a web-accessible telescope that can view objects in the solar system during daylight hours. Participated in a semester-abroad program in Sweden, where he studied math, physics and Swedish, and visited 15 other countries. High jumper on the Whitworth Track & Field team.

Quote: "I received a great physics education at Whitworth. The physics professors are dedicated to helping their students and are available seemingly 24 hours a day. That along with the opportunities I had as a tutor and teaching assistant in the physics department helped me in my role as a teacher in Burkina Faso. The Core program helped me to better understand the origins of my own worldview, which is beneficial when you find yourself immersed in a culture so different from your own.

Influential Whitworth experience: My semester studying abroad in Sweden changed my post-Whitworth plans; I had intended to go straight to graduate school. One of my dorm mates in Sweden was a student from Cameroon, and we talked about Africa, its problems and what one could do to help. My friend had only good things to say about his experience with the Peace Corps. After seeking advice from my family and Whitworth professors, I decided to hold off on graduate school and apply to the Peace Corps. My Whitworth professors were very helpful and supportive during the decision-making process.

• John Hauck, '09 (physics and chemistry double major), earned a full scholarship/stipend to pursue his doctorate in physical chemistry at the University of Notre Dame.
  
  
• Carissa Humrickhouse, '09, earned a full scholarship/stipend to pursue her doctorate in nuclear engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.
  
  
• Jennifer Johnston, '09, is pursuing a master's degree in environmental engineering at Washington State University.
  
  
• Mahyo Seyedali, '09, is pursuing a master's degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Washington.
  
  
• Andra Shaughnessy, '09, earned a full scholarship/stipend to pursue her doctorate in nuclear engineering at Oregon State University.
  

• Alisha Anderson,'08, is a mechanical engineer for The Boeing Company.

• Preston Hoffman,'08, is a nuclear operator for Exelon.
  
  

• Ben Spaun, '08, is pursuing a Ph.D. in physics at Harvard University, where he earned a full scholarship/stipend.

• Ashley Gibbs, '07 (physics and chemistry double major), is pursuing a Ph.D. in biophysics at Harvard University, with a full scholarship and stipend.
  
  

• Adam Loeffler, Dustin Rasmussen, and Paul Young, all '07, are pursuing master's degrees in mechanical engineering at the University of Washington.

• Kyle Dillon,'06, is earning a master's degree in structural engineering at the University of Southern California.

• Nick Foster,'06, is a transportation planner in the Boise, Idaho, office of the national transportation engineering firm Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
  

• Aaron Forbes, '05 (physics and chemistry double major), is pursuing a doctorate at Notre Dame University.

• Andrew Gilbert,'05, received a full scholarship to earn a master's degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.

• Matt Lincicum, '05 (physics and theology double major), earned a master's degree in engineering from the University of California, Irvine, and entered Harvard Law School in fall 2007.

• Cale McPherson, '05, earned a master's degree in environmental engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

• Caleb Hug, '04 (physics and computer science double major), received a medical informatics fellowship from the Nationall Library of Medicine to complete a doctorate in computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has accepted a position as a software developer in Microsoft's experimental platform division.

• Sarah Guske, '01, received the Kolhauff Scholarship and the Boeing Scholarship and was recognized as the outstanding senior in Washington State University's electrical-engineering program while completing her degree through Whitworth’s 3-2 program. Guske is now studying intellectual property law and patent law at the University of California, Davis.
  

• Katelyn Allers, '00, completed a Ph.D. in astrophysics and is an assistant professor of physics at Bucknell University.