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Alumni Achievements

Additional Alumni Achievements

Featured Alum
Mark Feddes, '09
Major: Political Science

Career Path: In August 2011, Feddes will be attending Pepperdine School of Law.

Why Whitworth? "I came to Whitworth as a transfer student. I attended a state university and another small private university before Whitworth. When I decided to transfer, I knew that there was a great value in faith-integrated education. Yet I also knew that I wanted academic rigor to match the faith-based aspect. Whitworth provided that balance."

Whitworth Activities: Ballard Hall senator; off-campus representative; American Studies Program in Washington, D.C. As a member of Phi Beta Lambda, competed in public-speaking events at state competition; photographer for The Whitworthian; cross-country team; volunteered at the nonprofit Center for Justice, in Spokane.

Quote: "Whitworth has best prepared me for a career in law by emphasizing an integration of faith and ethics. This integration includes a contemplative and critical approach to one's day-to-day conduct and the current events happening around that individual."

Influential Whitworth Experiences: "Every member of the political science department shaped me as an individual by testing and helping to refine my ideas and beliefs. In regard to career selections Professor Julia Stronks was certainly most instrumental. By my third year of school I possessed an inclination toward a career in law; Dr. Stronks solidified that as my choice. In taking both Constitutional Law and International Law from her, I found that my interest in law grew and that this continues to be an important field in which to have principled, ethical individuals working."

Career Goals: "While I hope to have a successful career in law, I would most like to run for elected office. At some point I would like to become involved in politics even if that means working only at a state level in Montana. My most ambitious goal involves being elected to the United States Senate."

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

• Jenifer (Tracy) Ford, '08, is pursuing a master's degree in public policy at King's College, London. She was also accepted to Queen Mary University, Royal Holloway University, Birkbeck University, Exeter University, Middlesex University, and Brunel University, all in the U.K.
  
  
• Cole Casey, '08, is a license and revenue technician for the City of Centennial, Colorado.
  
  
• Noah Patterson, '07, received a full scholarship to the University of Denver School of Law.
  
  
• Jena Lee, '04, is director of Blood:Water Mission, Grammy-winning band Jars of Clay's ministry to provide clean blood and water to Africa.
  
  
• Laura Thaut, '05, received a Fulbright grant to study emigration-related issues in Lithuania and is attending the University of Minnesota on full scholarship.
  
  
• Gene Emmans, '04, served as the internship coordinator for the Washington State Legislature and earned a graduate degree from the Harris School of Management at the University of Chicago. Emmans now works as a budgetpreparation specialist at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget in Washington, D.C.
  
  
• Greg Svanidze, '06, is pursuing a master's degree at the George Washington School of International Affairs.
  
  
• Garin Etcheberry, '07, is attending the Willamette University Graduate School of Management.