Mind & Heart Newsletter: January 2016
An update from Whitworth University President Beck A. Taylor
A good friend of mine whom I would describe as an agnostic recently asked me to define grace. She had heard me use the term a lot, she said, even in casual conversation. I hadn't really noticed that tendency, but perhaps that's because I'm so in need of grace that it's always on my mind. My friend's question reminded me how foreign the concept of grace is for so many in our communities. When I escape the familiarity of my largely Christian surroundings, I am confronted with the stark reality that a world of people long for something they cannot describe – and I fear that the Christian virtue of grace is elusive to so many because it is displayed so rarely in our culture, even within the church. I'm embarrassed to admit to you how often I am unwilling to offer grace or incapable of doing so, and how demanding of it I am from others. I guess that's the definition of hypocrisy. I am convinced, though, that we will look back on 2016 and measure it largely through the lens of grace – and that our assessment of the year, looking back, will be based on how freely or reluctantly grace was distributed in our homes, workplaces, and worshipping communities, in our neighborhoods, on Facebook, and in the voting booth. As our society becomes more polarized, as differences between us are magnified, as political and theological turf is staked out, grace will be the gift that allows us to hold on to unity and peace, or its paucity will be at the root of our divisiveness and fear. My prayer for 2016 is that God, in his mercy and through his spirit, will dispense grace upon grace, and that we, the people of God, will accept his gifts and become agents of his grace in a broken and divided world – a world that may not know the word for unmerited favor, but that hungers for it nonetheless. May the grace and peace of Christ be yours, and ours, in 2016.
Academics
Jann Leppien and School of Education colleagues including Kathryn Picanco co-presented sessions at the recent National Association for Gifted Children convention. Their presentations included "When Gifted Programs Are Legislated as Basic Education: The Change Process Unleashed!"
John Hengesh (School of Business) has joined the board of directors of Nexus Inland NW as treasurer.
Corey McKenna (School of Education) co-authored "Beginning Teachers' Perceptions of the California Teaching Performance Assessment Experience," published in Teacher Education Quarterly.
Lisa Laurier and Lori Johnson (School of Education) received a $24,950 grant from the Hagan Foundation for literacy work at Holmes and Evergreen Schools, where Whitworth students spend time in a classroom with a master teacher, and Whitworth faculty provide professional-development sessions for school staff.
Casey Andrews (English) presented "Challenging Death in Storm Jameson's Mirror in Darkness Trilogy" and co-led "Alternative Politicizations of the 1930s: Revolutionizing the Decade," at the recent Modernist Studies Association conference. Casey's article "Learning to Live with Ghosts: Vera Britain's Testament of Youth on Film" will be included in the Advent issue of The Cresset.
Five English students – Andrea Hunter, '16, Joshua Tuttle, '17, Katrin Richter, '17, McKenzie Legg, '16, and Sophia DuVal, '16 – have been selected for 2016 Smithsonian Institute internships in Washington, D.C.
John Larkin and the physics department have received a $30,000 grant from the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust to support hiring a new faculty member in physics and engineering.
Ian Brookwell, '19, a political science major, gave testimony at a Washington Utilities Commission public hearing in Olympia regarding Avista's 20-year energy forecast.
Raja Tanas (Sociology) spoke recently at Spokane Community College on the topic "The Middle East: A Century of Wars and Terror (1915-2015)."
Karin Heller (Theology) will lecture on "Bible, Body, and Sexuality" at the University of Besançon, in France, this month.
The College Theology Society and The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas invited Karen Petersen Finch and Karin Heller (Theology) to present papers at the Rome Seminar, "Full, Conscious and Active: Lay Participation in the Church's Dialogue with the World."
An article by Jonathan Moo (Theology), "Climate Change and the Apocalyptic Imagination: Science, Faith, and Ecological Responsibility," was recently published in Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science, vol. 50.4.
"Reading Job Following the Psalms," by Will Kynes (Theology) was published in The Shape of the Ketuvim: History, Contoured Intertextuality, and Canon. He also presented "The Death of the 'Wisdom Genre' and the Rebirth of 'Wisdom' and Genre" at the Society for Biblical Literature.
The Arts
Scott Miller and Brent Edstrom (Music) received an $18,000 commission to create a musical adaptation of Willa Cather's writings. Brent will compose a new song cycle that Scott will premiere at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in spring 2017.
Student Life
Whitworth students spent the majority of December catching up on studies after "Big Windy" and preparing for final exams.However, all work and no play make Jack a dull boy and Jill a tiresome girl, so they also participated in various dorm and all-campus Christmas celebrations, including enjoying Jubilation's holiday dance performance, watching the Will Ferrell classic Elf, and participating in a holiday-themed "Unplugged" coffeehouse. Members of the Class of 2016 wrapped up their penultimate semester at The Bozarth Mansion Senior Christmas Party, listening to holiday music and enjoying gourmet desserts. And all enjoyed gathering in the HUB for the annual all-campus Christmas party and Christmas tree lighting.
Financial Aid
The 2016-17 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available. Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to apply. The priority awarding deadline for incoming freshmen and students who wish to apply for summer work-study is March 1, 2016. The priority deadline is May 1, 2016, for returning students and July 1 for transfer students. Students who receive only a Whitworth academic scholarship do not need to file the FAFSA.
And the 2016-17 Whitworth Donor-Sponsored Scholarship Application is now live for current Whitworth students. These scholarships are established by the generosity of individual donors, corporations and foundations for students currently attending Whitworth full time. Scholarships range from $500 to $5,000. Students should log into the application located in the Scholarships section of our financial aid webpage. The application deadline is Jan. 31 at midnight.
Tuition Tax Form 1098T will be available electronically at the end of this month. In order to print the form, access the Student Account section on WhitNet under Pirate Port and click on 1098 Electronic Form. The 1098T supports your request for educational tax credits on your tax return. For more information, please consult your tax advisor or visit www.irs.gov.
Alumni & Parents
On Jan. 30, I'll be in Washington, D.C., where I'll host a casual afternoon event for Whitworthians with Tad Wisenor, '89, from our advancement staff. Visit connect.whitworth.edu/dcgathering2016 for more information and to register. I hope to see you there!
Whitworth Alumni Award nominations are open for 2016. Go to www.whitworth.edu/alumniawards for more information and to nominate a deserving alum. All submissions are due by the end of the day on Feb. 17.
Join us for Alumni Night at the Fieldhouse on Feb. 6 as the Pirates play Pacific (Ore.). Alums and their families are admitted for free: Just present the coupon you receive by email. Women play at 4 p.m. and men at 6 p.m. We'll celebrate Coach Warren Friedrichs and the members of the 1995-96 men's basketball team prior to the men's game, and we'll have a reception for all alums and their families behind the bleachers during halftime of the men's game, as well.
It's a busy winter and spring for alumni and parent events! We have gatherings scheduled in Olympia, Honolulu, D.C., Portland, Spokane, Redwood City, and Tacoma. Visit connect.whitworth.edu to see what's coming up and to register.
Now that your calendars are turned to 2016, please flip forward to October. Alums, please plan to join us Oct. 7-9 for Homecoming Weekend, featuring multiple reunions and the grand opening of the new Cowles Music Center. And parents and families, mark Oct. 15-16 for Family Weekend!
Admissions
Jan. 31 is the recommended deadline for students admitted through our Early Action Application Program to submit their enrollment deposits. The $350 deposit, which can be paid online at www.whitworth.edu/enrollmentdeposit, holds a student's place in the incoming freshman class and also gives students the opportunity for priority consideration in housing and class registration. The deposit is refundable until May 1, so admitted students who are seriously considering Whitworth as a college option are encouraged to submit their deposits ASAP.
Registration is open for our Honors Colloquium scholarship competition weekends. All incoming freshmen admitted with honors (and their parents) are invited to attend one of the scholarship weekends – Feb. 13-14, Feb. 27-28 or March 12-13. Approximately 100 students attend each colloquium and vie for two four-year, full-tuition scholarships and ten $2,000/year scholarships. Participants also connect with current students and faculty, stay overnight in the residence halls, and plug in to campus activities – a great way to experience life as a Whitworth student. Eligible students can register online at www.whitworth.edu/honorsscholarship.
Auditions will take place Feb. 20-21 for students seeking talent scholarships for participation in Whitworth music ensembles.Information about scheduling auditions is available online at www.whitworth.edu/music; click on the Scholarship Auditions link. Live auditions are preferred, but recordings also are accepted. Students who participate in Whitworth's excellent music ensembles are eligible to audition for talent awards regardless of major. Talent awards also are available for students who participate in art, Ethics Bowl, forensics (speech and debate), journalism, theatre, and Young Life. Information will be mailed to students who indicate interest in these programs on their Whitworth admissions applications.
In mid-January, we will host 18 extraordinary young leaders from Spokane and Tacoma/Seattle who are semifinalists in the Act Six Leadership and Scholarship Program. These students were selected from several hundred applicants to compete for a spot in Whitworth's 14th cadre of Act Six scholars. They are gifted, equipped and challenged to be agents of transformation on campus and in their home communities.
The Campaign for Whitworth
Thanks to everyone who contributed to our Light the Match campaign. We set a goal of 2,246 donors – one for every undergraduate student walking campus – and you helped us reach it! Fueled by a gift of $100,000 from our trustees, we surpassed our goal by more than 700 donors. Your gifts make it possible for our students to pursue an education of mind and heart, which launches them into the world to honor God, follow Christ and serve humanity. On top of that, your support of the Plant a Pine initiative will allow us to restore at least 23 trees on campus following the windstorms last year.
We're so very grateful to all of you who made financial contributions to Whitworth in December. Each gift, large or small, makes a huge difference to the university. YOU make it possible. Thank you!
Whitworth Serves
Please visit www.whitworth.edu/whitworthserves and share your volunteer hours for any organization you serve in order to help us tell a bigger story about the importance of service at Whitworth. The form is now even simpler. Visit just once a year and share information on multiple organizations at one time!
Sports
The men's basketball team is 8-0 and continues to be ranked No. 2 in the country in the d3hoops.com top-25 poll. The Pirates opened Northwest Conference play with victories over Lewis & Clark and Linfield. Forward George Valle, '16, who has started every game since he stepped foot on our campus, passed the 1,000-career-points mark in the season opener.
Women's basketball is 4-3, and the women opened their NWC schedule with victories over Lewis & Clark and Linfield. A young team with four new starters, Whitworth has continued to improve throughout the fall. Wing KC McConnell, '16, the team's lone senior, became the first Pirate player with consecutive 30-plus point performances in games against Cal Lutheran and Southwestern.
The swimming teams' most recent competition was the NWC Fall Invitational, just before Thanksgiving. The men finished second at the meet, and the women took fifth. The Pirates traveled after Christmas to Austin, Texas, for winter training camp. Their intense workouts at camp have prepared them well for a dual meet coming up at Trinity University this week.
The football team fell to Linfield in the first round of the NCAA playoffs, but it was a terrific season for the Pirates, who finished 9-2 overall in the very tough Northwest Conference. Kicker Rehn Reiley, '19, and tight end Nick Kiourkas, '18, were named to the d3football.com All-Region Team.
Closing Thoughts
I hope that your holidays were full of family, friends, and the rich blessings of celebrating the birth of Jesus. As Jan Term begins, I'm mindful of all of the students and faculty who are traveling the world on exciting educational trips. I enjoy seeing their photos on Facebook and reading their well-written blog entries. I'm also glad to be with the many students who are taking classes on campus this month. Jan Term can be a wonderful time to make new relationships, invest in old ones, and find opportunities to explore the beautiful wintry landscape of the Pacific Northwest. Thanks for keeping all of our students in your prayers as we look forward to being together again in February. I hope that your new year is off to a great start.
