Mind & Heart Newsletter: May 2013
An update from Whitworth University President Beck A. Taylor
I had the privilege just a few days ago of shaking the hands of 595 undergraduates and nearly 100 graduate students as they walked the Spokane Arena stage to receive their hard-earned Whitworth diplomas. My hand is tired, but my heart is full. What an amazing honor I have as Whitworth's president to say, "Congratulations, and God bless you!" to each graduate as s/he reaches the culmination of his or her Whitworth experience in front of proud family members and friends. In the midst of all of the pomp and circumstance, the jubilation and excitement, our students once again demonstrated the "heart" side of Whitworth's mind-and-heart mission. Two beloved members of the Whitworth community who should have been part of this year's ceremonies were noticeably absent. Taylor Fenters, '13, passed away during his sophomore year after a long, brave battle with cancer. His classmates, remembering the role Taylor played in their lives, established the Taylor Fenters Memorial Service Endowment as their last act as Whitworth students. Their class gift will honor Taylor's commitment to serving others by ensuring that future students can travel on service and mission trips during Spring Break. Though we were saddened by Taylor's absence from Commencement Weekend events, we felt deeply his impact upon Whitworth. Another great Whitworthian, Bob Strader, a 60-year-old continuing studies student pursuing his bachelor's degree in organizational management, passed away unexpectedly last month. As members of his cohort crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, I could see that each had a picture of Bob pinned to his or her graduation gown. What a wonderful testament to their solidarity as a group of nontraditional students, banding together to meet all of life's challenges but also celebrating a rich community of learning – one that now mourns the loss of a close friend. As we lauded our graduates' academic achievements, and as our new alumni celebrated the completion of their degree programs, they also remembered to honor friends whom we all miss dearly. I have no doubt that this latest group of Whitworth graduates will make a positive, lasting impact in the world. Congratulations and Godspeed to the Class of 2013!
Academics
The forensics team competed well at the Oregon State University tournament, bringing home 22 speech and 11 debate awards. In the sweepstakes awards, the team took second place out of 15 colleges and universities, ahead of regional rivals including Oregon State and Pacific. This marks the first time that Whitworth has won a sweepstakes award at every tournament during a given season.
Whitworth was home this year for the Spokane Intercollegiate Research Conference, spearheaded by Deanna Ojennus (Chemistry). I had the privilege of speaking to the 224 SIRC participants (from Whitworth, Gonzaga, Washington State and Spokane Community Colleges) on the importance of interdisciplinary research. I'm pleased to report that Independent Colleges of Washington, of which Whitworth is a part, received a grant for next year that will allow organizers to extend the reach of the conference to include other private Washington colleges and universities.
Our historians are on a roll. Rafaela Acevedo-Field was awarded a Mayers Fellowship to spend one month this summer at California's Huntington Library, using the Mexican Inquisition Archives Collection there to research cases against Portuguese merchants tried by the Inquisition in 17th-century Mexico. And Arlin Migliazzo presented papers on "Public Life, Public Faith: Evangelicals and Celebrity Culture, 1923-59," at the annual conference of the American Academy of Religion, and "Hallelujah for Hollywood: Evangelicals and the Entertainment Industry, 1949-59," at the spring conference of the American Society of Church History.
Megan Hershey and Michael Artime (Political Science) presented on "The Effects of 'Kony 2012' on University Student Perceptions of Africa" at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference. In addition, Michael spoke about "The Slacktivist Revolution: Measuring the Success and Failure of Online Political Movements," at the Western Political Science Association Conference.
Our theology faculty members keep busy! Keith Beebe presented a paper, "Evangelical Redactions of Religious Experience in Scotland's First Oral History Project," at the spring meeting of the American Society of Church History; Jim Edwards, '67, delivered a lecture, "The Most Important Thing in Christianity," at the University of Mary (N.D.), and led a seminar for clergy on "Preaching and Teaching from the Gospel of Luke"; and Jerry Sittser delivered the annual Scandrette Lecture, "The Battle for the Heart: John Cassian as Desert Psychologist," at Wheaton College (Ill.).
Grant Casady (Biology) received a Murdock Life Sciences Award that will support his work in conservation, education and research with undergraduate students at Whitworth's Verbrugge Environmental Center, north of Spokane.
Patrick Van Inwegen (Political Science) received a $4,400 Free Market Grant from the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Patrick will collaborate with Vange Ocasio Hochheimer (Economics) to design a course that will include faculty/student-led development of a carbon-exchange market in Spokane.
Whitworth hosted the Inland Northwest Business Plan Competition, where, once again, our students performed admirably.Undergraduate student teams Perspectives: Clothing & Apparel and Errandipity placed first and second in the student-generated category. Teams WUFASA and Scooter Friends rounded out the social-enterprise category, placing second and third. Whitworth students competed against those from EWU, Gonzaga, SCC and SFCC, taking home $9,500 in prize money.
The Arts
The Music Teachers National Association presented our Judith Schoepflin with its Foundation Fellow Award at the association's annual conference, in Anaheim, Calif. The honor is "bestowed upon outstanding individuals who have made a significant difference in the music world." Proving the wisdom of the association's choice, eight of Judith's piano students were chosen to perform in the Collegiate Honors Recital of the Spokane Music Teachers Adjudications, held in connection with Washington State Music Teachers. The winners were Laura Everett, Adam Ohlson, Anna Willson and Rachel Witthuhn, all '13; Natasha Black, '14; Rebekah Brown and Katrina Overgaard, '15; and Michelle Timmerman, '16.
Ben Brody, '97, (Music) has received a $10,000 grant from the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship. Singing Our Faith: A year-long multidisciplinary study of music and texts for worship will engage community members in a study of the role of congregational song in worship. And Brent Edstrom (Music) premiered his second concerto for jazz piano and orchestra with the Coeur d'Alene Symphony.
The Whitworth Choir is touring Norway. Marc A. Hafso (Music), a grandson of Norwegian immigrants, is enjoying the opportunity to introduce his choir students to his ancestral home. The choir is performing at Oslo Cathedral, Røros Church, Trondheim's Our Lady's Church, Egersund Church, and the Stavanger Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in Norway, which dates to the 12th century.
Student Life
Student life and ASWU have elected/hired their student leaders for 2013-14. Ian Robins, '15, was elected ASWU president, Audrey Evans, '14, executive vice president, and Matt Valdez, '14, financial vice president. Congratulations to all of our new leaders!
In exciting spring events, our Hawaiian Club Lu'au featured student, staff and faculty dancers and delectable Hawaiian food;students spent the night in tents in The Loop to raise awareness and funds for Ethiopian orphans; and Relay For Life, which raises money for cancer research, was a huge event with lots of student participation and enthusiasm.
Campus Ministry
Whitworth's Institute of Ministry is coming soon. Join us July 8-12 as we focus on the changing landscape of ministry and the church. James K. A. Smith will address this uncertain and growth-inspiring moment from the perspective of spiritual formation; Jerry Sittser, Karen Petersen Finch and Jim Edwards, '67, will offer scriptural reflection; and Carolyn Gordon will address (and deliver!) inspirational preaching. Visit www.whitworth.edu/wim for more information. Or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/whitworthinstituteofministry.
Alumni & Parents
Alumni from the classes of 2008, 2003 and 1993 are invited to celebrate five-year, 10-year and 20-year class reunions during Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 4-6. Join us on campus, where we'll catch up, connect, and cheer on our Pirates. More information is available at www.whitworth.edu/homecoming. Also, alumni from the late '80s will gather during Homecoming Weekend for a multi-class reunion. Contact the alumni office if you'd like to help spread the word and encourage your classmates to attend.
Admissions
Incoming freshmen/transfer students: Expect a call from your counselor this month to set up a phone appointment with the faculty member who will help you register for fall classes. An online registration guide will help you prepare for this call. Click on "Plan Your Classes" at www.whitworth.edu/admittedstudents.
Watch for information about Summer Sendoffs. These receptions, hosted by Whitworth alumni, friends and parents, allow incoming students to connect with others from their area and to ask last-minute questions. Check out www.whitworth.edu/summersendoffs for locations.
Roommate info will be sent out in mid-July. Housing guru Alan Jacobs is tweaking the algorithm that assigns roommates who wind up becoming friends for life. If you've submitted your deposit for fall and you haven't sent your housing preference form, it's time. Go to www.whitworth.edu/housingpreference.
Resources
Our amazing alumni support Whitworth in a variety of ways. Alumni loyalty conveys a belief in an institution's future, partnership in its goals, and gratitude for an alum's student experience and degree. Many alumni believe so strongly in the Whitworth experience that they have given more than $38,000 in additional gifts to inspire others to make a first gift. A $25 gift every year speaks to your commitment to our mission as much as a $25,000 gift would. Such gifts provide scholarship support, fund important programs, encourage student development, and maintain the beauty of our campus. Please go to www.whitworth.edu/give, or mail your gift, postmarked by June 30, to the office of annual giving. Thanks so much for your support.
In keeping with Whitworth's strategic plan to have 25 percent of our alumni giving back by 2021, our goal is to achieve 3,185 alumni donors this year. Nearly 2,600 have already given! We are so close to meeting our goal. Please help us reach our last 600 donors. And thanks to you who have made gifts!
Costa Rica
Life at the CRC is busy. Students and faculty returned from a trip to Cuba, where all were able to see, hear, and feel the complexities of that beautiful island. Students have now completed Patrick Van Inwegen's political science courses as well as Core 350, and they're busy saying "Adios!" to wonderful host families and rigorous internships, a process that produces a variety of emotions. Adios, spring semester!
Sports
Men's track & field rolled to its fourth consecutive Northwest Conference title, winning 11 events. Carter Comito, '13, set meet records while winning the discus and shot put and was selected Field Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row. Chibron Tomeo, '13, set a school record with his pole vault win. Casey Monahan, '14, defended his title in the 110 hurdles, and Toby Schwarz was voted NWC Men's Coach of the Year.
Women's track & field won five events and finished third in the final standings at the NWC championships. Christina Dobbins, '14, won the high jump and the 100 hurdles and finished second in the long jump. Kerry Wright, '16, helped the Bucs sweep in the javelin, as did Kierstie Shellman, '15, in the pole vault.
Men's golf swept three conference tournaments to win another NWC championship. Jesse Salzwedel, '13, and Oliver Rudnicki, '16, earned First Team All-NWC honors, Warren Friedrichs was selected NWC Men's Coach of the Year, and Whitworth earned the NWC's automatic bid to the NCAA Div. III tournament.
Women's golf finished third in both the NWC tournament and the final NWC standings. Emily Guthrie, '13, and Chelsea Bayley, '16, were selected to the All-NWC First Team based on play at the three big tournaments, and Guthrie returned to the NCAA Div. III tournament and placed 12th in the nation.
Softball finished the year 23-20 overall and 16-12 in the NWC. The Pirates tied for third in the final standings and were the No. 3 seed to the NWC tournament. They opened with an 11-2 win over Div. III champion PLU before being eliminated. Jamie Brunner and Heather Hesselgesser, both '13, and Riley Fritz, '15, all earned Second Team All-NWC honors.
Baseball finished with a record of 8-16. The Pirates battled through injuries and inconsistent play to finish strong, with three wins in their final four NWC games. The All-NWC baseball team will be announced this week.
Women's tennis finished 8-10 overall, 7-5 in the NWC. The Bucs tied for third and were the No. 3 seed to the NWC tourney. Saryn Mooney, '15, earned First Team All-NWC honors.
Men's tennis finished the season 6-13 overall and 5-7 to finish fifth in the NWC. Cameron Williams, '13, was selected to the All-NWC First Team.
Whitworth Athletics won the McIlroy-Lewis Trophy for the outstanding program in the NWC for the sixth year in a row. Congratulations to all of our student-athletes, coaches, trainers, and Athletics Director Aaron Leetch for making the Pirates the most formidable opponents in one of the country's best Div. III conferences. Go, Bucs!
Closing Thoughts
Whitworth’s tradition the morning after graduation is to gather the faculty together for a large breakfast and a time of celebration. These women and men invest so much of themselves into our students. As I looked across the room this morning at all of the faces of people I have come to know and love, I was again reminded of what a special place Whitworth is. Faculty members carry the mission of Whitworth in their hearts, and that’s why I’m so confident about the future of this place. God bless you, thank you for your faithful prayers, and have a great summer! Go, Pirates!
