Supporting Westmont Through Generations

May 17th, 2006

Editors note: Carol Hollingsworth Barnes ‘88 was the first speaker during the public comment period at the May 11 hearing. Her father was Stan Hollingsworth ‘54. Here’s what she said:

In newspaper articles and at hearings it’s interesting to note what year the neighbors of Westmont say they moved into the area, because the college community known as Westmont College moved into Montecito way back in 1945! My father’s eldest brother, Dean, was one of the first groups of students to graduate from Westmont, followed by their brother Owen and then my father, Stan Hollingsworth, who graduated from Westmont in 1954. Dean’s daughter, D.D., graduated in the 1970’s, while I was in elementary school in Goleta. I have a picture of myself as an elementary school girl, sitting on a bench near the little chapel and pond in the center of Westmont’s beautiful campus. I dreamed and planned so that one day I could go to my family’s beloved alma mater, while Westmont was dreaming and planning for future students like me, designing and getting the approval of the 1200 student enrollment and the Campus Master Plan.

There have been many changes for everyone since 1976! I graduated from Dos Pueblos and then realized my dream of being the 5th in my family to attend Westmont. While a student I appreciated the relatively new dining commons, felt very crowded when I had to spend a year in a “triple” dorm room, but was so pleased with the “New Dorm” I was able to live in my senior year. I received my B.A. in 1988 and later returned to earn my elementary teaching credential.

Through the ’90’s I supported Westmont no matter what my address was at the time and I attended Westmont hearings even when uncomfortably pregnant. My husband and I made our first home purchase way out in Goleta, but Westmont has remained a stop when taking visitors to see the beautiful highlights of Santa Barbara, as I’m sure is the case for many of the other hundreds of “Friends of Westmont” living in Santa Barbara and especially Montecito. For Westmont, years of taking the high road and working to be a good neighbor have included countless reviews and hearings. Most of these were attended by my father, a well-respected teacher, artist and musician in Santa Barbara, who, even while undergoing chemo treatments, got a ride with me to attend more reviews and hearings regarding the EIR and the Updated Master Plan. In 2005 he became bed-ridden and then entered Hospice. I assured my father that I would faithfully continue to support Westmont. I now have his “50 year Golden Warrior” medallion and the maroon tie with the Westmont crest on it, for he graduated from this world last August. My two Goleta girls are now elementary school age and my hope is that Westmont will be given the “go ahead” to build so that in precious few years, their college dreams could include the beautiful Montecito campus of Westmont College.

Sincerely,
Carol (Hollingsworth ‘88) Barnes