July 2013 Archive:
A Charge to the Graduates of the Class of 2013
Delivered at Commencement May 4, 2013 By President Gayle D. Beebe, Ph.D. Your class verse is from Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in a human heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs is one of... Read More
A Final Celebration for Graduates
The Class of 2013 Graduated from Westmont in May and the Golden Warriors of the Class of 1963 Joined the Procession Led by bagpipes, more than 300 Westmont graduates marched from Kerrwood Hall through the formal gardens to Russell... Read More
Students Serve as Ambassadors to Alumni
A New Program Connects Students and Alumni to Learn More About the Westmont Experience and How to Build Stronger Ties With Alumni How can Westmont better meet the needs of alumni? To answer this question, the alumni and parent... Read More
Westmont Wins the GSAC All-Sports Award
For the first time in two decades, Westmont has won the All-Sports Award for the Golden State Athletic Conference, given to the institution with the highest average finish in the conference standings in all its sports. Four Warrior teams... Read More
Polo Team Wins a National Championship
The Westmont Men’s Polo Team Wins their First National Championship in their Third Appearance in the Championship Game The Westmont men’s polo team won its first national title in April, beating Colorado State 19-16 in the U.S. Polo Association... Read More
New Scholarships Benefit Westmont Students
Nick Davis Scholarship The Westmont administration and the family of Nick Davis have established the Nick Davis Memorial Scholarship to help deserving students meet educational expenses during their studies at Westmont. Nick, a senior economics and business major from... Read More
Westmont Named in Grateful Grads Ranking
Forbes Magazine Identifies Westmont as One of the Top 100 Colleges in a New Ranking that Considers Return on Investment Forbes Magazine ranked Westmont in the top 100 colleges and universities of its new survey, Grateful Grads: Top Return-on-Investment.... Read More
Students Thrive in Europe Semester, Fringe Festival and Choir Tour
Europe Semester Goes High-Tech Sending students to Europe with their books and assignments all on the Apple iPad mini (see story here) represents another breakthrough in technology at Westmont. Reed Sheard, chief information officer and vice president for college... Read More
Helping Children by Strengthening Families
Psychology professor Andrea Gurney seeks to treat entire families in her private clinical psychology practice Treating a 4-year-old patient in a locked psychiatric unit led Andrea Gurney to broaden her specialty in child and adolescent psychology to include couples... Read More
Crafting Political Theory for Evangelicals
Political science professor Jesse Covington works with other evangelical scholars to develop coherent, theologically rooted political theory American evangelicals have embraced political activism in recent years, achieving some success and creating occasional controversy. But Jesse Covington thinks they’ve failed... Read More
Faculty Footnotes
Activities and awards for Westmont’s outstanding professors Three professors won the 2013 Bruce and Adaline Bare Outstanding Teacher Award: Steve Contakes (chemistry, left), Omedi Ochieng (communication studies) and Michelle Hughes (education). Alister Chapman (history, not pictured) received the Faculty... Read More
Lessons on Leadership from Colin Powell
Retired Gen. Colin Powell used a combination of poignant stories and humorous anecdotes to keep more than 750 people wide awake during the 7 a.m. Westmont President’s Breakfast March 1 at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort. Read More
Outplaying Grief
Westmont College’s women’s basketball team rallied around their coach after her husband’s sudden death. Their final gift: a title. By Bill Plaschke Los Angeles Times, Home Edition, Main News, Page A-1 Sports Desk Montecito — Her final pep talk... Read More
Making Westmont a Home for Students
When Jane Hideko Higa arrived on campus in 1989 as a new dean, she set out to meet as many professors as possible. Once a Westmont student herself, she understood the key role faculty play in shaping students’ lives.... Read More
Abolitionist Mamas Seek to End Modern-Day Slavery
They loved their lives as wives and mothers, but God was nudging them to look beyond their families and familiar surroundings. Could they do something to fight injustice in the world? Kim McOwen Yim ’94 and Shayne Klopfenstein Moore... Read More
The Poetry and Prose of Publishing
Kelly Gruver Davio ’04 grew up in churches with fringe views and highly unorthodox practices. “Conversation about Christianity at Westmont was mind-blowing,” she says. “I discovered there were other ways of thinking about Christianity and that people could discuss... Read More
Making an Impression in Zimbabwe
The winding, dusty road to the camp ends unexpectedly with hills, woods and water. In the heart of Zimbabwe, Shelley Schar Croudace ’92 and her husband, Alistair, have created Lasting Impressions Wilderness Training Center (LIWTC) on 450 spectacular acres.... Read More
Turning Weakness into Strength
Daniel Wendler ’10 grew up a lonely, awkward child, shunned and bullied for his odd ways. Realizing he was different, his parents took him to a psychologist, who diagnosed him with Asperger’s syndrome, a condition on the autism spectrum... Read More
Finding a Way to Fund a Free Press
At Google, David Gehring ’93 seeks to develop a viable economic framework to support the free press. “We’re living in a time of epic economic migration from a traditional to a digital media economy,” he says. “It’s disrupting how... Read More
The Westmont Fund Is All About Students
Ivy Chi ’14 says too many of her high school teachers lacked faith in her. But one took an interest in her even though she wasn’t enrolled in any of his classes. Concerned for her well-being, he made sure... Read More
Outstanding Seniors Overcome Adversity: Mark Skovorodko
Mark Skovorodko, 2013 graduate, talks about his challenges and blessings during his years at Westmont Trusting God’s Picture of Life Mark Skovorodko played trumpet, French horn and piano as a student at Westmont. A talented photographer, he took professional... Read More
Outstanding Seniors Overcome Adversity: Robyn Bickerton
Robyn Bickerton, 2013 graduate, talks about her challenges and blessings during her years at Westmont Embracing the Gift of Life She lost her room in the 2008 Tea Fire, her best friend at Westmont developed cancer, and she barely... Read More
Outstanding Seniors Overcome Adversity: Nick Andersen
Nick Andersen, 2013 graduate, talks about his challenges and blessings during his years at Westmont Exploring the wideness of the World When Nick Andersen visited Westmont with his mother, Carole Owens ’78, he noticed professors walking and talking to... Read More
Outstanding Seniors Overcome Adversity: Wesley Zuidema
Wesley Zuidema, 2013 graduate, talks about his challenges and blessings during his years at Westmont Fearlessly Following God Wesley Zuidema grew up visiting Westmont with his parents, Kevin ’84 and Cynthia Watt ’87, but he fell in love with... Read More
Success is Faithfulness
Excerpt of a Talk by Daniel Gee ’13, First Senior, Kenneth Monroe Award Winner, and Monroe Scholar, at the Academic Awards Convocation in April At this time of year, when men and women dress in colorful robes and sport... Read More
The Faithful Life of Margaret Jacobsen Voskuyl
One of Westmont’s first faculty members has died. Margaret Jacobsen Voskuyl passed away March 15 in Santa Barbara at the age of 94. Gracious, energetic, smart and articulate, she enthusiastically embraced the vision of Westmont’s founders. Margaret’s long history... Read More
Investing in Christian Education and Leadership
Duane ’63 and Pat Johnson met in 1964 on a Gordon College trip to Europe. They got engaged on a scenic Rotterdam bridge after just a few weeks, and they’ve been married 48 years. They both value Christian education... Read More