Westwind, Summer 2019

Urban Adventure Tips from three alumni for making the most of your next visit to the cities they call home p. 12

THE MAGAZINE OF WALLA WALLA UNIVERSITY SUMMER 2019

CENTER OF SERVICE Watching the impossible happen p. 5

EXCELLENCE IN THOUGHT Highlights from Homecoming 2019 p. 16

MEET THE WESTWIND TEAM

What’s one of your favorite cities?

Chicago, Illinois

Oslo, Norway

Hong Kong

Seattle, Washington

I enjoy downtown Chicago … in good weather. I like the rhythm of a bustling city to begin with, but Chicago also has good walking/running paths along the lake, interesting parks, plenty of shopping, and most of all, excellent food.

I’ve been through many burgs, each with its own flavor, and have loved them all for different reasons. One of my favorites is Oslo. In the winter there is an ice-skating rink downtown and the city is festive for Jul. —Chris Drake, senior media services manager

One of my favorite cities is Hong Kong.

I love how easy it is to get from the street markets to the remote, rugged coast and islands. And the high-rises juxtaposed with the abundant jungle surrounding the city presents such a beautiful contrast and commentary on the relationship between our built and natural environments.

Seattle is my favorite place to visit. Whether for a weekend getaway or an afternoon coffee stop, Seattle has plenty of areas to explore, and each suburb has a unique feel. One of my favorite places to stop is Kerry Park, where you can take a photo of the Space Needle surrounded by the city skyscrapers.

—Makena Horton, student staff writer

New York, New York

—Jodi Wagner,

vice president for marketing and university relations

Leavenworth, Washington Leavenworth is one of my favorite cities because of the many memories my family has made there. We have camped in the summer and taken dips in the ice-cold Wenatchee River. In the winter we have visited to experience the Christmas lights and the parade that the city does so well.

—Claudia Santellano, director for alumni and parent relations

One of my favorite cities is New York. I love exploring the different neighborhoods and discovering new parks, shops, and cafes. The transportation system is a marvel.

There is inspiration around every new corner, and the energy is contagious!

—Kim Strobel, university relations supervisor and Westwind editor

—Emily Muthersbaugh, director for marketing and university relations

Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii Kailua is a very relaxing, low-key place with stunning natural beauty. It is surrounded by corrugated cliffs on one side and a magnificent sandy shore on the other side. —Dorita Tessier, director of gift planning

Oxford, England Oxford is a bibliophile’s paradise. It’s home to one of the best literary colleges in the world and also of the Inklings—the writers collaborative group of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, and many more.

—T. Brooke Sample, student staff writer

Walla Walla, Washington Having grown up in Walla Walla my opinion is fairly biased, but I still think it is a great town! I love the small-town community feeling, the great fruit, and the scenery. There are multiple ski resorts nearby and plenty of outdoor options during other seasons as well. —Kiersten Ekkens, student staff writer

Salzburg, Austria Salzburg has a unique blend of rugged, alp-scale outdoor adventure options, rural pastoral settings, and winding, old city streets full of historic architecture. And of course, it’s also home to the Sound of Music!

I love listening to church bells ringing all over the city. —Alix Harris, web content manager

photograph by BRANDON HILL

FEATURE // HOMECOMING

“I see the hand of God orchestrating every chapter in my story.”

—Trevor O’Reggio ’79

p.16

4 5

10

the President From Taking action

THE MAGAZINE OF WALLA WALLA UNIVERSITY // SUMMER 2019

College Avenue

The latest from across campus

Urban Adventure

Tour three top U.S. cities with recent graduates as your guide

16 Homecoming Weekend 2019

28 About the cover PHOTO: CHRIS DRAKE

This fun shot of the Chicago skyline required teamwork, two sets of hands, and waiting out weeks of Midwestern rain.

PHOTOGRAPH BY Sarah Corley and Kaelyn Dodd

Westwind Summer 2019, Volume 38, Number 2 // Westwind is published three times a year by Walla Walla University, a Seventh-day Adventist institution, and is produced by the WWU Marketing and University Relations office. This issue was printed in July 2019. © 2019 by Walla Walla University. Mail Westwind, 204 S. College Ave., College Place, WA 99324 E-mail westwind@wallawalla.edu Telephone (509) 527-2363 Toll-free (800) 541-8900 Online westwind.wallawalla.edu Editor Kim Strobel Staff writers Kiersten Ekkens, Makena Horton, T. Brooke Sample Design L/Bailey Design

Reflect on our recent celebration of excellence in thought

Alumni Currents

28 AlumNotes 29 In Memory 30 Meet the new Alumni Association officers

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Taking action Recently, I had the privilege of attending the spring quarter Student Missions vespers. Under the direction of Brittni Bryan, associate chaplain for missions, and a very able student leadership team, it was a moving and inspirational time of worship. The heartwarming culmination of the event came when the outgoing student missionaries, some 53 of them, gathered around the perimeter of the sanctuary, each one holding a lit candle. I found myself, iPhone in hand, scurrying around the sanctuary and climbing into the balcony to try to capture the moment.

Fifty-three students were choosing to exercise generosity in service for an entire year, to experience all the rigors, challenges, surprises, and joys that they know await them. I was blessed. Impressed. Inspired. And I was moved as I reflected on all the work that lay behind those sacred moments—processing a sheaf of applications and travel documents for each candidate, fundraising, and training. That evening vespers service represents a powerful personal and institutional commitment to our core theme of generosity in service.

A few years back, thanks to the initiative of the class of 1950 and the support of former WWU president Jon Dybdahl and many generous donors, WWU installed a beautiful plaza opposite the entrance to the University Church that features a bronze sculpture by Alan Collins called Jesus Among Us. The commemorative plaque next to the sculpture notes: “Through this sculpture, it is our intention to celebrate ‘Generosity in Service’ as a core value of Walla Walla University and to invite all who pause here to recommit themselves to selfless ministry in Jesus’ name.” This plaza has become a favorite gathering place. Like the Student Missions vespers, the sculpture symbolizes the importance of generosity in service to our institution.

The ways WWU exemplifies and honors generosity in service are many. In this issue of Westwind we celebrate the founding of the Center for Humanitarian Engagement (CHE) (see story on page 5) and the opening of the center’s space in Kretschmar Hall. The CHE was sparked by focus groups conducted with students some years ago. Their repeated and urgent plea was this: We need to be even more serious about generosity in service.

We need to staff it better. We need to identify even more service opportunities. Adding to student input, our regional accrediting agency and the General Studies Committee offered added incentive. As a result, founding the CHE became an important part of the 2013–2023 Sabbath Jubilee vision.

What will the CHE do for WWU? It will raise the profile of generosity in service and will champion service and service learning. In collaboration with other groups on campus, the CHE will work hard to provide robust opportunities for students to participate in generosity in service as an integral part of their academic programs. It will celebrate and communicate the contributions of departments and clubs on campus to a culture of generosity in service, inviting students, faculty, and staff to lend a hand. The CHE will augment those efforts as well, organizing additional opportunities for service and overseeing a new signature service project in the Walla Walla Valley.

What makes all of this unique and powerful is signaled by the Jesus Among Us sculpture: Generosity in service draws its inspiration from the example of Jesus who “came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45, ESV). Thank you for praying for the good success of the Center for Humanitarian Engagement and generosity in service at WWU. And thank you for living out the values of your alma mater.

FIND MORE NEWS ABOUT WWU AT WALLAWALLA.EDU/NEWS.

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PHOTO: CHRIS DRAKE

The joy and privilege of training ambassadors for worldwide generosity in service

College Avenue The latest from across campus

David Lopez, executive director of the CHE (back right), is pictured here with the WWU group (including Theo the dog) who spent spring break working in Paradise, California.

Love in action

PHOTO: DAVID LOPEZ

New Center for Humanitarian Engagement provides a hub for university service activities

T

HE NEW Walla Walla University Center for Humanitarian Engagement (CHE) has opened under the leadership of executive director David Lopez. The CHE will play a primary role in university initiatives related to service that include local and global opportunities for evangelistic and humanitarian work.

The CHE will develop new projects for serving others and will help coordinate progress on existing initiatives, such as the WWU chapter of Engineers

Without Borders and the annual WWU Service Day. Lopez is initiating cyclical projects as well, such as service days in the local community, and one-time projects, such as summer mission trips.

The CHE partnered with the Chaplain’s Office to determine how best to use funds received to help with relief efforts in Paradise, California, after the fire last fall. During spring break, a group from WWU traveled to Paradise to help with pressing needs including installing fencing, (continued on page 6)

Want to get involved with the CHE? Follow the center on Facebook and Twitter, or contact David Lopez at che@

wallawalla.edu.

Westwind Summer 2019

5

College Avenue The latest from across campus

Business leaders

BY THE NUMBERS

WWU student missions program

WWU students distributed water to Paradise residents from one of the only functioning wells in the area.

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60

Years WWU has been sending out student missionaries

B

USINESS STUDENTS AT WWU are leading in the development of a new campus chapter of Enactus, an international organization that encourages the use of business concepts to develop entrepreneurial projects that improve the wellbeing of individuals and communities.

The WWU Enactus team includes students from all majors. “The more people that are involved, the more work we can get done, and the more people we can help,” says Corbin Edelbach, senior business administration major and Enactus president.

The Enactus team has worked on local projects with the Blue Mountain Humane Society and international projects, such as placing solar panels at the Seventh-day Adventist school in Pohnpei, Micronesia. “With this project completed, the school in Pohnpei should be able to cut their overall energy costs by 60%,” says Edelbach.

In May, four Enactus officers from WWU attended the Enactus National Exposition in Kansas City, Missouri.

During spring quarter they also evaluated and created blueprints for upcoming projects, including ideas to provide food for homeless shelters by connecting them with farms in the Walla Walla Valley.

3, 203 Student missionaries and task force workers during the last 60 years

53

Student missionaries who will work abroad during 2019–20

40

Locations around the world where student missionaries serve

Find more WWU news

at wallawalla.edu/ news.

The new Enactus chapter includes students from all majors.

Biblical perspective CBFM explores integration of biblical studies with concerns facing the church How can Adventists engage with the questions of today with humility and confidence? Through the WWU Center for Bible, Faith, and Mission (CBFM), the faculty in the School of Theology seek to provide a framework for addressing difficult questions within the context of committed Bible study and application of scripture.

In their work through the CBFM, each year WWU theology faculty present seminars, lectures, and conferences on a variety of topics throughout the Pacific Northwest. They also produce a weekly spoken online Sabbath Learn more School commentary called Good about CBFM and Word. Topics presented during the access Good Word 2018–19 academic year include the commentary at history of Adventism, the question wallawalla.edu/ of compliance, Revelation, and the theology. doctrine of the Trinity.

PHOTOS: DAVID LOPEZ, TOMMY POOLE, WWU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

repairing the wireless internet connection that hosts service for Paradise Adventist Academy, and distributing clean water from the Paradise Adventist Church—one of the only locations in the area with a functioning well of clean water.

They also helped with impromptu needs including providing translation services, removing debris, serving warm meals, handing out firewood, and sorting donated clothing. Lopez estimates that the group connected directly with more than 1,700 people in the area and that their work saved about $11,000 in labor costs.

Lopez graduated from WWU in 2004 and returned to campus to lead the CHE after 12 years with Maranatha Volunteers International where he was director of volunteer projects. His background in mission work, travel, organization, languages, and conflict resolution brings a unique skill set to this new position on campus.

Through his work with the CHE, Lopez is developing a program that will allow students to obtain a Global Humanitarian Engagement Certificate for meeting specific academic requirements and for bootson-the-ground engagement in universityorganized service opportunities. These opportunities include activities that will train students in logistics and management of worldwide work in outreach and missions.

A CHE advisory panel and mentor groups for students are also being developed to focus on mission-specific grant writing, legal issues, internships, marketing communication, and more.

Lopez loves helping young adults connect to Christ through service. One of his goals through the work of the CHE is to provide opportunities for students to see how determination and faith in God can make the impossible David Lopez, CHE happen. executive director

Enactus chapter encourages sustainable global progress through entrepreneurship

The Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory will be home base for a WWU team studying a vital ecosystem.

Muthersbaugh to speak for Distinguished Faculty Lecture

Seagrass meadows

Watch the DFL live on Nov. 10 at wallawalla.

edu/DFL.

Murdock Trust awards research grant to study seagrass wasting disease in Salish Sea

PHOTOS: CHRIS DRAKE

T

HE M.J. MURDOCK CHARITABLE TRUST recently awarded $58,926 to Walla Walla University to study a disease that is killing seagrasses worldwide.

Every year the world loses an estimated 7% of its seagrasses, according to research from the Smithsonian. Among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth, seagrasses filter pollution, protect shorelines from erosion, and provide habitat for fish. A wasting disease is one reason for the decline and one that scientists little understand. WWU joins efforts worldwide to study the problem.

“We were impressed with Walla Walla University’s attention to this problem. It’s an environmental problem with significant ramifications for human and wildlife communities worldwide,” says Moses Lee, senior director for scientific research and enrichment programs at the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.

Seagrass wasting disease is caused by a tiny marine eukaryotic organism, which produces dark lesions on the seagrass blades and reduces how much the seagrass can photosynthesize, eventually killing the seagrass. Recent studies have indicated that 50% of the seagrass meadows in the Salish Sea are affected by outbreaks of seagrass wasting disease. Scientists do not know exactly what is causing these outbreaks.

“Specifically, I am interested in collaborating with undergraduates to answer the question: what factors influence outbreaks of seagrass wasting disease in the Salish Sea and to what extent can we predict, and therefore prevent, disease outbreaks?” says C.J. Brothers, WWU assistant professor of biology.

The grant provides stipends and supplies for two undergraduate students to work full-time with Brothers on this research during the next three summers at the WWU Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory.

“As a team, we will be traveling to coastal sites around the Salish Sea that have seagrass meadows and documenting how severely the sites are affected by disease. Back in the laboratory at the Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory, we will be using molecular techniques to determine how abundant the pathogen is at these various sites and what factors may be causing the seagrass to be more vulnerable to disease outbreaks,” says Brothers.

READ WESTWIND ONLINE: WESTWIND.WALLAWALLA.EDU

Debbie Muthersbaugh, professor of education and dean of the School of Education and Psychology, will speak for the 2019 WWU Distinguished Faculty Lecture on Nov. 10. This annual lecture is presented by a faculty member who is recognized for excellence in leadership, teaching, and scholarship, as well as service in the community.

NASW recognizes WWU faculty for contributions to social work profession MAYNARD-REID HONORED FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Get updates about Brothers’ research on seagrasses at Rosario at

wallawalla. edu/biologynews.

The National Association of Social Workers Washington Chapter (NASW–WA) awarded its 2019 Lifetime Achievement Public Citizen Award to Pedrito Maynard-Reid, professor of biblical studies and missiology and assistant to the president for diversity. Maynard-Reid’s contributions to the field of social work have included training, teaching, and organizing for diversity and inclusion nationally and internationally since the 1970s.

SMITH NAMED SOCIAL WORKER OF THE YEAR The NASW–WA also recognized Susan Smith, professor of social work and sociology and dean of the School of Social Work and Sociology, as 2019 NASW–WA Social Worker of the Year. Smith specializes in mental health and social work practice. Her areas of interest also include the experiences of Vietnam prisoners of war and the impact of mental health first aid training on resident assistants. Smith has served as a volunteer and on the board of directors for REACH in Tacoma, Washington, and she is active in the Walla Walla Valley on the Housing Groups Board and with community training in mental health first aid.

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College Avenue The latest from across campus

Students cultivate professional connections at First Impressions event and STEM Career Fair

T

HE STUDENT DEVELOPMENT Center (SDC) held a First Impressions event during spring quarter to provide opportunities for students to practice corporate mingling with professionals from more than 20 organizations. The event included a keynote presentation by the Starbucks district manager.

Also during spring quarter, the SDC hosted a STEM Career Fair on campus specifically for students focused on careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. At the fair, students had the opportunity to make connections with representatives from local and regional Help launch a businesses and to discuss potential employment. career! Add a In addition to a variety of on-campus events, the SDC helps job posting or students navigate the employment landscape by providing careerinternship at specific resources such as assistance locating internships, cover wallawalla. letter and résumé critique, practice interviews, tips for graduate edu/employerschool applications, and more. relations.

Excellence in thought

Communication and social work faculty complete doctoral degrees

LYNELLE ELLIS, associate professor of communication, completed a doctor of philosophy degree in communication from Regent University. For her dissertation, “Seventhday Adventists and the Movies: An Historical and Contemporary Look at the Conflict Between Christianity and Visual Media,” Ellis reviewed all published work by the Adventist church on visual media and conducted 36 interviews.

“I’m hoping my research will challenge deeper thought and better discernment related to visual media. Rather than black and white rules— which we’ve thrown out anyway—we need principles and guidelines that help us make good decisions that lead to a closer walk with God and better relationships with others,” says Ellis.

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NANCY SEMOTIUK, associate professor of communication, successfully defended her doctoral dissertation “Women Writers: Safekeeping Time and Space to Write.” Her work examines the difficulties some women have in giving themselves time and permission to write.

Semotiuk’s research indicates that traditional advice about making time to write assumes that a woman should be able to control her daily schedule. She explained how traditional advice does not adequately take into consideration the social and cultural dynamics that affect women writers.

Semotiuk received a doctor of philosophy degree in interdisciplinary studies with a major in humanities and culture and a certificate in creative writing from Union Institute and University.

LAURELLÉ C. WARNER, associate professor of social work and sociology, successfully defended her dissertation titled “Examining Resilience in the Lives of Black Women” Warner says, “Using a grounded theory approach rooted in social constructionism, my study explored middle and older adult black women [and their] conceptual understanding of resilience and adaptive functioning, and examined their perspectives on pathways to resilience and processes used to navigate aversive circumstances.”

From her research, Warner says “a unique model of resilience emerged that is Afrocentric, strengthsbased, and congruent with a racial justice lens.”

Warner received a doctor of philosophy degree in social policy and social research at Loma Linda University.

books sites Reading and browsing recommendations from our experts

Hitting Pause: 65 Lecture Breaks to Refresh and Reinforce Learning

by Gail Taylor Rice

(Stylus Publishing, 2018)

How much more could we learn if teachers stopped talking so much? Rice presents evidence for the value of lecture breaks, or pauses, used strategically to emphasize student engagement and promote active learning. Specifically, Rice offers a treasured collection of tried and true strategies for building planned, structured pause activities into any lecture. This book is an excellent resource for any teacher interested in capturing the attention of our students. —Peter Gleason, associate professor of psychology

The Three-Year Swim Club: The Untold Story of Maui’s Sugar Ditch Kids and Their Quest for Olympic Glory

by Julie Checkoway

(Grand Central Publishing, 2015)

I spent four years of my life roaming and swimming in the old sugar plant irrigation ditches on the Big Island of Hawaii while looking across the expanse of ocean that separated us from Maui. During those years, I also spent many hours walking the old plantations with the weathered men who had worked them. As I read this book by Julie Checkoway I could smell the story, touch the wind through the cane, visualize the tender smell of the plumeria. Set in the backwaters of Maui, The Three-Year Swim Club gently tugs and teases at the story of JapaneseAmerican young people who took aquatic reprieve in sugar cane irrigation ditches. The unlikely protagonist, Soichi Sakamoto—once a musician, now a teacher—struggles to transform the young ditch swimmers into Olympic athletes against a background of poverty, racism, and war. This is a remarkable story of human persistence and triumph in a place where no one would have expected it. ­—Chris Drake, senior media services manager

PHOTOS: CHRIS DRAKE

Career and calling

’60s THE

From the archives / If memory serves

Nestled between Touchet and Dixie Handwritten on the back of this photo in the WWU archives is the simple phrase “A long way from home”—which is exactly what many students feel when they first arrive on campus. How far did you travel to attend WWU? Whether you came from near or far, we would enjoy hearing about your experience traveling to campus.

Tell us your story at westwind@wallawalla.edu!

1960s

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Places We Love The days are long, the sun is high, and you need a vacation!

Inspiration for your next trip is here, with tips from three alumni on making the most of a visit to the charming and culturally rich cities they call home.

CHICAGO

Chicago's West Loop neighborhood has recently been transformed into an area known for great restaurants and chic boutiques.

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NEW YORK

SEATTLE

PLACES WE

CHICAGO ILLINOIS

SAR AH COR LEY

Hello, Chicago!

‘BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR YOU’LL LOSE THE BLUES IN CHICAGO!’*

PHOTOS: SARAH CORLEY; ISTOCK.COM/STEVE BRAMALL (THE BEAN); ISTOCK.COM/MICHAEL BURRELL (MAP PIN)

By Sarah Corley ’11

Known as “The Windy City” but not because of the weather, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States with over 2.7 million people calling it home.

The birthplace of legends like Walt Disney and Michelle Obama, Chicago sits directly on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan and attracts more than 86 million tourists annually. While most people know Chicago for its architecture, the Great Fire of 1871, deep-dish pizza, or the Chicago Cubs, many would be surprised to know that it is home to the invention of the Ferris wheel, the only river in the world that flows backwards, and the first U.S. hospital blood bank. Most recently, Chicago is the largest U.S. city to commit to 100% clean energy.

With incredible food, expansive beaches, world-class museums, and variety of sports and performing arts opportunities, it’s hard not to fall in love with Chicago and her 77 culturally rich neighborhoods. Plan several days here as there’s so much to do and see that you’ll have a hard time narrowing it down.

GOOD TO KNOW:

Historic Route 66 begins in front of the Art Institute of Chicago. • Downtown Chicago is referred to as The Loop. • The Twinkie was created here.

*AN EXCERPT FROM “CHICAGO” BY FRANK SINATRA AND NELSON RIDDLE

A marketer in the west Chicago suburbs, Sarah has partnered with companies including Aaptiv and Nestlé Toll House for commercials and media appearances, and has even set a Guinness World Record. She graduated from WWU in 2011.

3 WAYS TO RELAX The Second City The world’s premier comedy club, theater, and school of improvisation. Alums include Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Jordan Peele, and Amy Poehler.

EAT

Floriole Café & Bakery For a healthful lunch or pastry indulgence, stop at Floriole in Chicago's Lincoln Park. floriole.com

Alinea Food becomes art in a mealtime performance consisting of 16 to 18 courses.

The Chicago Diner A hip, 100% vegan diner.

Try the milkshakes!

Lou Malnati’s A famous Chicago-style pizza restaurant.

Get the vegetarianfriendly Deep Dish Lou— a butter-friendly crust filled with cheese, spinach, and mushrooms

AIRE Ancient Baths Chicago

EXPLORE

Millennium Park concerts, films, and outdoor fitness

Run, walk, or bike this 2.7-mile elevated rail trail.

Rent blue Divvy bikes.

A variety of free activities: concerts from artists like Yo-Yo Ma to Chucho Valdes, familyfriendly films like The Music Man, and outdoor fitness sessions.

and topped with sliced Roma tomatoes.

Sweet Mandy B’s Old-fashioned desserts AND A MUST-HAVE:

Classic Chicago-style hot dog Ingredients: yellow mustard, chopped onions, bright green relish, tomato wedges, sport peppers, a dill pickle, a dash of celery salt, a hot dog/veggie dog, and a poppy seed bun. (Don't even think about adding ketchup!)

The 606

Garfield Park Conservatory The Art Institute of Chicago Holds the largest collection of impressionist paintings outside the Louvre.

Cloud Gate “The Bean” See the skyline reflected in this iconic sculpture.

Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise A must, even for locals.

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PLACES WE

NEW YORK

NEW YORK

CULTURAL VARIETY IN ALL ITS FORMS MAKES NEW YORK A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT

By Kyler Alvord ’18

In New York City, people live by a few unique truths: Subways are necessary, walking shoes are mandatory, and crowds are avoidable.

YOUR BEST FRIEND: The Museum of the Dog originally opened in NYC in 1982, then moved to Missouri for a long run. The AKC recently brought the museum back to NYC, and the doors opened in February.

Home to more than 8 million people spread across five boroughs, the city has plenty beyond flashing lights and celebrity sightings. It’s a vast cultural hub where rising chefs bring innovation to the table and talented artists dissect their crafts. Here, historic buildings live in harmony with modern architecture, and both demand appreciation.

To take it all in, you’ll have to move around a bit; the real New York can’t be found in Times Square. So lace up your sneakers and fill a MetroCard—you’ve got a busy day ahead.

9 AM

• Flatiron District

Devoción

Start the morning a few blocks shy of the Flatiron Building with light treats from Devoción, a new Colombian wake-up spot that looks as if it were lifted from a page in a design magazine. You can’t go wrong with the guava Gruyere croissant, best enjoyed beneath the shop’s ceilingstrung garden or up the street at Madison Square Park. devocion.com

10 AM

• Midtown East

Museum of the Dog

Head toward Grand Central to the American Kennel Club’s easily overlooked and highly underrated Museum of the Dog. Explore two recently opened floors of paintings, artifacts, and interactive digital dis-

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plays, all centered around one of the nation’s favorite household animals. museumofthedog.org

NOON

Ride the train directly to Rubirosa for an Italian-American lunch with locals’ stamp of approval. Situated just north of Little Italy, the mislocated pizza and pasta spot holds its own, with seating options and portion sizes suited for large groups and notable pies that put a classy twist on the “New York slice.” rubirosanyc.com

1:30 PM Dumbo

Dip into Dumbo, an industrial riverside neighborhood in Brooklyn. For photo ops below the Manhattan Bridge, walk

Dumbo/Financial District Take the scenic route back to Manhattan—above ground and by foot. The Brooklyn Bridge spans 1.1 miles over the East River, connecting Brooklyn to the main island. Hit the walking path and enjoy the view as you cross to the other side.

4 PM

• Chinatown

Ten Ren’s Tea Time or Möge Tee Give your feet a rest and rehydrate at one of Chinatown’s many bubble tea shops. If you’re indecisive, Ten Ren’s Tea Time and Möge Tee are among the best with seating. tenrenusa.com • mogeteeusa.com

5 PM

Greenwich Village Hop back in time to one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods and admire quaint homes at Grove Court, Minetta Street, and MacDougal Alley. End the selfguided Village tour under the grandiose marble arch at Washington Square Park.

7:30 PM KYLER ALVORD

• Nolita

Rubirosa

3 PM

Kyler graduated from WWU with a bachelor's degree in communication in 2018. He currently lives in New York City and writes for digital media brand Thrillist.

• Midtown

Bengal Tiger

Find Bengal Tiger perched atop a staircase in an unassuming building on the outskirts of Times Square. The small Indian nook dishes delicious flavors at shockingly reasonable prices. bengaltigerindianfood.com

9 PM

• Upper West Side

Cafe Lalo

Made famous by You’ve Got Mail, Cafe Lalo captures the old-school charm of the Upper West Side.

It’s far from NYC’s premier dessert destination but offers the perfect haven to linger for a while and debrief the day over a shared wedge of cheesecake. cafelalo.com

PHOTOS: KYLER ALVORD; ISTOCK.COM/LITTLENY (WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK); SARINA FINKELSTEIN (AVLORD HEADSHOT)

A Perfect Day in the Big Apple

down Washington Street; for shopping, roam the historic warehouse-turnedmarketplace, Empire Stores; for skyline views and vitamin D, claim a plot of grass at Brooklyn Bridge Park. brooklynbridgepark.org empirestoresdumbo.com

The iconic Brooklyn Bridge spans the East River and connects Manhattan with Brooklyn. The bridge is eminently walkable with a level for pedestrian and bicycle traffic above the main motorway.

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PLACES WE

SEATTLE

WASHINGTON

Natural Beauty

EM ILY O’H AIR

OUTDOOR AND URBAN ADVENTURES AWAIT IN THE EMERALD CITY

By Emily O’Hair ’15

Images of the Space Needle and Pike Place Market may pop into your head when you think of Seattle, but this quickly growing city has a lot more to offer.

From sporting events and nearby national parks to world-class dining, you can enjoy Seattle without even setting foot downtown.

With her husband, David, Emily lives in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle. She graduated from WWU in 2015 and is a registered nurse in the emergency department at Northwest Hospital.

She looks forward to continuing her adventure in Seattle as David begins his career in law.

EAT

Frankie & Jo’s Ice Cream Frankie & Jo’s, established in 2016, has quickly become a hotspot for vegans and dairy lovers alike.

Flavors like Salted Caramel Ash, Gingered Golden Milk, and Chocolate Tahini will become your sweet summer necessities. frankieandjos.com

3 While Seattle is an outdoor lovers paradise, it's a good idea to have a few options in mind for indoor exploration on those infamous rainy days.

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1

2

3

Volunteer Park

Rachel's Ginger Beer

National parks

The Volunteer Park Conservatory is a botanical garden with five display houses that are open year-round. You can escape the Seattle rain at any time in a simulated tropical oasis filled with ferns, cacti, succulents, and palm trees.

(A TWIST ON ROOT BEER!)

Mt. Rainier National Park is just 60 miles from downtown Seattle. A favorite for amazing views is the Camp Muir Trail, which is easily accessible from the Skyline Trail starting at Paradise Inn. Olympic National Park is located west of Seattle and offers rugged coastlines and temperate rainforests.

Rachel’s offers variations on root beer including tasty core flavors like carmelized pineapple and cucumber tarragon, along with seasonal options. The location tucked into an alley off Pike Place Market (one of three) is a favorite.

PHOTOS: MAKENA HORTON, EMILY O'HAIR. MEGAN REXIN

PLACES TO EXPLORE

CREDIT TK

Snapping a photo of your favorite cone in front of the iconic wallpaper at Frankie and Jo's Ice Cream is a shop tradition.

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HOMECOM CLASS PHOTOS Members of the 2019 honor classes reconnected with former classmates during homecoming weekend. ›› PHOTOS BY BRANDON HILL

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Class of

1. Andrew Johnson 2. Lauren Wells 3. Cindy Corson 4. Ian Holm

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5. Karen Poole 6. Karl Wooster 7. Leah (Davy) Botimer 8. Aaron Poole

9. Allen Botimer 10. H erlinda Ruvalcaba 11. Matthew Toelke

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MING 2019 HOMECOMING WEEKEND PHOTOS BY RONNIE ANDERSON, PARKER BAILEY, CHRIS DRAKE, MICHAEL ISEMINGER, AND GIANNI PAQUINI

F

OUR CORE THEMES mark the Walla Walla University commu-

nity: excellence in thought, generosity in service, beauty in expression, and faith in God. Thinking deeply and carefully has

been a hallmark of WWU culture for many years. This year as alumni, friends, and family gathered on campus for Homecoming Weekend 2019, we enjoyed a special celebration focused on the importance of excellence in thought and the great worth of the freedom to study, think, discuss, research, and write. This homecoming weekend was a time for WWU alumni to nurture and reflect on the value of curiosity, creativity, and hope.

ACROSS TOP: Greg Dodds ’97 and WWU president John McVay narrated the homecoming banquet on the theme of excellence in thought. Current and future alumni alike enjoyed the Peterson Memorial Library 75th anniversary celebration and the car show Sunday morning. Alumni from the honors program gathered for a reunion on Sabbath afternoon, and the golf tournament remained an alumni favorite.

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HOMECOMING 2019

Seminars and tours Alumni enjoyed a variety of seminars on Friday afternoon including a walking tour of campus art led

by Dan Lamberton ’71.

Other seminar topics included “The Mystery in Burrows Bay: An Octopus out of Place”

by Kirt Onthank ’06, “Repeating History”

by David Vixie ’77, “Apocalypse Illuminated” by former faculty member Richard Emmerson, and “The Original Design and Construction of the Space Needle and the New Glass Renovation” by Gary Curtis ’59.

Class of

5. Brent Bergherm 6. Shuree Torgerson 7. Sheri Rodman 8. Jerry Hartman 9. Chad Ordelheide

1. Troy Patzer 2. Cheryl Danner 3. Aimee Johnson 4. Amy Kinney

1999

10. Sharla (Lauterbach) Jamison 11. Willman Rojas 12. Elsa (Rivera) Rojas 13. Daniel Reitz

14. Kristina (Roos) Reitz 15. Steve Bergherm 16. Stephanie Briggs 17. Johann Torres

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Sabbath afternoon Current and former library employees met for a reunion, which was followed by a library open house and a general celebration of the 75th anniversary of the opening of Peterson Memorial Library. Later that evening alumni enjoyed an old fashioned ice cream social and slideshow.

Class of

5. Donna (Hepker) Ellis 6. Keith Christensen 7. P edrito MaynardZhang 8. Julia Hedrick

1. Wally Mandigo 2. Craig Connell 3. David Smith 4. J ennifer (Davison) Dubon

1994

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9. Brian Davidson 10. Trent Nagele 11. D ana (Payne) Schafer 12. Christina Nagele

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13. Jerry Irvine 14. Janine Childs 15. Jessica Davidson 16. John Grosboll 17. Vanessa Van Stee

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HOMECOMING 2019

ALUMNI OF THE YEAR Perseverance, faith in God, hard work, and the pursuit of excellence mark the lives of these five WWU alumni who were honored during Homecoming Weekend 2019 for embodying the ideals of Walla Walla University. ››

Homecoming Banquet Family and friends reunited—some after long separations—to kick off the weekend at the Homecoming Banquet.

Class of

1989 1. Stephen Ing 2. Linda Abdel-Malek 3. Jaime Rodriguez

BY EMILY HUSO PHOTOS BY CHRIS DRAKE

4. Valerie Bass 5. Lorraine Jacobs 6. Becky (Kellogg) Thompson 7. Greg Tonack 8. Jamie (Gardner) Wallace

9. Jan Blackwood 10. Grace (Carr) Killin 11. Brian Hatley 12. Karlyn Bond 13. Russell Jurgensen 14. Chuck Davidson

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15. Todd Fletcher 16. Bill Roberts 17. Brenda (Ringering) Salsbery 18. MaryAnn Garcia 19. Ben Cawthra

20. Teri (Barnett) Wagner 21. Rafat Shirinzadeh 22. Matthew Pierce 23. Lori Roberts 24. Janelle Clendenon 25. Angie St. Clair Devitt

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GARY CURTIS IN THE REGISTRATION LINE

at Walla Walla University in 1955, Gary Curtis switched his major from biology to civil engineering, little knowing that this splitsecond decision would ultimately lead to work on world-renowned engineering projects such as the Seattle Space Needle, the Queen’s Way Bridge, and the Dome at the South Pole.

At WWU Curtis gained many of the keys to his success, including strong foundations in engineering and writing. After graduating in 1959, he accepted his first engineering position in Los Angeles. Of entering the working world, Curtis says he found himself

Class of

well-prepared to compete with engineers from bigger schools. “As I worked with others over the years, I discovered that the engineering education that Professor Cross designed really was superior. I never considered myself an ‘A’ student but soon found I had nothing to be ashamed of.”

Within a year of accepting his next position with John Minasian, an expert in tower construction, Curtis served as project lead for the structural design of the Seattle Space Needle.

Since then, he has provided consulting engineering services for a number of projects, including the Dome over the “Spruce

1. Helaina Boulieris 2. Donivan Andregg 3. W endi (Andregg) Kannenberg 4. Sandra Graham

1984

CLASS OF

1959

Goose,” forensic studies of tall tower collapses, and the recent renovation of the Space Needle. Curtis, along with a group of his colleagues from Temcor, formed a company called Gossamer Space Frames.

Together, they developed a patented aluminum tubular joint system that has been used in more than 50,000 power plant frames.

Over the years, Curtis has enjoyed sailing from Mexico to Washington in a fold-up steel sailboat he designed and built himself.

He has traveled around the world and enjoys cycling, hiking, and fishing with his children, Margo and Gart ’88, and their families.

5. Renita (Reeves) Carlin 6. Bill Green 7. Brent Logan 8. Denise Sproed 9. Lori (Tucker) Kyle 10. Gary Parks

11. Ken Rose 12. Michelle (Butler) Trautwein 13. Kevin Stiles 14. Randy Yaw 15. Don Schafer

16. Susan Stiles 17. Jefre Humbert 18. Paul Richardson 19. Kim (Smith) Gorton 20. Brent Stanyer

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ALUMNI OF THE YEAR

CLASS OF

DICK AND ANITA (DIETRICH) MOLSTEAD

1959

surprise when one day, he enrolled in the University of Idaho’s teacher-certification program. After that he and Anita served for a decade at Sandpoint Junior Academy.

In 1986, Dick became the principal at Portland Adventist Academy. Meanwhile, Anita taught in Battle Ground, Washington, before accepting the invitation to become an associate superintendent of education for the Oregon Conference, a position she held until her retirement in 2005. In 1992, Dick joined Anita as associ-

DICK AND ANITA (DIETRICH)

Molstead are a powerhouse couple for Seventh-day Adventist education whose 60-year marriage began the day after their graduation from WWU in 1959. For the next 15 years, Anita taught across the West Coast while Dick worked as an aerospace engineer. Meanwhile, they welcomed two children, Eric att. and Michele ’90.

Throughout his engineering career, Dick showed an interest in education, often helping Anita in her classroom. Thus, it was no

Class of

3. John Christensen 4. Steve Tatro 5. Melinda Schulze 6. Tim Schultz 7. K erri (Bechtel) Finkbiner 8. Randy Unterseher

1979 1. Gladys (Steinke) Wentland 2. Brenda Mayne

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14. DeLona Bell 15. Dennis Seibold 16. Tim Patchett 17. N ancy (Larson) Saunders 18. Richard Patchett

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9. David Russell 10. Paul Chuljian 11. Rick Cooksley 12. Trevor O’Reggio 13. S herri (Ham) Seibold

ate superintendent. Six years later, he became the superintendent, a position he held until retirement.

To honor the memory of their son, Eric, who died in a plane crash in 2005, the Molsteads established the Eric Molstead Memorial Foundation.

In retirement the Molsteads enjoy outdoor activities and volunteer work at Lake City Academy and North Idaho College. Anita says, “Our prayer is that students today will experience a life filled with service and joy.”

19. Tammy (Dimke) Poole 20. Malcolm Clark 21. Merlin Knowles 22. William Saunders Jr. 23. Gary Fogelquist 24. Patty (McIntyre) Knittel 25. Cindy Claridge-Weber

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HOMECOMING 2019

Exellence in thought The yearly campus Awards Celebration took place Friday morning and provided an opportunity to recognize faculty, staff, and student accomplishments from the academic year. Sabbath morning the current dean of the School of Education and Psychology, Debbie Muthersbaugh, hosted a panel discussion featuring four of the previous deans.

Class of

1974 1. M aretta (Haynes) Kandoll 2. Daina (Cummings) Rogers

3. Nadine (Hayes) Messer 4. Richard Flaiz 5. Arthur Klym 6. Gary Ojala 7. Paul Dassenko 8. Roger Johnson 9. Jana (Unterseher) Luce

10. David Drake 11. Charles Vliet 12. Frank Meidell 13. Carol Unterseher 14. Troy Epperly 15. Rosa (Conner) Gillham

16. Linda (Wolcott) Torretta 17. Wayne Johnson 18. Jerry Kyle 19. Patti (Riise) Kyle 20. Lee Malott 21. Ameryllis Cafferky 22. Raymond Baker

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23. Paula (Hoewing) Cox 24. Myrna Nelson 25. Cassie Ragenovich 26. Jerry Cox 27. Terry (McFee) Waterbrook 28. William McCool 29. Howard Munson

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HOMECOMING 2019

Car Show The 21st annual Homecoming Car Show was the grand finale to homecoming weekend. The show is attended by several car clubs in the Walla Walla Valley and this year featured more than 130 cars. The event includes prizes, a veggie burger booth, music, and more.

Class of

4. Janice (Jensen) Ross 5. Carl Schwartz 6. Judy (Douglas) Ludlurz 7. Loren Nelson 8. Steve Packard 9. Marilyn (Monroe) Gantz 10. Dean Mack

1969 1. Herb Stratton 2. Bob Van Stee 3. Scott Duncan

11. Steve Canaday 12. Kathleen (O’Neill) Geary 13. Kurt Berg 14. Ruth Farnsworth 15. Jeanne O’Neill Larsen 16. Floyd Petersen 13

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17. Vivian (Byers) Robertson 18. William Cowin 19. Jim Robertson 20. Frances Davidson 21. James Severance 22. Darlene (Letniak) Karmy

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23. Tenny (Thompson) Garner 24. Judy (Olcott) Schoepflin 25. Gayle Schoepflin 26. Claudia (Loeffler) Chinn 27. Meredith (Dammrose) Grubbs 28. Loretta (LiDrazzah) Ruff 25

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ALUMNI OF THE YEAR

CLASS OF

CASSIE RAGENOVICH God provides for Seventhday Adventist education, one that she is reminded of daily in her role as the director of Student Financial Services (SFS) at WWU. After graduating from WWU in 1974, Ragenovich taught English for a year before moving back to Walla Walla to get married. At that time, she committed to work for two years in the SFS office. Today, 44 years later, Ragenovich helps countless students determine how they will fund a Christian college education at WWU. For her, there is no greater success than seeing the students she has assisted walk

ONE MORNING THE SUMMER

after her high school graduation in Glenns Ferry, Idaho, Cassie Ragenovich stood with her father in the newly seeded fields of the family farm. With his arms around her, her father said, “Honey, it’s going to be this hay field that gets you and your sister into Walla Walla College this fall.” Gazing around her at the desolate field, Ragenovich’s heart sank, and she thought, “We’ll never make it to college.” At harvest time, the crop sold for a record-high price, allowing the sisters to enroll. The experience taught Ragenovich a lifelong lesson about how

29. Stephen Chinn 30. Brent Gardner 31. Larry Gessele 32. Sonja (Rennings) Gourley 33. J anet (Lundeen) Neumann

34. Patricia (Hall) Tucker 35. Judy Hays 36. Don Abbey 37. K athie (Schultz) Bartholomew 38. Jonathan Watt 39. Bill Rouse

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down the aisle at graduation.

Over the years, Ragenovich has repeatedly witnessed how God miraculously provides resources to meet each student’s needs. Whether it is through impressing individuals to make a donation or leading Ragenovich to the right people, He never fails to deliver. “The God of the universe takes a personal interest in what happens on this campus,” she says. “He gives me a front row seat to the show of His limitless power in action.”

When she is not at the office, Ragenovich enjoys gardening and spending time with her husband, Mike.

40. Abbie (Lam Yuen) Watt 41. Judy Farnsworth 42. Robert Hoffman 43. Kathy (Boldman) Case 44. Judy (Brown) Silver 45. Duane Shabo 46. Dorothy Epperly 42

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1972+ 1974

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47. Merlin Schreiner 48. Bill Pellow 49. Dena (Sherrard) Guthrie 50. Kathy (Kinzer) Grosse 51. Richard Nelson 52. E unice (Youngberg) Mentges

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53. L ou (Kinzer) Blanchfield 54. Nancy (Gibson) Stewart 55. Ernest Ford 56. Helen (Lingscheit) Heavirland 57. Jan (Gaunt) Sifford 58. John Waterbrook

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ALUMNI OF THE YEAR

CLASS OF

TREVOR O’REGGIO

1979

“MAKE THE FULFILLMENT OF

God’s will your chief aim in life,” urges Trevor O’Reggio.

As a 12-year-old boy in Jamaica, O’Reggio made the commitment to follow this principle when he decided to become a Christian and pursue ministry. Today, he brings more than a decade of pastoral experience along with four graduate degrees to his work as a professor of church history at Andrews University where he has spent the past 20 years training others as pastors.

O’Reggio’s pursuit of God’s will brought him from Northern Caribbean University to WWU in 1978 where

Class of

3. W innie (Jackson) Whitsett 4. Jewell (Rasmussen) Putz 5. Don Ammon 6. Jeanne (Dutro) Peters 7. Muriel Zaugg

1964 1. Betty (Downs) Greene 2. Sharon (Beck) Ammon

8. Wally Mandigo 9. Sherrie Azrak 10. L ouise (Parmele) Schaffer 11. Ray Erwin 12. John Fackenthall 13. Joyce McLain

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he completed a bachelor’s degree in theology. Of studying at WWU, O’Reggio says, “I received an excellent education from some of the finest teachers in Adventism—John Brunt, Sakae Kubo, Malcolm Maxwell, and Alden Thompson. These men of deep scholarship instilled in me a love of the scriptures, clear thinking, respect for others, and a love of research.”

O’Reggio has carried these values with him into the various roles he has held over the years, including pastor, missionary, counselor, chaplain, teacher, author, husband, and father. As a professor at Andrews, O’Reggio imparts

these values to his own students and enjoys witnessing their growth as they become pastors and church leaders around the world.

Reflecting on his journey, O’Reggio recognizes how God has worked in his life to fulfill His purpose. “I see the hand of God orchestrating every chapter in my story,” O’Reggio says. “My joy is to carry out his will and to serve others.”

O’Reggio enjoys outdoor activities, such as swimming, biking, and running half marathons with his wife, Anna Maia Simpson. The couple have been married for 34 years and have three adult children.

14. Roman Hintz 15. Edna Race 16. N athalie (Ladner) Bischoff-Will 17. Loren Starr 18. Marilyn (Banek) Nelson

19. B everly (Paladeni) Riter 20. Donna (Monks) Worley 21. A rlene (Ausmus) Harris 22. R osemary (Grove) Dressler

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HOMECOMING 2019 SAVE THE DATE HOMECOMING WEEKEND 2020

VANGUARDS

APRIL 23–26

(Graduates from 1954 and prior)

1. Marvin Robertson 2. Albert Will 3. Alvin Kwiram 4. Jeanie (Patterson) Robertson 5. Lorelei Saxby 6. Daniel Matthews 7. C. Elwyn Platner 8. Louise (Cook) Weller 9. Lloyd Kuhn 10. Ann (Haraden) Cornell 11. James McKinstry 12. Alice (May) Chaney 13. Max Boicourt 14. Warrine (McDuffe) Harden 15. Joe Humble 16. Patricia (Pearson) Johnston 17. LaRene (Warren) Spady 18. Ruth Christensen

Class of

19. Robert Sproed 20. Lenella (Hitchman) Chellis-Gay 21. Sylvia (Landreth) Sproed 22. Frank Salt

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7. Norma O’Dell 8. Howard Emery 9. Dick Molstead 10. Hal Harden 11. Anita (Dietrich) Molstead

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12. Gary Patterson 13. Van Roberts 14. Eleanor Hetke 15. Roger Baltrusch 16. Elsworth Hetke 17. Richard Tucker

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28. Fred Schnibbe 29. June (Kyle) Iseminger 30. Verona Schnibbe 31. Gloria (Cox) Oakes 32. Bill Oakes

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1. Gary Curtis 2. Jim Smith 3. Jerry Dawes 4. Dick Coughren 5. Ralph Anderson 6. Kenneth Dunlap

1959

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23. Helen Thompson Zolber 24. Pat (Saxby) Reynolds 25. Mace Gay 26. Norman Skeels 27. Virginia (Proctor) Napier

18. Ila Baltrusch 19. Lois Ritchie-Ritter 20. G lenda (Gimbel) Schafer 21. E lberta (McGinnis) Wood

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Alumni Currents Staying in touch with our family of graduates

AlumNotes

fetal medicine. She and Michael enjoy traveling in their RV, riding their Harleys, and spending time with their children and grandchildren.

Get up to date with fellow WWU alumni.

Submit your information for AlumNotes at wallawalla.edu/alumnotes.

1950s

G. Thomas (Tom) White ’59 and his wife, Fay (Hilde) att., currently reside in Tulsa, Okla., where Tom is enjoying semi-retirement.

For many years he worked as a physical therapist, first at Portland Adventist Hospital, and then at Paradise Valley Hospital in California. In 1967, the Whites moved to Denver while Tom did some graduate work in anatomy and then began teaching physical therapy at St. Louis University. He completed a master’s degree in gerontology and returned to fulltime work in 1979. Tom set up two first-time therapy departments in small hospitals and spent 23 years in Missouri. In 1994, the couple moved to Oklahoma and the Integris Grove General Hospital where they spent 22 years. Tom and Fay have been together for 60 years, and they have been blessed with three children, Jennifer, Jeffrey, and Joel. Some of Tom’s favorite memories of WWU include meeting his future wife at fall registration in 1957, working with his brother Ron on the gymnasium crew that was in charge of setting up and taking down 1,200 chairs multiple times each week, and watching from the top of the Ad Building while Sputnik flew past early one morning.

Elberta [Betty] (McGinnis) Wood ’59 and her husband, Robert ’60, live in Walla Walla. After their wedding, they lived in California for several years while Robert taught environmental health in the Loma Linda University School of Public Health, and Betty completed a master’s degree in health education at LLU. In 1976 the Woods returned to Walla Walla where Robert taught at WWU in the School of Engineering. Betty is retired from working at the veterans

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hospital in Walla Walla where she was manager of employee accounts.

She enjoys painting, quilting, knitting, crocheting, and woodcarving.

Robert and Betty have four children: Brent ’83, David ’88, Roland ’87, and Susan. One of Betty’s favorite memories of her college days is of her wedding day on Robert’s graduation day. She recalls that in Conard Chapel that afternoon there were four weddings!

1960s

Sylvia (Kinzer) Blanchfield ’69 and her husband, Roger att., live in Churdan, Iowa.

Sylvia is a retired nurse educator and administrator. She was a member of the Greene County Board of Health, Iowa Public Health Association, and library board. In retirement, she helps her husband and son farm and works as a health liaison for the United Methodist Church in Churdan. She also writes grants and enjoys painting, writing, traveling, and working in women’s ministries.

She is co-owner and manager of Camp G & G. Sylvia and Roger have two children: Loralee Sandoval and Brett. Her favorite memory of WWU was her epidemiology class and her time on the Portland campus.

Kathleen (O’Neill) Geary ’69 and her husband, Charles ’72, currently reside in Ovando, Mont. They have three children, Anita Huggard, Joella Faust, and Brian att. Charles is a pastor, and his work has taken them to Idaho, Peru, Montana, and Alaska.

They are currently enjoying their retirement in western Montana.

Merlin Schreiner ’69 and his wife, Lynda (Fristad) att., live in Salem, Ore., where they are both retired.

Judith (Brown) Silver ’69 and her husband, Don ’68, live in Huntington, W. Va., where Judy is emeritus professor of mathematics at Marshall University after teaching there 30 years. She writes, “While at WWU, I was inspired by the joy Dr. Gordon Hare found in mathematics.” She also writes that while at WWU she “fell in love with Don Silver, and he encouraged me to get a Ph.D.” Some of her favorite memories from her time at WWU were throwing water balloons down the steps of “Old Main” and visiting her father’s basement physics lab. “He would drag out the heavy telescope so I could study stars.” Judy’s father was a vice president at the college.

The Silvers have two daughters, Christine Risch and Kathrine.

Patricia (Scyphers) Winn ’64 and her husband, Ted ’64, live in College Place. They have two children, Mark and Eileen Gascon ’90. The Winns have worked at five Adventist academies and one college, where Patricia taught business. Patricia writes: “My favorite memory from WWC was being able to work at the College Place Bindery to pay my entire way through college. Otherwise, I would not have been able to attend college.”

1970s

Cheryl (Cate-HickethierReimche) Carver ’79 and her husband, Michael, live in Damascus, Ore. Cheryl has five children: Shelly Hickethier Carver ’13, Sandra Hickethier Anderson ’14, Stacey Hickethier Page, Steven Hickethier, and Tom Carver. Cheryl works as a nurse for Legacy Health in maternal

Pamela Drake ’74 and her husband, John, live in Nampa, Idaho, where Pamela is a nurse at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center. They have one daughter, Misty Dawn. Pamela was a captain in the Air Force Nurse Corps for three years. She met her husband in Phoenix when she was working there, and they’ve been married for 34 years. Throughout her career, she has worked as a nurse in various areas including orthopedics, surgery, and transplant care. She now works in the surgical and trauma unit. Her favorite memories of WWU include making friends and traveling from the Portland Campus to the WWU campus.

Richard Flaiz ’74 and his wife, Claudia (Benson) ’05, live in Hermiston, Ore., where Dick has been an otolaryngologist for 28 years. In 2005, Claudia completed a master of social work degree at WWU. The Flaizes have four children: David att., Rebecca ’06, Mark ’10, and Jonathan. Dick is on a quest to hike in all 61 U.S. National Parks and has about 20 left to go. His favorite memories of WWU include Mel West’s organ postludes, Malcolm Maxwell’s archaeology class, learning to fly and SCUBA dive, and Don Lake helping him get out of the dorm.

Nancy (Larson) Saunders ’79 and her husband, William ’79, live in Birchwood, Tenn. They met at Gladstone Camp Meeting in Oregon just before starting school at WWU. Nancy and Bill now have two children: Melissa Arends and William.

The Saunderses spent much of their professional careers teaching at Monument Valley Seventh-day Adventist Mission School in Utah, where they raised their family and enjoyed exploring Anasazi ruins.

READ WESTWIND ONLINE: WESTWIND.WALLAWALLA.EDU

While raising their children, Nancy taught keyboard and band part time. After returning to teaching, she earned a degree in school psychology. Bill worked as a teacher and student services administrator for many years. Upon retirement, Nancy and Bill moved to Tennessee to be closer to their grandchildren. Bill is now an adjunct professor at Southern Adventist University. Nancy’s favorite memories of WWU include the Christian teachers and friends.

She says that “the philosophies have stayed with me and have made me much of what I am.”

Roger Smith ’73 and his wife, Constance, live in Greeneville, Tenn. Four years ago, they moved from Michigan, where they had lived for 26 years, to be closer to their daughter, Kimberly Shumaker, and her family. The Smiths enjoy gardening, hiking, and helping at their local Adventist church where Roger is an elder. They both volunteer at the Adventist Community Services Center. Roger writes, “Retirement seems busier than when we worked full-time.” In his free time, Roger helps a local church member with tree removal services. They are enjoying the milder winters in Tennessee and being closer to family. Some of Roger’s favorite memories of his time at WWU are of skiing at Spout Springs with his roommate, spending time in the art department, and watching the sunsets in the spring and fall.

Linda (Wolcott) Torretta ’74 and her husband, Raymond, live in College Place. After WWU graduation, Linda taught grades one through four at a little Adventist school in Shelton, Washington. She has worked for the Milton-Freewater School District for the past 14 years and has also worked in the frozen food industry and the retail industry. She fondly remembers the spiritual activities on campus at WWU and her involvement with the Foreign Student Club.

1980s

John Sackett ’80 lives in Olney, Md., where he is executive vice

KEY: att. = attended

president and chief operating officer for Adventist HealthCare. One of his favorite memories of his time at WWU is of taking Business Law class.

Terry Shelton ’84 lives in Yakima, Wash., where he works as a registered nurse at Memorial Hospital. Terry has been a nurse for 30 years. Some of his hobbies include gardening, motorcycling, and traveling. He has traveled to southeast Asia and Hawaii to snorkel and observe wildlife. His best college memories include playing football with classmates on the Portland campus and “the inclusiveness and camaraderie of every person I met.” Terry writes, “I will never forget Dr. Hepker.”

Terry has one daughter, Agnes.

1990s

Sheri Rodman ’99 and her husband, David Brenton, live in Montesano, Wash. They have two children: Kiana and Silvia. Sheri is a substitute teacher for two public school districts and for the local kindergarten through 8th grade Adventist school. Following her graduation from WWU, Sheri worked for two years as the direc-

tor of the Adventist preschool and daycare on Saipan. Returning home, she taught at Forest Park Adventist School for seven years and was principal/teacher for three years.

Sheri also volunteers as a courtappointed special advocate where she “advocates through the courts for the best interest of foster children.” The Rodmans enjoy traveling, camping, exploring museums, and tending their garden and orchard.

Sheri writes that one of her favorite memories of her time at WWU is of playing Frisbee in the middle of the night on College Avenue.

In Memory Ruth E. (Miller) Bussey ’52 was born in 1927 in Spokane, Wash., and died June 23, 2018, in Redding, Calif., at age 91. Surviving: son Joshua Saint of Huntington Beach, Calif.

Roberta (Bobbie) Carrie ’68 was born in 1945 in Kansas and died Aug. 16, 2018, in Portland, Ore., at age 73. Surviving: daughter Amie of Vancouver, Wash., and sister Pamela Brown of Featherville, Idaho.

Jonathan Charles Coffeen ’76 was born in 1953 in Tacoma, Wash., and died Oct. 7, 2018, in Walla Walla at age 65. Surviving: wife Donna (Kingsley) ’78 of Walla Walla; sons Philip ’07 of Walla Walla and Aaron ’11 of St. Helens, Ore.; and brother Nathaniel ’72 and ’74 of Walla Walla.

Carol Maxine Danielson ’58 was born in 1928 in Bismarck, N.D., and died March 25, 2018, in St. Helena, Calif., at age 89.

Robert Gene Meharry ’55 was born in 1933 in Outlook, Mont., and died April 4, 2018, in Moses Lake, Wash., at age 84. Surviving: wife Shirley att. of Moses Lake; sons Marlin of Olympia, Wash., Lauren of Orting, Wash., Terry of Bardstown, Ky., and Clinton of Moses Lake; sisters Dorothy of Walla Walla, Donna Wagner of Belgrade, Mont., and Doreen Gray of Ceres, Calif.; and brothers Roger of Meridian, Idaho, Dennis of Camas, Wash., and Darrell of Eugene, Ore. Floyd L. Mohr ’56 was born in 1934 in Argentina and died Sept.

11, 2018, in Mission Viejo, Calif., at age 84. Surviving: wife Marilyn of Laguna Woods, Calif.; daughters Tamara Clark of La Jolla, Calif., and Terri Pastor of Corona, Calif.; sons Craig of Loma Linda, Calif., Brett of Pacoima, Calif., and Timothy Taylor of Arcata, Calif.; and brother Lester of Redlands, Calif.

Della Park ’65 was born in 1943 in Cowley, Wyo., and died Sept. 9, 2018, in Portland, Ore., at age 74.

Surviving: husband James ’59 of Salem, Ore.; daughters Yolande Waters of Seattle, Wash., and Ciciley Mechelle Moore att. of Albany, Ore.; sister Ann Bardell ’73 of Sweethome, Ore.; and brother Howard of Washington.

Perla Robertson ’98 was born in 1976 in Guadelajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and died Nov. 4, 2018, in Urbana, Illinois, at age 42. Surviving: husband Richard of Urbana; children Nibaw, Roxxy, Darby, and Kuyani of Urbana; brother Eduardo Brown of Barstow, Calif.; and parents Eduardo and Perla Brown of Sierra Vista, Ariz.

Marlowe H. Schaffner ’44 was born in 1922 in Salem, Ore., and died March 1, 2017, in Loma Linda, Calif., at age 94. Surviving: wife Mavis att. of Redlands, Calif.; daughters Rita Corbett ’70 of British Columbia, Canada, and Roberta of Kentucky; and sons Ronald ’67 of Ohio, and Richard att. of California.

Jeannine (Zimmerman) Shaw ’70 was born in 1948 in Lodi, Calif., and died Sept. 15, 2018, in Cottonwood, Calif., at age 70. Surviving: husband Wayne of Redding, Calif.; daughters Kellie of Redding and Kimberly Bennie of Highland, Calif.; and sisters Joyce Barlow ’75 of Cleveland, Tenn., and Judy Beasley ’75 of Lodi, Calif.

John Edward Turner ’67 and ’72 was born in 1944 in Shelton, Wash., and died on Jan. 30, 2019, in Tempe, Ariz., at age 74. Surviving: wife Ruth ’66 of Cottonwood, Ariz.; sons Kevin att. of Twin Falls, Idaho, and Kelly ’96 of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and brothers Ronald ’67 of Severn, Md., and Harvey of Mentone, Calif.

Wetzel Donald Williams ’53 was born in 1930 in Bowie, Texas, and died on Nov. 22, 2017, in Oceanside, Calif., at age 87. Surviving: wife Doris (Lake) Williams att. of Oceanside; daughters Tami Zimmerman of Oceanside, Annette Flowers of Mission Viejo, Calif., and Tricia att. of Laguna Niguel, Calif., and son Grady ’81 of Santa Barbara, Calif.

Norma Peterson Winger ’47 was born in 1924 in Roy, Wash., and died on Nov. 12, 2017, in Napa, Calif., at age 93. Surviving: husband Donald Winger ’50 of Yountville, Calif.; daughters Marlo Mulroney of Melbourne, Australia, and Lori Bordessa of Napa; and son Nordon of Cave Creek, Ariz.

Westwind Summer 2019

29

AC

Alumni Currents Staying in touch with our family of graduates

Congratulations new officers!

Alumni elect new officers to serve on Alumni Association Board of Trustees

JACKIE CROMBIE STONAS ’96 PRESIDENT-ELECT

In her position as presidentelect, Jackie Crombie Stonas will serve one year as president-elect, one year as president, and one year as board chair of the Alumni Association.

Crombie Stonas has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from WWU and was social vice president for the Associated Students of WWU. She and her husband manage several real-estate ventures and small businesses, including yogurt shops and a storage facility. She has served as board chair for a daycare organization and multiple terms as vice chair of her local school board. Her three daughters currently attend WWU.

LAUREL SMITH ROGERS ’95

DAVID Z. HALL ’93 BOARD MEMBER

SECRETARY

Laurel Smith Rogers will serve a twoyear term as Alumni Association secretary.

Smith Rogers has a bachelor’s degree from Walla Walla University with majors in English and speech communication. She also has a master’s degree in writing from Portland State University. Smith Rogers is passionate about clear communication and says it is this passion that drives her desire to keep WWU alumni well informed of the activities of the Alumni Association board by serving as secretary. She and her husband, Tony, have three children.

David Hall will serve a threeyear term as a board member for the Alumni Association.

He is a thirdgeneration WWU alumnus.

He graduated from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine where he also completed residencies in preventive health and occupational medicine. In addition, he has a master’s degree in public health. He currently works at Portland Adventist Medical Center in Portland, Oregon.

Hall says that he has fond memories of the time he spent at the Rosario Beach Marine Station and of serving as a student missionary in Pohnpei, Micronesia. He and his wife have two children.

MINDI IRVINE att.

BOARD MEMBER

Mindi Irvine will serve a three-year term on the Alumni Association board. Irvine has a master’s degree and a doctorate in physical therapy from Loma Linda University. She owns a multisite physical therapy practice in Tri-Cities, Washington, and is passionate about helping people improve their health and longevity through physical therapy and lifestyle medicine. She and her husband, Lance, have four children enrolled in Adventist education in the Walla Walla Valley from Rogers Adventist School through Walla Walla University. Irvine says she loves being active in the lives of her children.

August 23–25, 2019 Join guest speaker Greg Dodds ’97, WWU professor of history and chair of the Department of History and Philosophy, for a relaxing weekend with fellow friends and alumni. Come for Sabbath or the full weekend.

Make your reservation today!

wallawalla.edu/rosario-sabbath (800) 377-2586

34

Westwind Summer 2019

Alumni Sabbath at

Rosario

PLANT PLANT A A SEED SEED Plant a seed today to strengthen Plant a seedWWU todaytomorrow. to strengthen WWU tomorrow.

A legacy gift is a gift that impacts generations to come. Make Walla Walla University part of your heritage by including WWU in A legacy giftplan. is a gift that impacts generations come.

Make your estate Remembering WWU in your to will builds financial Walla Walla University partand of your heritage by includingand WWU strength, bolsters academic co-curricular programs, helpsin your estate plan.

Remembering WWU in your will builds financial students and faculty.

Here are the benefits to you: strength, bolsters academic and co-curricular programs, and helps students and faculty. Here are the benefits to you:

It’s revocable.

If your plans or circumstances change, you can easily revise the bequest.

It’s revocable.

If your plans or circumstances change, you can easily revise the bequest.

It’s simple.

You can set up your gift with a single paragraph in your will or a simple It’s simple. one-page amendment.

You can set up your gift with a single paragraph in your will or a simple one-page amendment.

It’s flexible.

You can leave us a specific asset or a share in your estate’s net remainder.

It’s flexible.

Your bequest can support a specific program or whatever needs are most You can leave a specific asset or a share in your estate’s net remainder. relevant whenus your gift is received.

Your bequest can support a specific program or whatever needs are most relevant when your gift is received.

Learn more about legacy giving by visiting legacy.wallawalla.edu or by contacting Dorita Tessier ’80, director of gift planning, at (509) 527-2646 or Learn more about legacy giving by visiting legacy.wallawalla.edu or by dorita.tessier@wallawalla.edu. contacting Dorita Tessier ’80, director of gift planning, at (509) 527-2646 or dorita.tessier@wallawalla.edu.

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE

Walla Walla University 204 S. College Ave. College Place, WA 99324

Paid WALLA WALLA UNIVERSITY

See you there!

Upcoming events to note on your calendar

OCTOBER 25–27 Book lodging now for

Family Weekend 2019! Visit classes, meet faculty, and enjoy special events, such as the annual faculty/staff talent show. (Schroeder and Lucy from last year’s drama production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” were crowd favorites.) Learn more at wallawalla.edu/ family-weekend.

OCTOBER 3–5

NOVEMBER 9

NOVEMBER 10

Cheer on your favorite soccer and volleyball teams at the annual

Join fellow alumni for

Debbie Muthersbaugh, professor of education and dean of the School of Education and Psychology, will speak for the annual

WWU Fall Classic Tournament.

More than 20 teams from across the country will compete. Watch for the tournament schedule in September at wallawalla. edu/tournament.

Portland Parent Sabbath. Events will include Sabbath lunch and the student nurses’ dedication.

For a complete schedule of events, visit wallawalla.edu/ family-weekend or call (800) 377-2586.

Distinguished Faculty Lecture.

Watch the lecture livestream in November at wallawalla.edu/DFL.

THEOLOGY GRADUATE KEVIN KAKAZU ’99

shares his plans for infusing new life into his teaching and pastoral ministry by identifying spiritual gifts among his church members.

Read more at westwind. wallawalla.edu.

For a full calendar of events, visit wallawalla.edu/calendar.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

PHOTO: CALEB RISTON

SEPTEMBER 15 Freshmen arrive on campus for orientation at JumpStart.

New students and their parents are invited to enjoy lunch with WWU president John McVay at 11:30 a.m. Classes start for all students on Monday, Sept. 23.