Westwind, Summer 2011

Westwind wallawalla.edu/westwind

The Journal of Walla Walla University Summer 2011

Jesus Among Us

Team Brings Their Best Game to Tax Challenge The Music Goes On

alla univers lla W ity a W Est. 1892

Our success is your legacy.

You made Walla Walla University great, and we’re serious about keeping it that way. After all, your diploma says something about you, and you can help us preserve its value for years to come.

Encourage promising students to choose WWU.

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Support our scholarships and academic programs.

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Our success is your legacy. Thanks for keeping us strong well into the future.

Contents

Dilemmas and Decisions

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4 Campus Current 9 Jesus Among Us 13 Dilemmas and Decisions: Team Brings Their Best Game to Tax Challenge

16 Alumni Interview 18 Alumni of the Year 20 Homecoming Weekend 22 Alumnotes 29 In Memory 30 Calendar 31 From My Point of View

Chris Drake

32 College Avenue Crossings

Westwind Summer 2011, Volume 30, Number 2 Editor Rosa Jimenez Writers Jennifer Jorgenson, Lisa Krueger, Becky St. Clair, Emily Sunken, Chelsea Vyhmeister, Jenae Williamson Cover Photo Colby D. Kuschatka Design Robert Car Graphics About the cover The new campus sculpture, “Jesus Among Us,” symbolizes the act of service.

Walla Walla University is a community of faith and discovery committed to – Excellence in thought – Generosity in service – Beauty in expression – Faith in God Westwind is published three times a year for alumni and friends of Walla Walla University, a Seventh-day Adventist institution. It is produced by Marketing and Enrollment Services/University Relations. This issue was printed in August 2011.

Third-class postage is paid at College Place, Wash. © 2011 by Walla Walla University.

Westwind/University Relations 204 S. College Ave. College Place, WA 99324 Telephone: (509) 527-2397 Toll-free: (800) 541-8900 E-mail: westwind@wallawalla.edu Online: westwind.wallawalla.edu

Summer 2011 Westwind 3

Campus Current

Honored Faculty and Staff Mathematics Research 2011 Retirees

W

hen Walla Walla University opened its doors in 1892, Walla Walla Valley residents included more than 500 Chinese residents—5 percent of the valley’s population. Pictured in this 1912 photograph, Chinese residents participate in a downtown Walla Walla parade. Colin Gladden, a 2011 history graduate, researched the history of Walla Walla’s Chinese population for his senior thesis project.

“Walla Walla was an important dispersion point for Chinese who traveled on the Columbia River from Portland and were looking to work

4 Westwind Summer 2011

in the mines in Washington’s interior,” says Gladden. However, as mine production went down the Chinese began to move into the city to find work.

Part of Gladden’s research focused on how the Chinese were treated by the white community and the intense racism evident in slanderous newspaper stories, and reports of both verbal and physical abuse.

“This part of our local history is

important because the more a community knows about its past, the more it knows about itself in the moment and what has built the community we live in today,” he says.

Gladden says the tendency to label ethnic or cultural groups as the ‘other’ is a constant struggle,” Gladden says. “I do hope that

there is an end and that research like my own will help move us toward that goal while informing us about the past.”

Read Gladden’s paper online at history.wallawalla.edu/news. n

Courtesy of Whitman College and Northwest Archives

Picture of Our Past

Campus Current

Textbooks and More National Campus Bookseller to Manage Bookstore

Chris Drake

S

tudents returning to the campus this fall will find advanced services and new merchandise at the campus bookstore—both at the store’s physical site and its online site.

Changes have been in the works since summer when Walla Walla University transferred management of the university bookstore to Barnes & Noble College Booksellers. The university has signed a five-year contract with the company, which is a subsidiary of national bookseller Barnes & Noble.

Barnes & Noble has added advanced technology services and also made merchandizing improvements in the 12,044square-foot space. The store is modeled after other Barnes & Noble’s campus bookstores, which are distinct from Barnes & Noble’s retail bookstores. Barnes & Noble College Booksellers operates more than 630 campus bookstores at colleges and universities across the United States.

Matt Heinrich, a 1999 biology graduate, is the store’s new manager. All bookstore personnel, three full-time and at least three part-time people, are employees of Barnes & Noble. Employees include university students.

The decision to contract with the bookseller came after a threemonth review by campus administrators. “Although the bookstore has always been profitable, the textbook industry is experiencing

turbulent times,” says Steve Rose, WWU’s vice president for financial administration.

“E-books, book rentals, and other technology changes led to our decision to partner with a

Among the textbook services, students opting for textbook rentals save up to 50 percent over the cost of a new printed book.

Students can continue to pay rental fees using cash, checks,

Walla Walla University bookstore’s new manager, Matt Heinrich, is overseeing the changes at the store.

Find the store online at wallawalla.edu/store.

strong market leader. We believe this partnership will offer more affordable, convenient options to our students and better position us for the future.”

Customers have an expanded array of options, both at the store’s physical site and through its online site. The store’s expanded website offers textbooks, trade books, and school and art supplies. Online shoppers can also order WWU-themed merchandise.

credit, or student financial aid.

Through the website’s integration with the class registration system, after students register for classes, they can view required textbooks and rent or buy them online.

Students with books that will be used for future university classes will receive a 50 percent cash payout for books they return, up to the store’s inventory limit.

The bookstore will continue to

sell general-interest books, clothing, office supplies, and gifts.

This move is the most significant change for the campus bookstore since 1996, when the store moved to its current location, the site of the former College Bindery.

Barbara Bigger, who recently retired after 27 years as manager of the bookstore, managed the move, and cut the ceremonial ribbon for the new store along with former store managers Hazel Cheney and Kittee Wohlers. n Summer 2011 Westwind 5

Campus Current

Head of the Class

E

ach academic year, Walla Walla University honors individual faculty and staff for both distinction in scholarship and service to the university. Awards were presented at a campus awards presentation held in April.

Joe Galusha, professor of biology, was named Distinguished Faculty Lecturer for 2011. This award recognizes a professor’s

Kellie Bond

Trevor Congleton

all-around excellence in teaching and scholarship, involvement in governance, church, and community service. He will present his campus lecture on Nov. 13.

Galusha has taught at WWU for more than 30 years, and has done extensive research into the habits and behaviors of gulls on the western U.S. coast.

The Excellence in Teaching Award was given to Tom Ekkens, associate professor of physics, for his demonstration of the craft and high standards of excellent teaching. Ekkens has dedicated the last eight years to this endeavor at WWU, and is appreciated for his easy conversation and ability to explain even the 6 Westwind Summer 2011

most complicated concepts.

Kellie Bond, chair of the English Department, received the 2011 Excellence in Advising Award. This award results from nomination by students, and Bond’s knowledge of the course bulletin and interest in student success is evident to all of her advisees.

Though faculty scholarship

Tom Ekkens

comes in many forms, this next award recognizes a professor’s original contributions to his or her Chris Gottfried specialized field of study. Recipients are thoughtful and dedicated teachers, scholars, and researchers. The 2011 recipient of the Excellence in Scholarship Award is Alden Thompson, professor of biblical studies at WWU since 1970.

The Outstanding Teaching

Award was presented to Dave Thomas, dean of the School of Theology. The award is sponsored by alumni who are dedicated supporters of outstanding teaching at WWU. Thomas was recognized for fresh, provocative classroom lectures and for his dedication to students outside the classroom. He was also recognized by students and peers as a model for his work in integrating faith and learning.

Three staff awards are given each year Joe Galusha to honor

Debbie Smart

This year’s Rising Staff Member of the Year was presented to Trevor Congleton, director of recruiting in the Marketing and Enrollment Services office. Congleton has more than tripled the number of visits-to-applications in his two years on staff, and is known for his ability to remember every student he meets.

Debbie Smart, administrative assistant for the School of Education and Psychology, and Chris Gottfried, manager of the Express, were each awarded Staff Member of the Year for 2011.

Smart is well-known by students for her friendly attitude, her ever-ready listening ear, and her extensive knowledge of the WWU bulletin and class schedule.

Gottfried demonstrated his

Dave Thomas

WWU non-teaching staff: Rising Staff Member of the Year, for staff who have worked at WWU for fewer than four years, and two Staff Member of the Year awards, for those who have worked at WWU four years or more.

Alden Thompson

abilities as Express manager when he took over as interim manager when the previous manager took an extended leave. His organization and coordination of last year’s renovation and expansion of the Express brought his skills to the attention of many. n

Courtesy of Mask

University Honors Stellar Faculty and Staff

Campus Current

Proofs, Patterns, and Theorems Juggling Hobby Turns Into Mathematics Research

Chris Drake

I

f 2011 Walla Walla University mathematics graduate Alban Howe had been thinking of college when he picked up juggling at age 10, he still would never have expected it to become the topic of a research project during his senior year.

“When it came time to choose something to study, I immediately thought of juggling,” says Howe.

“I’d heard that mathematics can be used to describe juggling patterns. It was even more interesting than I expected.”

He started the project by reading “The Mathematics of Juggling” by Burkard Polster, as well as other scholarly papers on the subject. Howe even watched

videos online about the subject, including one of Allen Knutson presenting on the mathematics of juggling at Cornell University.

“After finding all of these resources, my main task was to understand the proofs of the theorems I wanted to present,” says Howe. “I ended up spending quite a bit of time rewriting and modifying several proofs, and learning a few new juggling patterns I thought would clearly demonstrate the mathematics of the act.”

In the beginning, Howe’s goal was simply to learn about an aspect of mathematics that was new to him. As the quarter progressed, however, his goal became proving a few of the most

Longtime Faculty and Staff Retire

arrived are still at WWU. “However, one thing has not changed,” he says. “The sense of belonging to a community whose purpose is to teach and model Christian values and service.”

Nancy Sharon first worked at the College Store in 1975 as secretary to then-manager Kittee Wohlers. After a sojourn in Iowa, she returned as clerk-supervisor. Since that time she has done every job in the store except manager, which she was glad to watch others do. Nancy is known as a big-picture person, and her vision made her a valuable and fun employee.

After earning a master’s degree from WWU in 1964, Gene Stone

Five personnel recently retired from longtime service to Walla Walla University.

Nearly 50 years ago Barbara Bigger arrived on campus as a freshman. In 1982 she was hired to start the Career Center, and 18 months later was asked to manage the college bookstore.

At her retirement 27 years later, she has the longest record of continuous years as director of the WWU bookstore. Every year under her management, the bookstore turned a profit.

Jim Forsyth was hired in the technical support department 30 years ago. Today, he observes that only 8 percent of the staff here when he

Alban Howe’s research and presentation earned a top award at a national mathematics competition.

fundamental juggling theorems by providing diagrams and examples.

He drew a number of diagrams using not only paper and pencil, but also LaTex, a mathematical programming language.

Howe explains that the mathematics of juggling can be very useful to jugglers, such as determining what kind of throw is necessary to switch between juggling patterns, as well as learning and creating new patterns.

In August, Howe’s distinctive research earned accolades at Mathfest, a competition sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America. Of the nearly 200 student presenters and 20 award winners, Howe was awarded “Best Presentation.”

Next school year Howe will be teaching Algebra I and II at Takoma Academy in Takoma Park, Md. He hopes to pursue graduate studies in either mathematics or music.

Watch a video of Howe juggling at mathematics.walla walla.edu/news. n Retiring from service at Walla Walla University, include, from left, Jim Forsyth, Barbara Bigger, Gary Wiss, Nancy Sharon, and Gene Stone.

taught at Atlantic Union College in Massachusetts before bringing his insight to WWU’s Biology Department. “I deeply appreciate the opportunity to end my academic career where it started,” he says.

The minute Gary Wiss saw the WWU campus while touring with his academy choir, everything fell into place. “As Darth Vader would say, it was my destiny,” says Wiss. After graduating from the university, Wiss left for 10 years but felt the school calling him back. “When I returned and joined the faculty,” he says, “I had come home.” During his 45 years here, Wiss has served as chair of the English department and accreditation writer.

He also created the department’s film literature program. n Summer 2011 Westwind 7

Bits & Pieces

Traveling Back in Time

Sylvia Nosworthy, professor of English, while in costume shares stories of her Adventist heritage with regional churches.

During the summer, she also volunteers as a tour guide at the Historic Adventist Village in Battle Creek, Mich. Her middle name, Byington, comes from her great-great-grandfather, John Byington, the first General Conference president.

Mission: Clean Water

If Brielle Starr asks how she can help, she delivers. When picking her senior project, Starr sought ideas from the director of Adventist Development and Relief Agency based in Niger, Africa. “I was most interested in a device that would help give light to people in Third World countries,” Starr says. The 2011 mechanical engineering graduate designed a lifting device that could be used to install and service water pumps in Africa. The device is designed to fit ADRA trucks and be built onsite in Africa, using readily available materials.

Crossing Borders

Engineers Without Borders at WWU (EWBWWU), a student chapter of the larger national organization, traveled to Honduras in March to continue their ongoing project at the local school in Luis Garcia. On this trip, the team focused on building sewer and drainage systems. For more information, visit ewb-wwu.org/blog/.

8 Westwind Summer 2011

And the Pi Winner Is …

Lindsay Kelstrom, senior bioengineering major, recited 1,769 digits of Pi from memory during the 2011 Alumni Homecoming Weekend. The Pi contest, sponsored by 1984 alumnus Randy Yaw, challenges students each year and rewards them with a slice of pie afterward. Kelstrom has won the contest for a record four consecutive years.

Green Thumbs Welcome On land that was once reserved for growing onions, new plants are sprouting in the Walla Walla University’s Community Garden. Located behind the Birch Street Apartments, the garden is subdivided into 10’ x 20’ plots and is equipped with watering spigots and hoses.

J

Colby D. Kuschatka

Jesus Among Us

by Nancy Snyder Canwell

esus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you not know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord— and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.”

John 13:3-5, 12-15, NRSV

Summer 2011 Westwind 9

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t was a warm Walla Walla Valley evening the first time I saw it.

The air smelled sweet the way it always does this time of year. As I walked toward the “Jesus Among Us” sculpture, I stopped to read the introductory plaque that tells the story of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples.

What happened next was unexpected.

As I walked up the steps toward the sculpture, I felt as if I was on holy ground. “There is something very sacred about this place,” I said to myself. I sat down on the bench near the sculpture, noticing that the campus was unusually quiet for a Friday evening. The only sounds were those of a lonely cricket and water trickling from the sculpture’s water jar into the basin.

by Jesus’ act of servanthood. One hand rests on her head while the other holds her long hair. What will she become?

How will she serve? Will she use her mind to prepare lesson plans as a teacher? To study the Bible and preach sermons as a pastor? To think of solutions as a counselor when people come to her with their problems?

And what of the young man having his feet washed? What will he become? How will he serve?

Will his feet carry him from room to room as a hospital nurse? Will they run along a gym floor as a coach, as he trains student athletes in technique and sportsmanship?

Will they walk along forest

From Dream to Sculpture It took years for the “Jesus Among Us” sculpture to become a reality. It began as a dream back in 1999. Bruce Johnston and others from the class of 1950 wanted a way to commemorate the 50th anniversary of their class. Later, former WWU president Jon Dybdahl supported the

There in front of me is the figure of Jesus. He looks the way we picture him from Bible stories. His hair is long, and he has a beard.

There in front of me is the figure of Jesus. He looks the way we picture him from Bible stories. His hair is long, and he has a beard. Looking strong yet gentle, he’s wearing an inner robe with a towel tied around his waist. In front of him are three young people who represent the gender and ethnic diversity of our campus: an Asian woman, an African American man and a Caucasian man.

They are modern-day disciples, dressed in modern-day clothes. And the King of the universe is kneeling in front of them, offering to wash their feet. He’s looking directly at the young man in front of him who already has one shoe off and is extending his foot toward the One who lives to serve. The other two figures watch and eagerly wait their turn.

The young woman with long, flowing hair represents the young women of our campus. She is obviously touched

10 Westwind Summer 2011

trails and beaches as he collects samples as a biologist?

The other young man is standing, reaching toward Jesus with both hands. What will he become? How will he serve? Will his hands save lives in the operating room? Will they fly an airplane in the mission field? Will they play a musical instrument to inspire others?

Aside from preparing them for their professions, what will Walla Walla University instill in these three that will give them a desire to serve their church and community? Will Sabbath mornings find them teaching a children’s Sabbath School class, leading worship, or collecting the offering? In their spare time, will they serve the hungry at a soup kitchen, help an elderly person weed the garden, coach a team, or give blood to the Red Cross?

project and encouraged those dreaming to expand their idea from an interior sculpture to an outdoor centerpiece sculpture. Meetings, planning, and fundraising went on for several years until ultimately artist Alan Collins was commissioned to create “Jesus Among Us.” Here’s what Collins envisioned as he sculpted the piece: “Of all the symbols that Jesus used to teach spiritual truths, water seems the most appropriate subject for a sculpture on the campus of this Christian university in Walla Walla.

Jesus’ use of water to wash the disciples’ feet after the Last Supper was to teach humility and service to those ambitious

men by becoming their example, and an example to all Christians of all ages.

His facial expression must have been loving but firm as Peter recoiled from Jesus’ washing of his feet, causing Jesus to warn Peter, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.’ The student-age figures that flank Peter are intended as allegories of his response to Jesus, ‘Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!’ The female figure offers her hair to be washed, and the male figure offers his hands. Their youth, gender, and varied ethnicity are intended to represent the composition of the student population of the University.”

From Sculpture to Service

I became curious about other people’s impressions of the sculpture. So the next day after church I visited it again. I was happy to see people mingling around, looking and talking. Here’s what some of them had to say:

WWU in the fall: “It’s appropriate that we have a sculpture about service because that’s why we’re here—to educate young people for service.”

Tim, visiting from Spokane: “What comes to my mind is that when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, they were all men. But the sculpture includes a young woman.

It shows that Jesus accepts all.”

Andrea, a mother and student at WWU: “My 3-year-old daughter, Felicity, loves to come and visit this sculpture. It’s her favorite place to come for a walk. She’ll say, ‘Let’s go see Jesus!’”

Maybe Felicity will be a graduate of the Class of 2030, and will carry on the long heritage of service our campus represents. After all, that’s why we’re here— as a university, a church, and a people.

Our campus has always taken service seriously. We began a student missions program in the 1960s and now send 70 to 100 students out into the world to serve each year. For those who stay on

From Contemplation to Commitment On the introductory plaque, after the story in John 13, you will find this challenge: As we contemplate Jesus’ act, symbolizing His whole career of sacrifice for humankind, we are invited to follow his peerless example and are called to the highest ideals of true education. Through this sculpture, it is our invitation 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.

And I did just that. Before I left that Friday evening, with the carillon chim-

The young woman with long, flowing hair represents the young women of our campus. She is obviously touched by Jesus’ act of servanthood.

Val, who works at WWU: “It adds reality—it brings it all home.

It looks so real, and has kind of a sacred feeling when you walk up to it.”

Maria, who was visiting from Ukraine: “I like how it makes Jesus in our day, and close to us. We only know Jesus from the New Testament, and that was a long time ago. This shows him with modern youth.”

David, an alumnus whose daughter will be a freshman at

campus, Student Missions offers shortterm mission trips. And twice a year on Service Day, an average of 500 students go out and become the hands and feet of Jesus in our own community.

As Jon Dybdahl said, “The dream is that this sculpture would be an inspiration to young people to be foot washers to the world. I think that any time you can visibly show something that kind of epitomizes your mission and what you’re about, you make a statement. And I think this statue visibly makes a statement about what this university is about.”

ing “Sweet Hour of Prayer” at sundown, I recommitted my life to being a servant. And I’m sure that in future years, hundreds—perhaps even thousands— will pause there and do the same. n Nancy Snyder Canwell graduated with a degree in theology from Walla Walla University in 1981. She later returned to the University Church as an associate pastor for over five years. She is currently a freelance writer.

Summer 2011 Westwind 11

Bringing the Sculpture to Life 2

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3 4

5

8

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7 Artist Alan Collins created “Jesus Among Us” through a process called lost wax casting.

After rendering the artwork in a small pencil sketch, Collins and foundry artists began the laborious process of creating the sculpture.

12 Westwind Summer 2011

10 1 Collins sculpted a small-scale model of the final rendition out of clay.

2 A digital scan of the model provided the parameters for a machine to create a full-scale version of the sculpture into rigid foam sections. Collins refined the foam sections to add details and lifelike qualities to the prototype.

3 The prototype was delivered to Old School Bronze Fine Arts Foundry in Umapine, Ore., and was cut into manageable pieces.

4 From these pieces, a series of

positive and negative molds were made.

5 Using the molds, the foundry created a wax version of the sculpture pieces.

6 The wax was then dipped in ceramic slurry and coated with silica sand multiple times to create a ceramic shell. When it dried, it was fired in a furnace at 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit to fire the shell and remove the wax.

7 Then, molten bronze was poured into the ceramic molds.

8 After the bronze cooled, the shell was broken off, and the various sections were cleaned and sandblasted.

9 Foundry artists assembled the bronze pieces through a sophisticated welding process.

10 Collins and foundry owner Leif Dillow review the assembled sculpture. To complete the process, foundry artists then applied chemical compounds to the sculpture surface to create the patina, and then applied a final wax coating to complete the process.

“Which option gives clients greater tax benefit? Option A: Trade rare boat @ $500,000 and apartment complex @ $1,000,000 with historical cost of $800,000 for condominium set for $1,500,000 and invest another $500,000 to make it worth $2,500,000 in 5 years and then sell it.”

Or option B ...?

Dilemmas and Solutions Team Brings Their Best Game to Tax Challenge

By Brittany Smith

T

Chris Drake

axes tell a story. They are like a puzzle that pieced together creates an accurate picture of what a company, a person, a school, or an organization looks like.

It’s putting together this puzzle that motivates Walla Walla University business students to participate in tax competitions. For the second year, a group of students headed to Seattle to compete with other schools, including Brittany Nicole Smith and Linda Stecker, senior accounting majors.

Summer 2011 Westwind 13

I “

enjoy business and accounting because they are a part of just about everything,” Stecker said. “Everyone has taxes and finances, but a lot of people I know let other people deal with that part of their lives or businesses.

Majoring in accounting has given me a really solid foundation for taking care of my own personal finances and understanding the finances of any company who may hire me. Thoroughly learning the fundamentals of an essential subject that can be dismissed by others as difficult and mundane has been a satisfying challenge.”

In the rest of this story, Smith tells about her experience this year at the tax team competition.

When I started college, I had no idea I would end up with a career in the accounting field. It seemed, at least initially, that accounting was a rather monotonous line of work. However, I now find accounting to be an exciting career choice. One of the ways the School of Business has helped me realize my potential in public accounting is by funding and supporting its students in the Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG) Tax Challenge.

The KPMG Tax Challenge is an annual event held at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business and is hosted by KPMG, one of the Big Four public accounting firms. Students from Northwest schools are invited to participate in this competition for cash prizes and the opportunity to meet with recruiters from major accounting firms.

As a tax student last school year, I heard about the tax challenge, especially since WWU placed first in 2009. I made it a personal goal to be involved in the competition and strove to make myself increasingly familiar with my tax textbook; its feathered pages and bright yellow markings are proof of the time we have spent together.

For a while, there was some question about whether there would be a competition this year. However, in late December, we received word that they would be holding it in January, leaving us a short time to prepare, with much of our work happening during the holiday school break.

Rising to the Challenge. We quickly assembled two teams and begun studying. My team members were Kaitlyn Fitch, Linda Stecker and Donovan West. Our smaller class sizes and our regular opportunities to work in small groups gave us an advantage over teams from the larger schools who don’t know each other as well.

Traveling to Seattle we continued studying and sometimes worrying that we weren’t adequately prepared for the challenge. My anxiety was only heightened by my introduction to the four teams representing the University of Washington and the teams from the University of Oregon and Southern Oregon University. With our two teams of four students each, there were a total of eight teams participating.

We were given letters of correspondence between an imaginary tax firm called Tacks, Tacks, Tacks, and Tacks,

14 Westwind Summer 2011

LLP, and a small restaurant owner. Our job was to inspect the information, organize it, and give our opinion on the client’s tax liability for the year as if we were staff accountants. We would also write out our logic behind the laws applied since much of accounting is surprisingly not black and white. There are many laws that are situational and require an understanding of the principles behind them in order for them to be implemented correctly.

Moving Up. Our interpretation of the problem gave us a top-three position in the competition, and we moved on to the final round. We were so excited as we rushed out of the hotel to wander Seattle in search of a café where we could squeeze in some late night studying in preparation for the final. We set up shop until midnight, reading over material focused on tax planning and watching our 2009 team’s winning presentation. We knew the final round would consist of four hours in a study carrel. This time we would be expected to help our clients prepare for future years with tax planning advice to help them minimize their tax liability over the long-term.

In order to do this, we would be allowed to use one “Giving the presentation felt more laptop in addition to our previous like giving a sales pitch to tough study materials to create a 45-minute customers. It was in this area, presentation for tax specialists who among others, that we excelled,” would be posing as says Brittany Smith of her team. our frustrated tax clients.

The team included, from left, We did not Smith, Linda Stecker, Donovan know what to expect, but when West, and Kaitlyn Fitch. we received our

new set of correspondence letters, we realized that we would have to remember the material from the previous day since we were helping the same clients. This was an added challenge since we did not know what aspects of the problem we had completed correctly and what we had not on the previous day. As we tried to remember the information, we came up with advice to help “The feathered pages and bright the client work a specific yellow markings in my tax through question they had textbook are proof of the time we concerning the strategic managehave spent together.” ment of a complicated exchange of assets, as well as help them utilize other potential tax savings opportunities.

We shared our advice with the clients, a disgruntled husband and wife, in a small auditorium that also had judges from KPMG, many of the other competition participants, and professors Anderson, Dressler and Wiggins, who stood by for moral support. The clients tried to push our buttons and throw us off base with a variety of questions, which we handled with poise and decorum to our benefit since the scoring was also based on how well we were able to work with the clients. We were expected to be able to reduce the tax jargon and explain things in a no-nonsense manner that sold us to them as tax experts. In fact, giving the presentation felt more like giving a sales pitch to tough customers. It was in this area, among others, that we excelled.

Afterward, the students from the other WWU team, Brittany Reab, Lizi Rosenburg, Lucas Secor, and Jaden Yuros, told us about the strengths and weaknesses of the other two teams competing in the final who happened to be both from the University of Washington. Our Walla Walla classmates gave us accolades as well as their best guesses as to the possible outcome, but the competition seemed to be too close to call. All of the members of the

final three teams waited in a reception room for the judges’ decisions where our team called “Intaxicated” received first place for the best team name. After the ensuing laughter subsided, the judges described the difficulty of their decision and we were announced as the second place winners.

Our immediate reaction was a sense of disappointment to have come so close to winning first place. However, despite our loss, the overwhelming feeling of completion of such a rigorous endeavor flooded me, and I had to be grateful for doing so well. After all, we had toppled five teams from accounting programs many times the size of our own. The teams from the other schools were largely comprised of students specializing in tax and currently taking tax classes.

This gave them an obvious advantage because none of us had taken a tax class since the previous spring quarter, giving us nearly an entire year apart from the material.

The tax challenge and other opportunities for growth I have experienced at WWU’s School of Business are propelling me toward a fast-paced career in public accounting.

Because of contacts I made with recruiters at the tax challenge, I have been in touch with several accounting firms and have visited a few large accounting offices in the Portland and Seattle areas. Also because of the tax challenge, I am strongly considering attending the University of Washington’s Masters of Professional Accountancy program to specialize in audit and assurance. I hope to be an auditor working internationally and specializing in not-for-profit companies in the public accounting realm.

When I think about my first impressions of the accounting field, I simply have to laugh at how wrong I was about it all. When I think about sitting for the CPA exam, I recognize how much I still do not know, but I have the courage to go for it because of my college experiences. The world truly does feel like my oyster right now and that is a good thing. n Brittany Nicole Smith is a 2011 business administration graduate with concentrations in accounting and international business, and a minor in music.

Be in the Know About Business Find out more about the School of Business by subscribing to the School’s online newsletter, The Exchange. Send an email to busnschool@ wallawalla.edu or visit the school’s Facebook page.

Summer 2011 Westwind 15

Interview

The Music Goes On

By Jeremy Dietz

Joan (Cayo) Sandmeyer has accomplished much in her 84 years, from becoming Walla Walla University’s first organ major in 1948 to serving as director of music at a historic church for two decades. Her educational background includes a graduate education, which gave her a specialized knowledge in history, literature, musical areas, and composition. Today, she maintains a rigorous practice schedule and serves as organist at two churches in southern California.

How did you become the first organ major at Walla Walla University?

I graduated from Auburn Academy on D-Day, and my twin sister [Jackie (Cayo) Hull] and I decided we were going to college. Those days you typically majored in education or nursing, but we decided on music, and we both started out as piano majors.

In my second year, I switched to the organ. The school initially didn’t want to give me an organ major, but they told me that if I could prepare a recital in my junior and senior years I could have it, so I did. In a way, I guess I kind of created the major by my demand.

How did your career unfold after graduation?

I married Edwin Sandmeyer shortly after I graduated. He was among the first wave of World War II veterans to attend college under the GI Bill. After he graduated in 1951, we moved to Laurelwood Academy for 16 Westwind Summer 2011

about four years and then later to Maryland where—from 1962 to 1982—I was the organist and choir director of the Old Presbyterian Meeting House in Alexandria, Va., which is on the historical tour.

Edwin and I had three children: Jolynne Sandmeyer Derigo, Beth Sandmeyer, and Willa Sandmeyer Schornstein, who graduated from Walla Walla in 1977.

What were your responsibilities at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House?

I was the director of music, which meant playing the organ and directing the choir for weekly services and special programs. I also directed the children’s choir and a handbell choir.

Did you learn to direct while you were in college?

No. Just prior to getting the meeting house job I studied privately with John McCreary, at All Souls Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. I did not know that it was

possible to have a career as an organist/choir director until I started studying with him. I owe him a great debt of gratitude.

John later went to Honolulu to become organist/director at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral.

He’s retired now.

I also got a master’s degree at Catholic University of America in 1968, which gave me knowledge of history, literature, musical eras, and composition. But as far as learning to do what I actually did as musical director at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, I learned mostly from John McCreary. There’s nothing like a hands-on approach to learning.

Did you have a particular musical specialty?

I specialized in early American music, which was becoming very popular while I was director of music at the meeting house because of the United States bicentennial.

Did you oversee any special bicentennial concerts at the church?

Yes, we commissioned a piece of music by composer Robert Jones and gave several special programs. The commissioned piece was a choral of variations on “Amazing Grace” accompanied by virtuoso violin.

How, as music director, did you go about putting together special programs such as the bicentennial concerts?

You have to know what’s going to work for your choir. I had some very good people so I could pretty much choose any level of difficulty because they could sing anything.

As far as choosing music for programs, I just went to the American Guild of Organists anthem reading sessions, and I used things that I heard at other programs.

Interview Known on campus as “the Cayo twins,” Jackie (left) and Joan arrived on campus in the early post-war years. Like her twin sister, Jackie Hull is active in music, volunteering in the music department at Mesa Grande Academy in Calimesa, Calif.

Do you have any favorite pieces to play?

Some of the Bach choral preludes.

They’re difficult, but there’s some unusual beauty in them. I guess I don’t have any one favorite piece.

Randy Schornstein

So there’s no one song that you always play when you practice?

No. I don’t practice to play for myself. I practice to prepare what I need for Sabbath and Sunday.

I practice to discipline myself in order to be prepared to play those services.

What are some of the unique challenges of playing the organ?

Courtesy of Joan Sandmeyer

I think most professional organists are men, and they have bigger hands and feet, which helps in playing both the keyboard and the pedals. My hands are small, so I have to arrange my fingering differently and maybe not play all of a big chord, but it doesn’t matter because you have so many stops pulled that nobody’s going to miss a few notes that you can’t reach.

“There’s a great beauty and majesty with an organ,” says Joan Sandmeyer. The music graduate is head organist of the Camarillo Seventh-day Adventist Church in Camarillo, Calif.

What would the program experience be like with you directing the choir and playing the organ at the same time?

The organ console in the meeting house is right off the balcony rail, and the women would be on my right side and the men would be on my left side. I’d direct them with head cues and occasionally raise my hand for a cut-off.

I did direct in the usual way if I had instruments. For example, if we did a cantata, and I hired strings.

Do you still play the organ for the public?

Yes. I play twice a month at the Adventist church I belong to in Camarillo, Calif. They have a beautiful three-manual organ with some pipes in the wall. I also play every Sunday at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Have you and your twin sister ever worked together musically?

How often do you practice?

I pretty much play every day except Monday. I give up organ playing on Mondays. But I have to keep practicing. When I can’t play because I’m sick or I’m on vacation I notice it when I come back.

What motivates you to keep playing so much?

Well, I’m 84-years-old now, and I’m trying to keep my brains and my hands together in the same place. I don’t play the more difficult things that I used to. I play easier service music, but there’s no need to play anything harder.

Well, I do play J.S. Bach once in a while.

No. We sometimes in a moment of hilarity will improvise duets on a piano when we’re together at a party, but that’s our only participation together.

What’s your favorite thing about playing the organ?

There’s a great beauty and majesty with an organ. You have so many beautiful solo stops and can use so many expressions and colors in a piece. It’s like you’re a small orchestra. And each organ is different. Even though they have the same basic stops, they’re different in coloration. n

Summer 2011 Westwind 17

Honoring Lives grams, including developing new courses in Writing Theory and Non-fiction Writing. She also put together several directed reading courses, including Holocaust Autobiography, the American Woman’s Experience, and Nature Writing. Nancy helped develop the Writing Workshops for North Pacific Union teachers and also conducted the workshops at La Sierra University and Southwestern Adventist University. “Nothing could be more exciting than teaching writing. Nowhere does a teacher learn more from students than when reading of their life experiences,” Nancy said. She continued her own studies in Nancy Cross Writing Theory and presented her Class of 1966 work at the Council on College Composition and Communication English and the National Council of Teachers of English. She received fter a long illness, Nancy Cross, the Burlington Northern Award for Teaching Excellence in 1994. a 2011 Alumni of the Year, Nancy was recognized as a passed away on June 27. Nancy leader, a diplomat, and a wise attended April’s Homecoming counselor.

As a leader, she was Banquet, where the Alumni of the committed to resolving problems Year honor gave Nancy’s friends and and worked by consensus. She colleagues an opportunity to show spoke well, and often strongly, her the difference she made in so for the department and for issues many lives. A campus memorial important to the university.

She service was held Sunday, July 10. was immensely pastoral to students Nancy graduated in 1966 with and colleagues in ways that were a major in English and returned both academic and diplomatic. She to the campus in 1981 to teach was an attentive listener and a wise English. Her husband, Carlton, and trustworthy counselor. She also joined the faculty as an engineering professor. During Nancy’s was flexible, willing to go wherever she was needed, and she excelled 28-year teaching career, she also wherever she served. had several administrative roles, Nancy is survived by her husincluding four years as director of band, Carlton, and their children, the writing center, six years as colJeffrey and Tara. lege writing coordinator, and eight years as department chair, until she retired in 2009.

Nancy’s enthusiasm for teaching writing was matched by her initiative in creating new pro-

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18 Westwind Summer 2011

Darold Bigger Class of 1966 Theology

D

uring his lifetime, Darold Bigger has answered the call of duty and service in ways that few Walla Walla alumni will ever match. Through his professional work as a professor, pastor, and counselor, Darold has touched the lives of thousands. Then, well into his diverse career, Darold chose to answer the call of his country and serve in the United States military.

Darold first served as a Chaplain in the U.S. Naval Reserve until 1999 when he was appointed Deputy Chief of Navy Chaplains for Reserve Matters and Director of Religious Programs for the Navy, Marine, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine Reserve Forces.

During his service Darold traveled to 17 different countries, including Korea, Japan, Iraq, Bahrain, and United Arab Emirates. On Sept. 11, 2001, he was in a building close to where bombs destroyed sections of the

Pentagon facility in Washington, D.C. In the moments after the destruction, and then traveling to New York City just days after 9/11, Darold helped coordinate chaplain services.

To honor his outstanding record of military service, Darold has received the highest noncombat award given in the Navy, the Distinguished Service Medal.

He retired from military service in 2004.

Darold’s professional life began at Walla Walla University, where he graduated with a theology degree in 1966. During his time at Walla Walla he met his future wife, Barbara.

Darold began his ministry as a pastor at several Northwest churches, and in 1980 became pastor of the Walla Walla University Church. He served for 12 years before transitioning into higher education.

Darold and Barbara raised their family in College Place, including a foster daughter, Rosemary, and two daughters, Hilary and Shannon, who is now deceased.

The murder of their daughter Shannon in 1996 was the impetus for the Bigger’s ministry of helping others touched by grief. The couple presents seminars on the power of forgiveness.

Darold is currently a Walla Walla University professor in both the schools of theology and social work. He holds a doctoral degree in pastoral counseling and a master’s degree in social work. Darold is a certified clinical social worker and a licensed marriage and family therapist.

of Service

responsibly in society. The hardest part about autism has been the intolerance of others; I want to help educate society,” Lori says. My mission is to provide resources and hope to those in need.”

To accomplish this, Lori created a documentary film called “JJ’s Journey, A Journey about Autism.” The film was released in 2008 and was a 2009 Autism Society of American Media Excellence Award Nominee.

“JJ’s Journey” has also been featured on Oprah.com and NBC news. Lori and J.J., now a college student, often speak at conferences and workshops Lori Ciccarelli about autism around the nation.

Class of 1981 In addition to spreading her message of hope to mass audiences, Mass Communications Lori delights in helping individual families who call her for advice and encouragement rom the moment Lori Lori has said that she can look Ciccarelli stepped on the back on her life and see how all Walla Walla University camthe pieces fit perfectly together. pus, she was a standout.

Her record of educating and Communications professor Loren volunteerism began early in her Dickinson says, “The outstandcareer.

Lori spent 11 years teaching thing about this gal is that ing elementary school, and among she was a pack of energy and had other volunteer posts, was PTA a spirit about her that the rest of president for a junior high school. us didn’t quite comprehend.”

Since 1998, Lori has worked Today, the 1981 mass communications graduate exudes this unique as the Community Relations energy and spirit in her career as a Director at Mammoth Hospital near her home in Mammoth hospital communications profesLakes, California. In 2010, sional and as a noted advocate for Lori received the Excellence families affected by autism.

Lori grew into her advocacy role in Management Award for her leadership at the hospital. after her personal experience raisCurrently, Lori is pursuing her ing a child diagnosed at age three master’s degree in Leadership and with autism spectrum disorder.

After watching her son, J.J., strug- Organizations from the University of Denver. gle during his teenage years, Lori turned into a mom with a mission.

“I finally realized my son didn’t need a cure, he just needed tools for success and tools to function

F

Eric Ashley

Alumni of the Year kind, generous, and willing to serve. Clients often rely on her for strategic and operational advice.

Her approach makes her a favorite of clients who find in her a sympathetic and knowledgeable resource.

“I love solving problems and helping not-for-profits come up with systems and strategies to accomplish their missions,” Rhona says. “My goal is to be the first resource that my clients turn to whenever a challenge or opportunity comes their way.”

Rhona has extended her expertise to volunteer positions on various boards and committees of nonprofit organizations.

Currently she is treasurer of both Rhona Kwiram the Bellevue Children’s Theatre Class of 1991 and Out of the Gray, an organization dedicated to caring for careBusiness Administration givers. Rhona is also a member of Walla Walla University’s School of f a nonprofit organization needs Business Advisory Board.

Rhona is active in her church, a champion, it can find one in the Green Lake Seventh-day Rhona Kwiram. For more than Adventist church. She is an 20 years she has set the highest accomplished pianist and vocalof standards as a financial conist, and has been a member of the sultant specializing in nonprofit church choir for 20 years. She organizations. has also served as the chair of the Rhona, a 1991 business adminchurch’s Finance Committee for istration graduate, began her 16 years. career at the accounting firm of Clark Nuber, where she is now a partner in the audit practice. It often takes 10 to 15 years to become partner, but Rhona reached this distinction in just eight years. When she first began at Clark Nuber, the company’s not-for-profit client list numbered only six organizations. Rhona has helped the Bellevue, Washingtonbased company increase their nonprofit clients to more than 600.

Rhona’s role and reputation goes See the honored alumni far beyond what might be expected video at wallawalla .edu/ alumni-of-the-year. of an auditor. Clients and colleagues describe Rhona as skilled,

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Summer 2011 Westwind 19

A weekend highlight was the dedication of the new campus sculpture, “Jesus Among Us.”

Walt Meske ‘62 reconnects with old friends at the Homecoming Banquet.

Alumni Reconnect Homecoming Draws Alumni Home More than 800 Walla Walla University alumni and their families from around North America came in April to take part in Homecoming Weekend.

Four generations of English department chairs gather to honor Nancy Cross ’66 at the Homecoming Banquet. Also pictured is Beverly Beem, Helen Thompson ‘49, and Kellie Bond ’93.

20 Westwind Summer 2011

Photos by Chris Drake, Dustin Iseminger, and Sarah Corley

Foursome Chris Guernsey ’11, Tom Blackwelder att., Tim Blackwelder, and Tyler Blackwelder att., play in the Eugene Winter Alumni Golf Classic Friday morning.

WWU’s Big Band performs for Young Alumni Night at Jacobi’s Café.

Terrie Aamodt, history professor, talks to a group of 75 alumni during a historical tour of the campus.

Alumni and community members gather to check out over 100 cars during the 13th annual Alumni Car Show.

Carl Wilkens ’81 speaks at the contemporary service Sabbath.

Donnie Rigby, former drama professor and founder of WWU’s drama program, recounts performances with alumni, faculty, and students during the 50th reunion celebration.

Summer 2011 Westwind 21

Alumnotes

Jeanette (Churchman) WeaverSullivan ’56 and her husband, Carl, live in College Place. She is retired, but spends her time volunteering at various places such as Walla Walla General Hospital, Gospel Outreach, and Village Church Center. Her favorite memory of Walla Walla University is attending Sabbath School and church in the Columbia Auditorium and being inspired by the preaching and music. She and Carl have four children, Gerald Weaver ’86, Joel Weaver, Jill Hargreaves, and Jennifer Aichele.

Wesley Marvin Heinrich att. and

Vanguards

the Laurelwood Chapel near Gaston, Ore. Friends can send greetings to the couple at P.O. Box 400, Grizzly Flats, Calif., 95636.

Barbara (Vanderlaan) Hircock ’56 is retired and now lives in Paola, Kan.

1960s Glenn Aufderhar ’61 and his wife, Barbara (Salter) att., live in East Wenatchee, Wash. He is the president of Green Leaf Universal Entertainment. He and Barbara have three children, Nancy att. (deceased), Kenn ’80, and Michael ’86.

Carol (Marsh) Campbell ‘61 and her husband, Mick, live in Palo Cedro, Calif.

She has retired after spending the last 18

ily and interests in music, photography, preventative medicine, traveling, and mission projects. Her favorite memories of Walla Walla University include the soothing, inspired, and challenging worships in Conard Hall by Helen Evans Zolber and the wonderful sermons by Elder Paul Heubach. She and Mick have three children, Robert, Marcia McEdward ’88, and Brenda Austermuhl.

Beverly (Bretsch) Klein ’61 and her husband, Edward ’66, live in Milton-

Over the years she has worked for Castle Hospital in Kailua, Hawaii, Boulder Memorial Hospital in Boulder, Colo., and Avista Hospital in Louisville, Colo.

Her favorite college memories are of choir with Professor Dortch and English

Row 1 Oreletta (Wilson) Dealy, Doyle Saxby, Lorelei (Pierce) Saxby, Mary (Spenst) Nations, Olen Nations, Carolyn (Boyer) McHan, Wilma Tuttle-Goe, Gwen (Merritt) Gingrich, Richard Gingrich Row 2 Dorothy (Kuhn) Holm, Frances (Moorman) McRae, Fern (Johanson) Piper, Pat (Munro) Swisher, Marlene (Nelson) Ferguson, Taffy (Fjarli) Johnson, Marion (Spenst) Brown, Ramona (Brown) Sturgill, Ruby (Holbrook) Snell, Robert Snell, Sydney Stewart Row 3 Vera (Wolcott) Young, Shirley Blehm-Hartnell, Carl Crawford, Shirley (Brane) Thomas, Florence (Olson) Steward, Don Goe, Fred Schnibbe, Verona (Montanye) Schnibbe, Fred Bennett Row 4 Dan Matthew, Don Dealy, Calvin Hartnell, Vic Fitch, Friffith Thomas, Robert Graham, Helen (Ward) Thompson Zolber, June (Brooks) Dorner, Roger Dorner, Jim McHan, Jack Bergman Laurise Lee Hartley att. are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.

They were married Aug. 26, 1951, in 22 Westwind Summer 2011

classes under “Dad” Applington. She has a son, Lee.

years in the specialty of invasive vascular procedures and interventions. Retirement has provided her with more time for fam-

Freewater, Ore. She is a retired registered nurse. She enjoys being a grandmother as well as traveling and overseas service, read-

All photos by Ruwan Randeniya and Adam Innocent

1950s

Alumnotes Class of 1951

favorite memories include being president of Aleph Gimel Ain her senior year when she put on the play “Heidi.” She has three children, Stanley Schuett, Andrea Griggs, and Gregory Schuett.

Row 1 Bonny (Kyle) Eichner, Glenn H. Murphy, Bonnie L. Chinn, Nadene Thompson Bork, Herbert C. Bork, Warren H. Dick, Gordon S. Travis, Verna M. (Sackett) Travis Row 2 Don C. Peterson, Grover Rose, Galvin Boicourt, Kenneth Spady, Claude Sterling, Clarence Chinn, Gordon W. Riffel ing, and cooking. Her favorite college memories include Friday evening vespers and all the special Sabbath and Saturday evening programs. She and Edward have two children, Scott att. and Sandi Phillips ’90.

Carlotta (Day) Munson ’61 lives in Riverside, Calif. She is retired. Genealogy is her passion as she loves helping longlost relatives connect. She is also a member of the Daughters of the American

Lois (Wilson) Moore ’61 and her husband, Marvin, live in Caldwell, Idaho. She

Class of 1956

enjoys being retired. She formally served in Indonesia and Korea as director of nursing at both Bandung Adventist Hospital and Seoul Adventist Hospital. Over the past eight years, Lois and her husband have been taking short-term mission trips to India each year. She says it has proved to be joyfully fulfilling to see the hope and joy the people find in Jesus. Her favorite memories of Walla Walla University were walking in spring rains without an umbrella, listening to Dr. West play the organ in the old Columbia Auditorium, and Dr. Stohr’s Bible class during the last quarter of her senior year. She and Marvin have two children, Sheri and Marvin att.

Revolution. The highlight of her career was working for H.M.S. Richards, Jr., at the Voice of Prophecy. She currently spends her time volunteering in the church and community, as well as caring for her grandchildren. She enjoys traveling and has been to 22 different countries. Her

Judith (Howell) Veach ’61 lives in Beaverton, Ore., where she volunteers at a shelter for the homeless and the American Red Cross. She is a retired nurse. She enjoys traveling and being a new grandmother. She has two children, Daniel and Denise Wilkinson.

Charlene (Blakely) Walker ’61 lives in Parma, Idaho. She is a registered dietitian and patient services manager at Washoe Medical Center. Her hobbies include reading, art, gardening, belonging to Toastmasters, assisting United Way, and holding various positions in her church.

Her favorite memories of Walla Walla University are worship time and classes

Row 1 Brooke (Huntington) Stafford, Julianne (Goodman) Krantz, Lillian Morris Cramer, Carmen (Miller) Graham, Betty (Parkhurst) Tym, Marlene (Nelson) Ferguson, Anelda (Lewis) Derhalli, Geraldine (Wilson) Stephens, Marcene (Shaw) Halversen, Miriam (Brady) Redfield, Marguerite Brady-Ciampa, Jeanette (Churchman) Sullivan Row 2 Tom Stafford, Bill Byrd (representing wife Lettia Cates-Byrd), Richard Graham, Howard Gimbel, Lloyd Kuhn, Arthur White, Don Weaver, Richard Madson, David R. Hensel Summer 2011 Westwind 23

Alumnotes with Helen Evans Zolber. She has two children, James and Jodie Lopez.

Charles Bush ’66 lives in Beach, N.D. He is retired after working as a nurse for 36 years. He enjoys working with food after owning his own restaurant, called Charlie’s.

His favorite memories of Walla Walla University are Friday evening vespers with Helen Evans Zolber and Melvin West and an introduction to the world of literature.

Phyllis Collins ’66 lives in Berrien Springs, Mich. She recently retired from Andrews University where she was an associate professor. She has also been a nurse practitioner in over four countries. She enjoys walking and reading in her spare time.

for the North Pacific Union Conference.

She enjoys camping, hiking, snowshoeing, and spending time with her grandchildren. Her favorite memories of WWU include Evensong and living on the seventh floor of Foreman her senior year. She and Gary have two children, Brendan ’99 and Heather att. the director of student information in Marketing and Enrollment Services at

Class of 1961

David Latoski ’71 and his wife, Marilyn, live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He is a social worker for Alberta Health

Richard Peterson ’71 and his wife, Rebecca, live in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.

He is currently working at Tahoe Urgent Care as a family practicegeriatrics physician. He previously worked as a medical director in longterm care at Barton Memorial Hospital.

Betty Jean (Skeels) Magnuson ’66 and her husband, Jay ’65, live in Quincy, Wash. She and Jay have three children, Warren ’97, Amelia Messervy ’04, and Nathaniel att.

Annette (Cornforth) Stanwick ’66 and her husband, Clayton att., live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

She is vice president for medical affairs at the Gimbel Eye Center.

She is also an international speaker, award-winning author, and global Freedom Facilitator. In addition, she has authored a book, titled “Forgiveness: The Mystery and Miracle.”

Her hobbies include interior decorating, reading, writing, and riding her Harley Davidson motorcycle. Her favorite memories of Walla Walla University are listening to Helen Evans Zolber’s worship talks.

She and Clayton have two children, Mona Dury and Shelann McQuay.

Fred Troutman ’66 lives in Portland, Ore. He is a professor emeritus of Walla Walla University. He has two children James att. and Jonathan (deceased).

1970s Steve Davis ’71 and his wife, Janice (Thietien) att., live in Walla Walla. He is 24 Westwind Summer 2011

Row 1 Marietta Deming, Rose McCallum-Jacobus, Marolyn Humbert Coughren, Ruth Chen Davis, Joye Rufuse Thorn, Melissa Manley Mathis, Claire Minouflet Bishop, Rose Lachenmeier Krejci, Julia Williams Kneedler, Marcia Howard Mehtje, Carol Marsh Campbell, John “Jack” Roberts, Naomi (Budd) Parson, Nila (Harris) Watson, Dolores (Durham) Wright, Virginia (Grab) Boyington Row 2 Georgia (Dietrich) McDow, Donnie Mechalke, Patricia (LeDrew) Jones, Joan (Vestner) Hilde, Adella (Miles) Ashbaugh, Earl Ashbaugh, Lois (Wilson) Moore, Carlotta (Day) Munson, Beverly Bretsch Klein, Agnes Scheresky Dahl, Bob O’Day, Wilma (Meske) O’Day, Gaurine (Wright) Kites, Jim Davisd Row 3 Verne Hyland, John Haskell, Roger Vanatta, Ruth (Cooley) Dorsey, Berta K. (Slaght) Brenton, Beverly Paulson Johnson, Joy (Kehlin) Palmer, Albert “Dale” Lent, Keith Wedin, Bob Visser, Kenneth Carr, David M. Russell, Monte Cheney, Jim Dixon Row 4 Ron Miller, Richard Machlan, Oran McNiel, Frank McNiel, Leon Hagen, Richard (Dick) Boskind, Norman Sossong, Joelle Riederer Elliston, Darlene Roderick Schmitz, John Earl Dawes, Burton Arthur Briggs, Levi Kuhn, Lucretia Tininenko Creitz, James L. Perry WWU. His hobbies include mission trips, home improvement projects, hiking, snowshoeing, photography, and volunteering as a chaplain. He and Jan are presenters for engaged couples’ seminars.

His favorite memories of WWU include working at the dairy processing plant and Evensong. He and Jan have three children, Angela Prunty, Linnae ’03, and Todd.

Carol (Lawson) Dodge ’71 and her husband, Gary, live in Battle Ground, Wash. She is an administrative assistant

Services. He attained his Masters in Social Work as well as a diploma in nutritional counseling. He enjoys music and golfing.

His favorite college memory is singing in the Messenger Quartet.

Monterey Anthony ’76 lives in Happy Valley, Ore. He is a nursing professor at Mt. Hood Community College. He has also been working as a professional photographer and is involved in the arts in Portland as well as social issues, such as poverty and homelessness. His favorite memory of WWU includes making lifelong friends. He has a daughter, Samantha Sanow, and a son, Jesse Emery.

Gertrude “Trudie” Comm ’76 lives in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada. She

Alumnotes has spent the past 25 years working at the Grande Prairie Hospital as a registered nurse—most of those years in

Class of 1966

church and school. Her favorite memories of WWU include Columbia Auditorium movie nights, roller skating, banquets, the “Hello Walk”, and the old “nurses dorm” at Portland. She and David have four

children, Steven ’07, Rachel Fetroe ’08, Martha (current), and Daniel.

Dana Reedy ’76 and his wife, Rhonda (Bierwagen), live in Corbett, Ore., where

he is a manager at Northwest Power Pool.

He enjoys playing volleyball, hiking, and playing the piano. His favorite memories of Walla Walla University are Friday night tacos at Hutson’s, hanging out at the SAC (Student Association Center), playing Rook, art appreciation class, and OPS. He and Rhonda have three children, Rachel Alinares att., Dallas ’06, and Danielle Iseminger ’10.

Arthur Thiel ’76 and his wife, Shelley (Hutson) att., live in Pasco, Wash. He is a partner at Benton Franklin Orthopedic Associates. They have helped plant a church in West Richland, Wash., called the REACH. His favorite memory of Walla Walla University was meeting, courting, and marrying his wife Shelley. He and Shelley have two children, Tiffany att. and Cedric (current).

1980s Row 1 Twyla (Reimche) Gimbel, Lora Lee (Long) Lund, Sandy (Rifenbark) Schultz, Annette (Cornforth) Stanwick, Jerry L. Hiner, Wally Ingram, Fred Troutman, Betty Duncan Row 2 Bonnie Kendall Humphreys, Erna Spenst Virene, Betty Jean Magnuson, Jack Taylor, Diane Hilde Pearson, Don Wagner, Richard Hart, Edward E. Klein, Les Palinka Row 3 Ronald Humphreys, Darold Bigger, John Stedman, Evelyn (Thompson) Grosboll, Carol (Foss) Mindein, Judy (Littler) Zachrison, Bill Johnson, Gordon Johnson, Ralph Johnson the intensive care unit. She spent seven years working at Malamulo Hospital in Malawi, Africa, which she remembers as a life-changing experience. Her hobbies include music and volunteering at her local church. Her favorite college memories are attending worship services in Conard Hall, Saturday night movies and entertainment, and “fun times” at the Portland campus.

Rita (Smith) Barrett ’81 and her husband, Mike ’83, live in Scappoose, Ore. She is a Spanish teacher at Portland Adventist Academy. She and Mike have a son, Nate (current).

Class of 1971

Alice (Elder) Dettwiler ’76 and her husband, David ’77, live in New Carlisle,

Ohio. She is a registered nurse at Wright Nursing and Rehabilitation. Her activities include being a mom, traveling with her family, and volunteering at her local

Row 1 Jeanne Beck Jarnes, JudyAnn (Radcliff ) Hoerler, Eileen (Perrin) Stuart, Steve Davis, Al Lowe, Bruce Ham, Jeanne Hall, Wanda Walker Row 2 Judy Edwards Thomas, Brenda Dury Grovet, Connie Kinzer Jessel, Harvey Jacobson, Dennis Stevens, Mary Lou (Torland) Ham, Brenda (Barnhart) McGuire, Beverly (Petersen) Scott, Billie Jean (Spady) Knight Row 3 Sherryl (Fetroe) Anthes, George Fullerton, Ernie Norhton, Lonnie Dorgan, Lester Cunningham, Ole Olesen, Jon Kattenhorn, Tom Nudd, Phyllis Fischer Nudd Summer 2011 Westwind 25

Alumnotes KarrLayn (Gruesbeck) Beck ’82 and her husband, William “Brandon” Beck ’85,

live in Walla Walla. She is a school counselor at Rogers Adventist School and a mentor in the freshman success program at WWU. Some of her favorite memories at WWU were made in brass choir (where she met her husband) under the direction of Dr. H. Lloyd Leno and tours with other fun individuals. She loves taking pictures of God’s beautiful creations. She and Brandon have two children, Kaitlyn and James.

Class of 1981

Class of 1976

Row 1 Renita Clymer, Diana Canty Pierce, Trudie Comm, Cyndee Darby, Bonnie (Tym) Corson, David Bullock, Fred Field Row 2 Pamala (Reese) Allen, Alice (Elder) Dettwiler, Michael Lobdell, Dana Reedy, Janice (Forgey) Atkins, Karen Ordelheide, Wes Kandoll, Frank D. Howard IV, Bob Finkbiner at Nelson Irrigation Corporation. She is involved with her local chapter of Sweet Adelines and also sings in a barbershop quartet and enjoys singing for various events with her quartet. She loves creating handmade cards. She has been a member of the Exchange Club for many years and enjoys being involved in their various fundraisers and activities. Her favorite WWU memories are being a member of the ushers club and experiencing live symphony music.

Row 1 Terri Smith-Weller, Wafia Farag Kinne, Cheryl Tan-Jacobson, Art King, Diane Smith Stevens, Esther Gren Bryson, Tereena Beucler Gribble, Lauralea Wilmot McCluskey Row 2 Carl Wilkens, Teresa (Appley) Wilkens, Twyla Leiske Bechtel, Ed VanTassel, Mark Remboldt, Richard Hellie, Dede Elsom Anderson, Lori Ciccarelli Row 3 Ted Bogsrud, Rick Gage, James Dick, Greg Saunders, Michael Boysen, Stewart Shankel, Helen (Kiefer) Shankel, Randal Anderson, Ralph Stirling, Reg Maas Twyla (Leiske) Bechtel ’81 and her husband, Stanley ’84, live in Walla Walla. She is a real estate broker for Williams Team Homes. She also mentors freshmen at WWU. She has a passion for people and is active in her church and community. She enjoys playing sports, riding her motorcycle, and spending time with her fam26 Westwind Summer 2011

ily. Her favorite WWU memories include working for Malcolm Maxwell and Cliff Sorenson. She and Stanley have two children, Bridget (current) and Bryson (current).

Lynnette Brown ’81 lives in College Place. She is the accounting supervisor

Terenna (Beucler) Gribble ’81 and her husband, Mark, live in Oregon City, Ore., where she is an emergency room nurse.

She is currently working on her certification as a certified emergency nurse.

She loves vacationing with her family.

Her favorite WWU memories include attending church and being in the old Administration Building and library. She and Mark have three children, Arlena Loos, Brent Georgeson, and Ashley Gribble.

Karla (Snow) Kimball ’81 and her husband, Gary, live in Longview, Wash. She enjoys volunteering at her local hospital and for the Southwest Washington Blood Center. She also enjoys camping with her husband. Her favorite memories of WWU

Alumnotes memory of WWU is all the Department of Music concerts that she attended. She and Jeff have three children, Evan ’09, Nolan (current) and Elise.

are of being the night dean in Foreman Hall and going out on the roof and seeing the falling stars.

Wafia (Farag) Kinne ’81 and her husband, Jeff ’80, live in Spokane, Wash.,

where she is an adjunct professor at Whitworth University. She also teaches piano lessons in her home and is actively involved in her church as a musician and Junior/Earliteen Sabbath School teacher. She also enjoys spending time with her family, reading, cooking, and growing roses. Her favorite

Class of 1986

Kim Reis ’81 lives in San Diego, Calif.

She is a special education teacher and resource specialist for the Cajon Valley Union School District. Her hobbies include biking, hiking, golf, softball, and other athletic activities. She is also a member of the San Diego Mountain Rescue and is a reserve firefighter.

Teresa (Graham) Panossian ’86 and her husband, David, live in Klamath Falls, Ore. She is an ophthalmologist. Her hobbies include spending time with her family, and routinely playing piano, organ, and flute in her local church. She also plays the flute with the local symphonic band. Her favorite WWU memories include Afterglow on Friday nights, playing in the symphony band, hearing the church organ, and outdoor excursions to Whitman Mission, the Blue Mountains, and South Fork. She and David have two children, Nathan and Valerie.

Merlin Phillips Jr. ’86 and his wife, Jo Ella (Kivett) ’86, live in College Place.

He is a senior mechanical engineer at

Key Technology. His hobbies include SCUBA diving, photography, flying, and woodworking. When remembering his days at WWU, Merlin says he remembers the friendliness of the people the most.

“It was a great experience to come to a place where the people were happy.” He and Jo Ella have two children, Marti (current) and Merlin III. Deborah (Stone) Messinger ’86 and her husband, Ronald ’88, live in La Center, Wash. She is a math teacher for the Battle Ground School District. Her favorite memory of WWU was rooming with Lois Lello, who liked to wake her up with a cheery smile. Being on the seventh floor meant they had a nice view of the Blue Mountains and enjoyed beautiful sunrises. Deborah and Ronald have three children, Rosemarie (current), Robert, and Roylan.

Jodi (McDow) Smith ’86 lives in Riverbank, Calif. She is a service engineer for Applied Process Cooling Corporation.

She is involved in church activities. Her hobbies include quilting, painting, and knitting. Her favorite memories of Walla Walla University are her classmates and studying for “EIT lead” by Professor Cross.

She has two children, Sam and Chad.

Row 1 Teresa (Graham) Panossian, Dietmar Grellmann, Mike Aufderhar, Eric Molander, Jean (Pestes) Boller, Merlin W. Phillips Jr., Jo (Kivett) Phillips, Kevin Renshaw, Hilda (Flechas) Riston, Michael Riston Row 2 Jodi (McDow) Smith, Teri (Pifer) Richardson, Dave Beckner, David Boller, Marilen (Crumpacker) Quinn, Dean Paullson, Mons Jensen, Jane (Fearing) Fish, Jonathan Fish

1990s Bradley Everett ’91 and his wife, Debra, live in Silverdale, Wash. He is an

MRI technologist. His hobbies include snow skiing, motorcycling, exercising, and being a youth leader at their local church. His favorite college memory is Ralph Perrin’s health sciences class. “One time he came into class wearing a biohazard suit or chemical warfare suit with the facemask and all,” says Bradley. He and Debra have a son, Logan.

Julie Sanders Keymer ’93 and her husband, Marshall Keymer ’93, live in Walla Walla.

Julie’s work experience following graduation includes working at KGTS, the Walla Walla UnionBulletin and at Coffey Communications, Inc. For the past three years, she has been a mentor in the freshman success program at WWU and also works for The Bible In Living Sound. One of her favorite college memories was falling in love with Marshall! In 1995, Marshall proposed on the phone to Julie when she was teaching English and Bible through the Bearhug Program in St. Petersburg, Russia. The couple later married in Julie’s great-great-great-grandmother’s church in Askim, Norway. Julie’s other college memories include being a resident assistant, watching the sun set from the fire escape of the old Administration Building, starting Blue Mountain Television’s news program as her senior project and anchoring the news with Jolynn Fisher. She returned to WWC in 2004 to earn her private pilot’s license.

Julie’s hobbies include flying, traveling, sailing, camping in their vintage Summer 2011 Westwind 27

Alumnotes Airstream, and being an active member of Sons of Norway. Julie was a fourth generation WWU student.

Class of 1991

Gerald “Gerry” Larson ’95 and his wife, Lauri (Marsh) ’96, live in Walla Walla. Gerry is a recruiter for Marketing and Enrollment Services at WWU. His favorite memory at WWU was the opportunity to belong to a spiritually vibrant, active, and friendly campus community. He and Lauri have four children, Brooklynn, Lauren, Madilynn, and Megyn.

Nick Nordby ’91 and his wife, Julie (Poole), live in Redmond, Wash. He is

Row 1 Karin Thompson, Wesley Burden, Vicki (Coughren) Littlefield, Suzanne White-Wein, Barbara (Spencer) Frohne, Jerry Rau Row 2 Sharon (Hintz) Schafer, Cynthia McDaniel, Rhona Kwiram, Nick Nordby, Heidi Rau

director of marketing and advertising for John L. Scott Real Estate. He and Julie are actively involved with the Bellevue Seventh-day Adventist Church and Kirkland Adventist School. His favorite memories of WWU are playing in the annual Onion Bowl football game, win-

Class of 2001

ning the College Bowl, and creating the “Urinal Journal” each week as OPS president. He and Julie have two children, Lexie and Davis.

running, and horseback riding. Her favorite memory of WWU includes working in the cafeteria and dishroom, where she met her husband. She and Matthew have two children, Levi and Ellie.

2000s Shana (Blumenberg) Bobbitt ’01 and her husband, Matthew, live in College Place. She is an image archivist

for the health care publisher Coffey Communications. Her activities include being a mom, baking, long-distance

Michael Bork ’07 and his wife, Breanna (Mayne) ’06 live in College Place. They both work at WWU. He is web content manager and she is associate director of development. Mike’s hobbies include computer gaming, listening to music, and spending time with Breanna. He writes that he has too many good memories of college to have just one favorite, however the closest might be when the Computer Science Club would get together for movie nights.

Heidi (Thompson) Burnett ’01 and her husband, Shibley att., live in Portland, Ore. She is the patient services manager for Oregon Health Sciences University.

She and Shibley have a son, Milo.

Row 1 Kevin Rawson, Daniel Perrin, Courtney Shrock, Olivia Shrock, Chris Drake, Jim Drake, David Royer Row 2 Tracy Tison, Jeffrey Calburn, Corren Current, Greg Schneider, Seth McNeill, Brian Roth, Tim Kyle 28 Westwind Summer 2011

Johnny Jesson ’09 lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is enrolled in the Master of Finance program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In his spare time, he enjoys playing basketball and golf.

In Memory

Anderson—Sharon (Brown) ’73 was born Sept. 18, 1952, in McMinnville, Ore., and died May 21, 2010, in Buckley, Wash. Surviving: sons Fredrick ’02 of Bonney Lake, Wash., and David ’05 of Bothell, Wash.; father Clay and mother Violet of McMinnville; and sister Karen Baumgartner ’72 of Molalla, Ore. Armstrong—Victor ’42 was born Aug. 2, 1918, in Bozeman, Mont., and died May 20, 2010, in Morehead City, N.C. Surviving: wife June of Morehead City; daughters Karen Millikan of Morehead City and Ann of Atlantic Beach, N.C.; and sister Beth Coffin ’44 of Portland, Ore. Beach—Harold ’50 was born Sept. 3, 1925, in Mountain Home, Idaho, and died July 26, 2010, in Mountain Home.

Surviving: wife Barbara of Mountain Home; sons James of Riverside, Calif., Robert of Wellington, Colo., Martin of Mountain Home, and Dennis of Wellington; daughter Elizabeth Gaines of Mountain Home; and sisters Carolyn Kubitschek of Mountain Home, Delores Musey of Caldwell, Idaho, and Lorraine Foster of Mountain Home.

Burgess—Wilbert “Jim” ’66 was born Dec. 11, 1937, in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, and died Jan. 26, 2010, in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada.

Surviving: wife Sharon of Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada; son Terrance of Armstrong; and daughter Darili-dawn Huether of Lacombe, Alberta, Canada.

Byrd—Lettia (Cates) ’56 was born Nov. 4, 1930, in Lacadena, Saskatchewan, Canada, and died Dec. 23, 2010, in Yakima, Wash. Surviving: husband William of Yakima; and son Daniel ’91 of Pendleton, Ore. Chapman—Paul ’55 was born Dec. 2, 1928 in Hamilton Rural, Tenn., and died Sept. 28, 2010, in Lancaster, Calif.

Surviving: wife Pauline of Lancaster; sons

Lynden ’72 of Healdsburg, Calif., Marvin of Irvine, Calif., and Gary of Vancouver, Wash.; and brother Harold ’55 of Citrus Heights, Calif.

Chuang—Charles ’74 was born Feb. 24, 1938, in Long Lama, Malaysia, and died March 18, 2011, in Tumwater, Wash.

Surviving: wife Rosaline of Tumwater; son Dean of Spokane, Wash.; and daughters Joy ’04 of Pismo Beach, Calif., and Lisa of Honolulu, Hawaii.

Cornforth—Leon ’49 was born June 25, 1927, in Aberdeen, Idaho, and died Dec. 19, 2010, in Caldwell, Idaho.

Surviving: wife Betty (Henderson) att. of Caldwell; daughters Cheryl Beck ’76 of Gresham, Ore., and Leann Crawford att. of Caldwell; and brother Lyle ’49 of Gresham, Ore. Erickson—Eugene ’46 was born June 27, 1925, in Tacoma, Wash., and died Dec. 21, 2010, in Galt, Calif. Surviving: sons Richard of Galt, and Raymond of Linden, Calif.

Ferguson—Gerald ’48 was born May 27, 1924, in Milton-Freewater, Ore., and died Aug. 9, 2010, in College Place, Wash. Surviving: wife Ethel (Clary) ’48 of College Place; and daughters Bonnie Roemer att. of Milton-Freewater, Ore., and Lalla Pudewell ’80 of Coburg, Ore. Finch—Gordon ’56 was born April 16, 1932, in Milton, Ore., and died Oct. 27, 2010, in Lake Oswego, Ore. Surviving: wife Myrlene Klein-Finch att.; son Robert att. of Silverton, Ore.; and daughter Cheryl Finch-Larson of Dallas, Ore. Francisco—Sharron (Schaber) ’77 was born Nov. 12, 1954, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and died Dec. 22, 2010, in Portland, Ore. Surviving: husband Patrick of Vancouver, Wash.; brothers Burton of Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada, and Donald of Beiseker, Alberta, Canada.

Gimbel—Lee ’52 was born Feb. 8, 1924, in Heaton, N.D., and died Feb. 10, 2011, in Brunswick, Maine. Surviving: sons Gregory of Brunswick, John of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Jere ‘85 of Denver, Colo.

Harter—Charles ’50 was born June 20, 1923, in Akron, Ohio, and died Oct. 29, 2010, in Puyallup, Wash. Surviving: wife Theresa (Hutson) att. of South Prairie, Wash.; son Larry of South Prairie; and daughter Linda Spores att. of Marana, Ariz.

Hoffman—Irwin “Lloyd” att. was born May 9, 1917, in Gaston, Ore., and died Aug. 24, 2010, in Walla Walla, Wash.

Surviving: wife Lorena (Waddle) ’43 of Walla Walla.

Lawson—Louise (Haigh) att. was born May 29, 1924, in Loma Linda, Calif., and died Sept. 11, 2010, in Battleground, Wash. Surviving: son Gary of Wenatchee, Wash.; and daughters Carol Dodge ’71 of Battleground, and Sandra Rodman att. of Auburn, Wash.

Logan-Belford—Charles “Chuck” ’91 was born Oct. 10, 1961, in Fresno, Calif., and died March 21, 2010, in College Place, Wash. Surviving: wife Anita LoganBelford of Lowden, Wash.; step-daughter Kelly of Lowden; father Marvin of Ashland, Ore.; mother Phebe (Kimball) of Ashland; and sister Liz Dunn of Ashland.

Miracle—Jean (Sherman) ’49 was born Nov. 28, 1925, in Compton, Calif., and died Dec. 16, 2010, in Paradise, Calif.

Surviving: son Dennis Miracle ’78 of Paradise; and daughters Janie Jones ’74 of Paradise, and Deb Ragnone ’83 of Portland, Ore. Morrison Necker—Mary ’53 was born Sept. 9, 1914, in Three Forks, Mont., and died Nov. 5, 2010, in Shelton, Wash.

Surviving: son Robert Necker of Corvallis, Mont.; daughter Christina Newman of

Shelton; brother Homer ‘49 of Sequim, Wash.; and sisters Jeanne Fields ’46 of Auburn, Wash., and Sybil Kyle ’48 of Hamilton, Mont.

Richert—Kent ’74 was born Sept. 16, 1952, in Spokane, Wash., and died May 20, 2010, in Spokane. Surviving: brother Marc att. of Spokane Valley, Wash.

Schrecongost—Alvin ’53 was born Feb. 22, 1917, and died July 31, 2010.

Surviving: son Raymond of Calif. and daughter Jeane of Calif.

Schultz—LaVerne (Wagner) ’46 was born May 9, 1922, in Farmington, Wash., and died Oct. 9, 2010, in Spokane, Wash.

Surviving: son Tim ’79 of Nine Mile Falls, Wash.; and daughter Nancy Rittenbach ’79 of Deer Park, Wash.

Scruggs—Mary Ann (Messinger) ’73 was born June 30, 1950, in Plentywood, Mont., and died Sept. 30, 2010, in Homer, Alaska. Surviving: husband Mike of Homer; sons Joshua of Menton, Calif., and Eric Peterson of Silver Springs, Md.; and daughters Saundra Brogan of Apison, Tenn., and Amy Shumaker of Homer.

Seibly—Walter att. was born July 3, 1915, in Lower Naches, Wash., and died Dec. 1, 2010, in Hermiston, Ore. Surviving: son Barclay att. of Clarkston, Wash.; and daughters Reneé Larrabee of Clarkston, and Tamara Johnson att. of Hermiston.

Shepard—Donovan ’51 was born May 15, 1928, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, and died Aug. 17, 2010, in El Dorado, Calif. Surviving: wife Arlene of El Dorado; son Larry of Kingston, Ontario, Canada; daughters Kimberly Dolezal of Visalia, Calif., and Kristy Plata of Rice, Wash.; and brother Charles of Hesperia, Calif.

Summer 2011 Westwind 29

Calendar Campus Events

Alumni Events

AU G U S T

-Sept.

Thailand Culture and Mission Trip

1&

1%

AU G U S T

g

2&

Yakima Alumni Sabbath, Yakima Adventist Church, Yakima, Wash.

Rosario Alumni Weekend, Rosario Marine Laboratory, Anacortes, Wash.

NOVEMBER

SEPTEMBER

f

OC TOBER

Denver Alumni Dinner, Denver, Colo.

h-1!

i

NPUC Leadership Convention and Constituency Session

- JumpStart Orientation Week for New Students Visit wallawalla.edu/jumpstart

Portland Alumni Night, The Old Spaghetti Factory, Portland, Ore.

DECEMBER

To register or for more information, visit alumni.wallawalla.edu.

Berrien Springs Dessert Reception, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Mich.

1* 2$

d

2&

CommUnity Convocation

1@

Service Day

NOVEMBER

d-i

- WWU Men’s Soccer Invitational

OPS Amateur Hour

Week of Worship Alex Bryan Watch live at wallawalla.edu/wow.

2!-2@

OC TOBER

2) 2@

- Fall Classic, Volleyball and Soccer Tournament

gi

wallawalla.edu

30 Westwind Summer 2011

bath er the Sab Rememb Calendar 2011-12 University Events Walla Walla

400th Anniversary—King James Bible Weekend Celebration

2*-2( Family Weekend

Find Us Online

i

flickr

For a copy of Walla Walla University Calendar of Events, send an email to calendar@wallawalla.edu

Facebook

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From My Point of View

Now What?

Finding My Way Up the Ladder Autism Ambassadors

By Chelsea Patten

Ccourtesy of Chelsea Patten

O

h how many times I heard the phrase, “You can be anything you want to be,” growing up.

When I was 5, “anything I wanted to be” was an astronaut.

At that time, I didn’t consider how much schooling or training it would take. I didn’t think about the long periods of time away from my family (… you know, for moon missions and stuff), and I surely didn’t think about the awesome cover letter I would need to write explaining my astronaut qualifications! There was nothing in between thinking I could do it and going to space.

But it turns out, the day after graduation from college (I suppose I can’t speak for astronaut school) feels a lot like someone taking you into the middle of the ocean, throwing you overboard, and telling you to swim—but not telling you how far or in which direction.

Before graduation, I’d imagined myself working as a waitress in a restaurant in California for a year and then going to graduate school for writing. After sending my resume to what felt like hundreds of restaurants and bakeries, I received no calls back. I grew discouraged. I knew so many educated people without jobs and worried I would also fall victim to the economy. Phoenix—the city where my parents were living at the time—was my next resort.

Outside my comfort zone, in a city I didn’t know or even really

like, I blindly applied for a copy editing job I found on Craigslist.

I didn’t know until my interview exactly what the position entailed. The job, which I later found out involved copy editing two monthly dental trade publications, was offered to me a few days later. I accepted. Since joining the team, my position has turned into a staff writer position as well, providing opportunities for bylines and even some international travel. Despite my initial hesitancy, it has been such a valuable and fulfilling experience.

If you told me at the beginning of my job search that I would end up in Phoenix working for a dental magazine I would have called you crazy. But this year I have been a sponge: soaking up pools of useful information like how to work with and for a publication, how to incorporate style and hear tone, and I have had so many chances to do what I love—write!

So here is my unseasoned but sincere advice to new grads: Find something you love to do.

Between the economy and being fresh out of school, you will likely get paid a pittance. Don’t put a dollar amount on the experience you can get by working at a job you enjoy and one that will help advance your career once you move on.

Recruit yourself. Businesses rarely recruit new grads anymore.

Most have plenty of qualified applicants without searching at

universities. Just because no one has offered you a job right out of school does not mean you are not a quality candidate. Don’t wait for someone to come to you. Put yourself out there; confidently tell people who you are and what you’re good at.

Plan the basics, not the details.

Set goals for yourself, but don’t be surprised if life chooses to approach accomplishing those goals in a more roundabout way than you initially anticipated. Take my job, for example: Phoenix was far from my first choice, and I now know more about teeth than I ever hoped to, but working here has helped me accomplish my goals and has not compromised my “big-picture” plans. Be content with the unexpected.

Don’t settle, but be open-minded.

Colleges don’t teach us to do a specific job. They give us the skills to adapt our abilities to many jobs. Be open to subjects outside your immediate expertise and places outside your comfort zone.

Did I want to work for a magazine? You bet! Did I anticipate working for a dental magazine?

No, but this year has presented far more pros than cons. With this broader range of possibilities, you might be pleasantly surprised at your prospects.

Be resourceful. I found my job on Craigslist, right alongside an ad for a used mattress from a college student. I asked my boss why he didn’t post the job on Monster.com or another more

Chelsea Patten is launching her professional life in Phoenix, Ariz., and also begins graduate studies in creative nonfiction this year. Patten is a 2010 mass communications graduate.

“credible” job search engine. He said he wanted to hire a new grad, and Craigslist is where they look. He didn’t want to hire someone who was experienced enough to write the next Great American Novel. Look in places that might be less obvious— newsletters, bulletin boards, conversations among friends, or university career center websites.

With the Internet, we really do have a multitude of resources.

Think short- and long-term.

It’s important to seek a job you enjoy and from which you can get abundant experience. However, remember you will likely not be working the same job in a few years. Your first job is just that—a first job. Aside from Mr. Facebook, no one goes from college graduation to being a CEO. Working your way up the ladder is a journey and part of the fun. n Summer 2011 Westwind 31

Westwind

Walla Walla University 204 S. College Ave. College Place, WA 99324-1198

Nonprofit Org. US Postage PAID College Place, Wash.

Permit #11

College Avenue Crossings

P

Chris Drake

sychology graduate Shay Reynolds and other members of the Class of 2011 bask in the accomplishment of completing their education.

It has been a long four, five, six, or maybe even more years for these students as they journeyed toward this milestone.

“It truly has been an unforgettable ride for most of us,” said Gregory HannahJones, senior class president.

“From making sure all of your papers are on time to sending out graduation invitations, the graduating class of 2011 is ready to embark on a new phase in our lives.”

Some are headed for graduate school to continue their education, others are getting married, and still others are entering the professional world.

Wherever they are headed, they are welcomed into a community of more than 25,000 alumni. See commencement photos posted on Flickr. Search “Walla Walla University.” n