KELLOGG HALL: Heart of Our Home
1990s
Celebrating a legacy of food, friendship, and unforgettable moments that still feed the soul. p. 10
What will your legacy be?
A legacy gift is a gift that impacts generations to come. Make Walla Walla University part of your heritage by including WWU in your estate plan. Remembering WWU in your will builds financial strength, bolsters academic and co-curricular programs, and helps students and faculty. Here are the benefits to you:
It’s simple.
You can set up your gift with a single paragraph in your will or a simple one-page amendment.
It’s
flexible.
You can leave us a specific asset or a share in your estate’s net remainder. Your bequest can support a specific program or whatever needs are most relevant when your gift is received.
Learn more about legacy giving by visiting legacy.wallawalla.edu or by contacting Troy Patzer ’99, associate vice president for alumni and advancement services, at (509) 527-2586 or troy.patzer@wallawalla.edu
It’s revocable.
If your plans or circumstances change, you can easily revise the bequest.
“It wasn’t the countertops or seating that made it special—it was the people, the stories, and the shared moments that gave the space its soul.”
Read more on p. 10
About the cover
Kellogg Hall has long been the heart of campus life, where meals sparked friendship and memory. This archival photo captures students in the 1960s cafeteria line—one of many generations at WWU nourished by food, connection, and tradition.
4 From the President
5 College Avenue News from across campus
10 Kellogg Hall
Relive decades of shared meals, late nights, and lasting memories
15 Homecoming 2025 Alumni return to reconnect, reflect, and celebrate shared roots
27 Back to You
Kaelyn Marie traces her path from backyard plays to the big stage
28 Alumni Currents
AlumNotes, 30 In Memory 31 WWU Foundation
I am not using my laptop computer, which sits just a foot away, tempting me, mocking me. And I have not asked ChatGPT, or any other AI engine, to write a “warm, engaging, hopeful letter from a college president to a constituent audience in 600 words” in hopes of a finished product in 30 seconds of work. No, I am writing these words with a pen on lined paper—like the “good old days.”
Now, I should be clear: there is much good that comes from technological advances. There was a good use for typewriters, and there continues to be huge advantages to laptop computers, driving efficiency and creativity. And while AI will bring new challenges and dangers to our world, the tool itself, if managed properly, might be a great blessing. Walla Walla University, with a long tradition as a leader in math, science, technology, engineering, and innovation, must bring moral and practical intelligence to this new intelligent capability.
But entering this strange, scary, and wonderful new world will require application of everlasting values, cold commitments, and indispensable ways, long cherished by humans, Christians, followers of Jesus Christ. I have included a photograph I took this spring, which well illustrates those transcendent standards. You will see Dr. Amanda Ramoutar, a professor in our education and psychology school. She is teaching a class under a WWU tree, sitting on a beautiful WWU lawn, utilizing one of the great, natural WWU classrooms. There are four powerful actions apparent here.
First, you see a teacher who sees her students as people. These men and women are not machines, but human beings. They are made in the image of God, and desire relationships. WWU is a community of faith—and this means we follow the way of the faithful one, Jesus, who engaged his students in personal relationship. WWU is distinctive in our prioritization of relationships.
Second, you see an instructor who understands the power of the natural world. Humans learn in “God’s second book,” as Ellen White calls it. And surely the greatest volume in this library is the great Pacific Northwest. Rivers and lakes, mountains and valleys, coastlines and the geometric Palouse—WWU’s campus has it all. (This is our father’s world).
Third, this photograph illustrates a professor applying creative skills. This is a school of innovation, curiosity, critical thinking, and ample imagination. The creative way of a Creator God nourishes and defines the academic program here. Are we strong in terms of content, technical knowhow, professional standards? Yes. But the genius at WWU is in the mind—emotional and social intelligence, openness to what God has to teach us, dreams and visions, walking not by sight but by faith, asking questions, seeing a parting sea before the miracle takes place.
Fourth and finally, I see in this picture a rabbi (teacher) in service of the great Rabbi, Jesus Christ. Human relationship, the natural world, a creative spirit—these find ultimate meaning in God. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” This hopeful question should give us peace and confidence—even in this unsettled world. The planet may be in crisis, higher-education may well be under stress, the church may face great challenges—but “if God is for us” we are not only going to be okay, but we will find abundance. WWU’s future is bright not because we will remain on the cutting-edge of human learning, but because we will remain steadfast in trusting the way, truth, and the life of the great God and humanitarian, Jesus Christ. In Him we trust.
Alex Bryan, president
Students learning in God’s creation
College Avenue
The latest from across campus
Honors students take learning beyond the classroom
Students in Walla Walla University’s honors program are stretching their minds far beyond campus this summer. The honors program, which includes about 60 students from across academic disciplines, offers honors credit for these hands-on opportunities and faculty mentorship along the way.
The program encourages students to pursue internships and immersive opportunities that reflect the program’s interdisciplinary, discussion-based approach to learning. “People often think honors just means humanities,” said Monique Roddy, associate professor of history and honors program co-director, “but our students represent a full cross-section of campus.”
This summer is no exception, with more than 10 honors students immersing themselves in learning outside the classroom. Miranda Perry, second-year history major, will be involved with an archaeological dig in Jordan this summer. “Encountering the humanity of ancient people and understanding what mat-
tered to them makes me feel like I’m honoring people who have been forgotten for thousands of years,” said Perry.
Nathan Neidigh, engineering major, is developing air traffic control software as an intern with Collins Aerospace. “I am excited to learn how to work effectively in large teams and see how large companies develop large products,” Neidigh said.
Other summer honors projects include engineering Tanzania, exploring the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, visiting the Holy Land, and more. In fall, students bring their real-world learning experiences back to the classroom to continue immersing themselves and each other in interdisciplinary, discussion-based learning.
To learn more about WWU’s honors program, visit wallawalla.edu/honors.
Honors students mingle at an endof-year social
New Rosario classrooms
In early April 2024, renovations began on the Walla Walla University Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory. The project was completed in November 2024, providing 4,050 square feet of brand new classrooms, offices, restrooms, and a foyer.
This project took the largely-unused basement of Lindgren Hall and completely transformed it. The space now holds two offices and three smart classrooms, with network capabilities and Wi-Fi available throughout the facility. Each classroom is equipped with speakers, HDMI hookups, an overhead projector and screen, and an audio-visual station with a computer. In addition, one of these classrooms includes a refrigerator to aid in biology research and study.
Outside of the summer academic term, Rosario is also available for rent by individuals and non-profit organizations.
This project not only offers students an improved educational environment but also gives visitors access to additional, up-to-date space perfect for any conference or meeting.
To learn more about studying at Rosario or renting its facilities, visit wallawalla.edu/rosario.
Graduate programs reimagined
M.S.W. goes online
Walla Walla University is excited to offer its Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program in a flexible, online format—bringing live, evening classes to students nationwide.
The program offers two tracks: a one-year Advanced Standing option for B.S.W. graduates and a two-year Regular Standing option for those with other bachelor’s degrees. Students complete fieldwork in their
local communities and engage in a curriculum focused on ethics, social justice, and hands-on practice.
“This is convenience without compromising quality,” says Deisy Haid, professor of social work.
Learn more about Walla Walla University’s online M.S.W. program at wallawalla.edu/online-MSW.
PHOTO: ALEX BRYAN
Students in the new Rosario classroom
WWU students invited as conference presenters
This year’s Adventist Association of Movement Professionals (AAMP) Conference included virtual presentations by Walla Walla University senior exercise majors Maleah Moses and Alden Wilfley who spoke to an audience of knowledgeable professionals and peers.
Moses’ presentation “Virtual Reality in Physical Therapy” focused on how VR makes physical therapy more immersive and engaging. She said the conference was invaluable for her overall professional development and post-graduation plans to start the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Texas Medical Branch.
Wilfley also appreciated the opportunity to delve into a topic that interested him and benefit-
ed his future education in orthotics and prosthetics. His presentation “Running Specific Prostheses: Advantage or Disadvantage?” discussed if prostheses provided an edge in running.
“Both Maleah and Alden are smart, curious, motivated, and just really nice people. They are everything we work to foster in the next generation of professionals making a difference in the world,” said Rodd Strobel, health and physical education department chair.
To learn more about the health and physical education department, visit wallawalla.edu/HPE.
WWU’s new stackable M.Ed. format
Walla Walla University is excited to announce a new Stackable Graduate Certificates Program designed to offer flexible, asynchronous pathways to a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree for less than $14,000.
The stackable program offers professional certificates in several specializations, meaning graduate students can apply many course assignments to their work.
“This is truly a flexible
program for the modern professional,” says Maria Bastien Valenca, dean of the School of Education and Psychology.
“Start when you want. Pay as you go. Earn one, two, or all three certificates—we want to support your professional goals and your schedule.”
Learn more about Walla Walla University’s stackable certificates and M.Ed. degree at wallawalla.edu/MEd.
235 graduates joined the WWU family on June 15.
The oldest bachelor’s degree graduate in the class was
58 years old, proving education has no age limit.
63 students earned their graduate degrees. $14.9 million received in scholarships and grants by members of the class. 23 graduates served as student missionaries or taskforce workers.
photos from graduation at wallawalla.edu/grad.
AAMP presenters
Color of Threads continues to make waves
After its strong start in the independent film circuit, the Center for Media Ministry’s short film “Color of Threads” continues to make waves.
Written by Josie Henderson, WWU alumna, the story follows five women who move to the Pendleton Valley in 1909 in an effort to rebuild their lives.
The production offered valuable experience to 15 students of the WWU film program who assisted in filming during the summer of 2023, working alongside professionals to gain industry knowledge. Since its release in the spring of 2024, the film has won fourteen awards, seven of which come from The Telly Awards, a global competition that recognizes
a standard of excellence in video and television. Each year, 13,000 entries are received and judged by over 200 industry experts.
As the film continues to grow, the CMM is offering “Color of Threads” screenings to schools or churches upon request, and Matthew Webster, producer and director of studio operations for the Center for Media Ministry, is available to lead discussions on filmmaking, storytellings, and the themes of the film.
To request a screening, please visit colorofthreads.com.
New vice president of alumni
Gayla Rogers has been named vice president for alumni and advancement engagement at Walla Walla University and will lead fundraising and alumni relations programs. She is joined by Lisa Lennox, the newly appointed associate vice president for alumni engagement.
Since 2022, Rogers has served as WWU’s director of Student Financial Services, managing the distribution of financial resources and aid, and working
with students and their families. Lennox has previously worked at WWU in the Teaching Learning Center. They join the university’s administrative team as part of a strategic initiative to capitalize on new opportunities in enrollment, alumni engagement, and fundraising.
Attoh named Distinguished Faculty Lecturer of 2025
Joanna Attoh, associate professor of business, will speak for the 2025 Distinguished Faculty Lecture on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. in the Melvin K. West Fine Arts Center. Her lecture, titled “Interconnected Economies: Trade in the Age of Global Value
Chains,” will explore how international trade shapes our economies and impacts our daily lives.
The Distinguished Faculty Lecturer is a WWU faculty member who is respected for leadership, teaching, and scholarship, and who is involved in governance, church life, and community service.
Watch the lecture via livestream at wallawalla.edu/DFL.
Reading and browsing recommendations from our experts
When I arrived at WWU as a freshman in 2004 I wanted to continue getting outside for hikes with my friends. But since none of us were local we didn’t know where to go. Now I recommend this site to all students who want to find their own fun outdoor adventures in our area.
—Mindy Coleman, guest relations coordinator
The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life
by Shawn Achor (Crown Currency, 2018)
The book is an international bestseller and inspired one of the most popular TED talks. The book’s premise is that happiness fuels success, not the other way around. It’s an easy read, but also contains many eye-opening case studies and interesting facts/statistics.
—Nancy Semotiuk, department of communication chair Your Spiritual Toolbox: How to Live the Sit-Down and Shut-Up Christian Life so You can Stand Up and Speak Out
by Terri L. Fivash (2016)
This book takes an extremely practical approach to living as a Christian. Terri L. Fivash, author of Joseph, Ruth and Boaz, and the Dahveed series, explains the “rules of engagement” that characterize Christian experience. I recommend it because it helps make sense of my own spiritual journey and might be useful to others as well.
—Linda Crumley, professor of communication
Framing the future
Before the waffle bars and decades of laughter, there were blueprints and cold morning light as builders review plans for Kellogg Hall as it began to take shape in the 1950s. More than just a steel and concrete frame, they were building the heart of campus life—the place where students share meals, forge friendships, and build lives of their own.
KELLOGG HALL: Heart of Our Home
Celebrating decades of meals, memories, and meaningful moments in Kellogg Hall
WRITING BY CAEDEN
ROGERS
’25
In every home, the kitchen is more than a place to eat. The kitchen is where stories are told, friendships are made, and memories linger long after the meal is done. For generations of students at Walla Walla University, Kellogg Hall has been just that: the heart of campus life, where the meals nourished more than just the body.
1960s
A warm welcome
When Dick Dower arrived as a freshman in 1960, Kellogg Hall was “all glass and bright and shiny,” the newest addition to the university. Opened in 1958 to replace the overcrowded dining hall in Conard Hall’s basement, Kellogg quickly became a favorite gathering place, where meals were as much about community as cuisine. “Sabbath lunch was the best meal of the week,” he recalls. “Baked potatoes, (vegetarian) Steaks Deluxe, broccoli, and an apple dessert.” That meal became so iconic, it stayed on the menu in Dower’s own kitchen for 60 years. Even with the allure of the exclusive Alaska Room for upperclassmen, Dower found himself drawn to the lively energy of the larger dining hall. “It was more fun to be with all the other students,” he says, a sentiment that would only grow in the decades ahead.
“Sabbath lunch was the best meal of the week. Baked potatoes, (vegetarian) Steaks Deluxe, broccoli, and an apple dessert.”
—DICK DOWER
Home 1970s Cooking up connection
Its shine may have faded, but the energy inside Kellogg Hall only grew. By the 1970s, Kellogg had become a bustling social space.
David Jewkes recalls standing in line for up to 20 minutes—not as a nuisance but as an opportunity.
“You’d get to mingle with people you’d never see in class,” he says.
Friends saved spots in line while students played “Hang ‘em” on the long tables, a game about sliding salt shakers right to the edge of the table, and servers dished out comfort food (and the occasional egg croquette).
“You’d get to mingle with people you’d never see in class.”
—DAVID JEWKES
That sense of connection spread downstairs in the Student Association Center (SAC), where students played Rook and pool, swapped stories over fries, and sometimes lingered until movie time at Columbia Auditorium. Even the most spirited student traditions, like OPS adventures and banquet nights, revolved around Kellogg Hall—and that spirit of connection was starting to extend far beyond the cafeteria itself.
THE NAMESAKE:
Ernest Clinton KELLOGG
When Walla Walla College opened the doors of its new cafeteria building in 1957, it bore a name steeped in legacy: Kellogg Hall, named in honor of Ernest Kellogg, WWC’s ninth president. Serving from 1911 to 1917, Kellogg was not only the first president of the college to hold a master’s degree, but also an important figure in shaping the identity of Walla Walla College as seen today.
Under his leadership, Walla Walla College experienced a transformative cultural shift. Kellogg championed a strong sense of college spirit among students and faculty alike, helping the institution distinguish itself from academy programs. His administration introduced the credit hour system—a version of which remains in use today—and oversaw the launch of the Mountain Ash yearbook and The Collegian monthly magazine, two enduring pillars of student life.
After his presidency, he returned to the academic world, eventually earning both an M.D. and a Ph.D.—fulfilling a childhood ambition to obtain both degrees. He retired in Cove, Oregon, in 1944, and died on August 1, 1956. The following year, Walla Walla College honored his legacy through the naming of Kellogg Hall, a tribute to a president whose vision continues to shape the campus to this day.
Information attributed to Bold Venture by Terrie Aamodt
1980s–1990s
The buzz below the stove
In the 1980s, Lisa Jervey Lennox found a second home beneath the cafeteria floor: The Collegian office. There, amid quote boards, printing, and deadline stress, students created more than just great content—they formed lifelong friendships. “The best times were spent in The Collegian office,” she remembers. When the power went out in May 1987, The Collegian staff didn’t beg for electricity to be restored to their dorms—they only wanted enough power to get one last issue to press and finish the year strong.
“You either spent your extra credits feeding your friends, or hoped they’d feed you.”
—STEPHANIE (BROWNING) GALLIAN
Whether upstairs or down, Kellogg continued to pulse at the center of campus life. In the SAC, TV nights drew standing-room-only crowds to watch The Cosby Show, and dorm students swapped meal credits with strategic savvy. “You either spent your extra credits feeding your friends,” said Stephanie (Browning) Gallian, “or hoped they’d feed you.” The SAC’s cheesy breadsticks and mini pizzas kept students fueled. Of course, not every moment made the front page. Gallian recalls fainting during her first Red Cross blood donation and later spotting her best friend holding hands under the table with the boy she liked. “Turns out when you eat with just your outside hand, you can’t hide where your other hand is.”
2000s–2010s
Late nights and leftovers
Into the 21st century, Kellogg still held its place as a creative and communal home for students of every kind. Upstairs, warm meals brought students together. Downstairs, The Collegian team pulled even warmer all-nighters. “We would stay up past midnight editing and eating Del Taco burritos,” says Rachel (Blake) Riffel. “Some of my fondest memories are from those nights,
working together to bring the campus stories.”
Meanwhile, ASWWU planned dodgeball tournaments, game nights, and massive fundraising drives from its offices in Kellogg. The SAC stayed busy with pizza parties, smoothies, and spontaneous foosball matches. Through it all, Kellogg remained a constant—familiar, welcoming, and woven into the everyday life of campus.
“Some of my fondest memories are from those nights, working together to bring the campus stories.”
—RACHEL (BLAKE) RIFFEL
More than just
a building
Through every decade, Kellogg evolved but never disappeared from the center of campus life. Like any home, it wasn’t the countertops or seating that made it special—it was the people, the stories, and the shared moments that gave the space its soul. From flowers blooming by the door in spring to waffles on Wednesday mornings, Kellogg Hall has long been the heart of Walla Walla University’s home: a place where students came not just to eat, but to live, grow, and remember.
Still, even the most cherished spaces can be outgrown. As student life expanded, so did the need for places that foster deeper connection, purpose, and belonging. The building’s history deserves to be honored—and its future, reimagined.
WHAT THIS SPACE MEANS FOR WWU
For generations, Kellogg Hall has served as the heart of WWU’s home. Now, it’s being reimagined into the Student Life and Ministry Center—a new dedicated space for student life and spiritual connection. Alumni may remember late-night meals, spiritual conversations, and study breaks in Kellogg’s bustling dining space. Soon, new memories will be made in WWU’s “living room” that honors the past while embracing the future.
This project will completely renovate the 67-year-old Kellogg Hall, transforming it into a 22,000-square-foot space designed for gathering, ministry, and community life. It will house Campus Ministries, Student Life, The Atlas, and
a revitalized dining hall. The building will also include a large common area, game zones, music practice rooms, and more—creating a vibrant hub where students can connect and grow. Kellogg Hall has always been more than bricks and beams. It’s where students met their best friends, their future spouses, their faith, and sometimes themselves. As it evolves into a new space for connection and community, the memories it holds will help shape the ones still to come.
To follow updates and learn how to support the project, visit wallawalla. edu/SLMC.
A WORD FROM
ASWWU presidents
Lorelei Harbour
2024–2025 ASWWU President
WWU students thrive when they are together, but our campus lacks a dedicated space designed to foster that connection. The smaller, popular spots on campus fill quickly leaving many students searching for another place to go. The Student Life and Ministry Center is exactly what we need. I’m excited about its potential to fill that gap on campus, bring us together and strengthen our community.
Annaliese Grellmann
2022–2024 ASWWU President
Today’s students are still recovering from the loneliness of the pandemic, and our underclassmen are more enthusiastic than ever to be engaged on campus. The SLMC would harness this enthusiasm and help rebuild a thriving campus life. I’ve experienced the joy of collective belonging at Walla Walla University, and it’s up to us to ensure every student that steps on this campus can experience that, too.
Trevor Haugen
2021–2022 ASWWU President
WWU is a home away from home. One similarity between homes is they all have a living room that is used to socialize and relax. Currently WWU does not have a living room, and the SLMC is an amazing opportunity to provide that space. This will allow students to socialize, de-stress, and provide a central place to facilitate an even larger feeling of togetherness on campus.
Paul Ford
1994–1995 ASWWC President
During my time at WWC I witnessed the SAC area go from a dingy television room to a bright space with a snack bar, creating a more welcoming space for students. The new proposed venue takes this to a wonderful new level. Having a “third space” where people can be physically present supports everyone during college life, and it is exciting to see the investment in creating communities of people who thrive.
Groundbreaking on the new SLMC took place during homecoming weekend A rendering of the interior space of the SLMC
2025 H MEC MING
Gathering at the heart of it all
Gathering at the heart of it all
WALLA WALLA UNIVERSITY alumni have a reputation for their thoughtful reflection, passionate creativity, joyful faith, and commitment to service around the world. A culture of kindness and generosity continues to shape the WWU experience. This spring, nearly 1,000 alumni returned to campus for a vibrant homecoming weekend, celebrating shared values, reliving treasured memories, and building new connections rooted in the university’s enduring mission.
CLASS PHOTOS
Derek Riffle
Members of the 2025 honor classes reconnected with former classmates during homecoming weekend.
11. Michelle Edstrom
12. Mihaela Blackmore
13. Andrea Johnson
14. Rachel Riffle
15. Marissa Manden
16. Kyle Bahnsen
17. Cory Sutton
CLASS PHOTOS BY CHLOE CONGLETON PHOTO EDITING BY OLEKSII MAKARENKO
HOMECOMING WEEKEND PHOTOS BY CHRIS DRAKE, JARED NEIDIGH, NICK WAGNER, JUSTIN SINGER, AYDEN LEE, SEBASTIAN CANCEL
SEMINARS
Alumni also enjoyed a variety of seminars on Friday afternoon, including “Practicing the Power of Gratitude” with Elmar Sakala ’65 and ’68, where he explored the role of gratitude over thousands of years as viewed by various world religions. Also featured was Lynelle Ellis ‘90, professor of communication, presenting “Seventhday Adventists and the Movies.”
1. Brittney (Leno) Mitchell 2. Tiffany (Theil) Kim
3. Alex Roddy 4. Brian Atkins 5. Jared Hiscock 6. Jeremy Lund
EXCELLENCE IN THOUGHT
The annual campus Awards Celebration took place Friday morning to celebrate and honor the scholarship and achievements of students, staff, and faculty. Thanks to generous contributions from alumni and friends of WWU, 976 awards were given out to students from over 210 different scholarship funds totaling $1,242,504.
CLASS OF 2005
ALUMNI
O F THE Y EAR
Meet four Walla Walla University alumni who were honored during homecoming weekend 2025 for service and achievement that embody the spirit of their alma mater.
WRITING BY AMY
WILKINSON
PHOTOS BY
COLBY KUSCHATKA
7.
1. Cristina (Downer) Welder 2. Bryce Sampsell
Jody (Foster) Washburn
4. Mary Heather Ames 5. Melissa (Tessier) Rae 6. Diana Heinrichs
Jeremy Welser 8. Albert Rick 9. Tim Ruybalid
DAVID WAGNER
Few players have left as indelible a mark on the sport of wheelchair tennis as David Wagner. Born in Fullerton, California, and raised in Walla Walla, Wagner enjoyed athletics from early on, play ing tennis and basketball. An accident at the age of 21 left him paralyzed from the waist down, with 30 percent mobili ty in his hands. As part of his rehabilitation, Wagner took up table tennis, later enrolling in a wheelchair tennis camp. Graduating from WWU in 2000 with a degree in elemen tary education, Wagner faced a difficult decision: become a teacher or pursue a career as a professional wheelchair tennis player. He chose the latter and quickly made a name for himself, ranking No. 1 in quad doubles in 2002 and No. 1 in quad singles in 2003. He made his Paralympic debut in 2004, and in 2007, at Wagner’s urging, the U.S. Open added a quadriplegic division to competition. He took first place in doubles and second place in singles that year. Today, he is not only a 29-time Grand Slam winner and six-time Paralym pian but also remains a vocal advocate and ambassador for the game. Wagner puts his education background to good use leading wheelchair tennis clinics for kids—helping to grow the sport he loves.
1. Yuesha Chen 2. Brooke (Porter) Colburn
3. Jeremy Perkins 4. Greg McCulloch
5. Jesse Chan 6. Heather (Jeanette) Benado
“My education at Walla Walla University gave me far more than academic knowledge,” says Anthony Stahl, healthcare executive. “It prepared me for leadership and service.”
Upon graduating in 1990 with a degree in business administration, Stahl utilized those lessons right away while working in international development at the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). Over the course of his 14 years at the organization, Stahl oversaw large-scale humanitarian proj ects, secured multimillion-dollar grants, and built vital global partnerships. As a result, Stahl, who is bilingual in English and Spanish, has lived or worked in 70 countries. It was during his time with ADRA that he also met his wife, Karina, with whom he shares two grown sons.
In 2006, Stahl pivoted from international development to healthcare, taking on various hospital HR and leadership roles over the next nine years. He continued his education too, earning a Master of Business Administration degree and a Ph.D. in leadership, both from Andrews University.
Today, Stahl is president of Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he has led initiatives that improved patient safety and physician well-being. A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), Stahl received the President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Biden in 2024.
1. Becky (Duncan) Connell
2. Trina (Sprecher) McCoon
3. Debra (Godman) McCarver
4. Shawnna (Drake) Rentschler
5. Dan Stolp
Jim Kneller
Chigo Dike
Sylvia (Price) Escobar
Denise Childs
Devi (Judd) Petersen
Kevin Petersen
Bob Thayne
Judy Woolworth
Michelle (Coates) Rodriguez
Paul Rodriguez 16. Cyndy Dinwiddie
Pamela Olson
Scott Rivas
MESSENGERS REUNION
Friday night, members of the singing group Messengers, (1966-1987) and (1998-2003), presented a concert of songs they featured as ambassadors for WWU at churches and camp meetings throughout the Northwest and beyond.
ALUMNI ALL-STARS
Saturday night featured a special one-of-a-kind program emceed by Jerry Woods ’97 and Foundation President, and featured alumni from the honor years. It was a special evening full of music, pictures, stories, and laughs.
1. Matt Weber
2. Scott VonBergen
3. Rob Aaron
4. Lance Irvine
5. Lynelle (Childs) Ellis
6. Doug McGinnis
7. Pamela Cress
8. Tamma-lynn (McDonald) McGinnis
9. Gayla (Martin) Perrin
10. Sandi (Klein) Phillips
11. Kellie Humbert
12. Michele Molstead
13. Denise (Armstead) Collet
14. Michael Devitt
15. Ted Manullang
16. Maria (Shue) Kidwell
17. Cynthia Westerbeck
18. Felix Tan
19. Loie (Parks) Pryor
20. Kathleen Varner
FUN IN THE VALLEY
The weekend’s festivities also included the annual car show, a golf tournament held at Wine Valley Golf Course, and a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Student Life and Ministry Center.
SUNDAY FUN-DAY
Sunday morning started off with the Richard J. Kegley Memorial Fun Run/ Walk. Early morning risers tackled the 5k with smiles all around. The proceeds from the event went to support the WWU worthy student fund.
1. Derrick Johnston 2. Susan (Shenk) Willard
Willard
Mark Ranzinger
David Panossian
David Hutton
Greg Robinson
15. Deirdre (Macvarish) Epperson
16. Sheri (Silcox) Proctor
17. Ginger Ketting-Weller
18. Terry Wigley
19. Jeanette (Wagner) Teehee
20. Sherilyn (Wysong) Hold
21. Gary Clendenon
22. Patsy (Hare) Vazquez
23. Vicki Ringering
24. Sherry (Torretta) Keller
25. Jere Gimbel
YEAR GINGER KETTING-WELLER
Ginger Ketting-Weller credits both her international upbringing as the daughter of student missionaries and her experience at WWU with preparing her for her current role: president of the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS) in the Philippines.
The post is a capstone to a 40-year career in education that took root when Ketting-Weller moved stateside in 1981 to attend WWU. While here, she served as the first student missionary to Finland and graduated in 1985 with a degree in elementary education. She also earned a master’s degree in administration and leadership from Loma Linda University and a Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University.
During the intervening years, Ketting-Weller held teaching positions at both the elementary and academy levels, before joining the faculty of the education department at Pacific Union College in 1994. She married Jim Weller ’80 in 2001 and relocated to College Place, accepting the position of vice president for academic administration at WWU. “It was working at Walla Walla where I learned most of the lessons that shape my daily life and decision-making in higher education administration today,” she says.
Ketting-Weller went on to serve as dean of the School of Education at La Sierra University before accepting her current role at AIIAS. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, writing, and quilting.
1. Dorita (Perry) Tessier
2. Cheryl (Graham) Klamath
3. Duwayne Opitz
4. Les Kelley
5. Scott Gibson
James Foster
Jim Weller 8. Rob Weller 9. Charles Bovey 10. Ronda (Rose) King 11. Jim Cain
12. Greg Brothers
13. Debbie (Merritt) Russell
14. Kelley Cady
15. Colleen (Campbell) Vercio
16. Bernice (Cervantes) Hanna
17. Leslie Stahlnecker
18. Michael Blair
19. Cecilie (Phillips) Ames
20. Michael Bishop
SAKALA
It was at WWU that Elmar Sakala discovered his two great loves: his wife, Darilee Allen ’69, to whom he has been married for 57 years; and teaching.
Born in London, England, and raised in Canada, Sakala dreamed of becoming, not a teacher, but rather a doctor. His journey to a white coat began at WWU, where he earned a degree in business administration in 1965 and a master’s in education in 1968. He was then accepted to Loma Linda University Medical School, where he earned his M.D. as well as a Master of Public Health in maternal nutrition. Sakala completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center and was asked back to LLU, this time as a faculty member, melding his training in medicine with his love of teaching.
Over the course of his nearly 50-year career—which also included clinical work—Sakala published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles and two widely used obgyn review books, won multiple teaching honors, and introduced gynecological teaching associates, women who are specially trained to receive exams by medical students and provide feedback, to the program.
Now retired, Sakala holds the title of Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at LLU and enjoys playing the saxophone and coordinating Sabbath school classes.
1. Larry Luce
2. Ben Moor
3. Ted Carpenter
4. Robert Vixie
5. Gary Reiber
6. Rick Henderson
7. Nick Riesland
8. Richard Scriven
9. Judy (Davidson) Fetroe
10. Claire (Fisher) Hart
11. Daryl Gohl
12. Mary (Weeks) Beta
13. Nina (Clark) Summers
14. Sheryl (James) Evers
15. Cheri (Ford) Lemke
16. Arlene (Schultz) Hunt
17. Grace (Kneeler) Dublanko
18. John Johnson
19. Phyllis Wagner
20. Audrey (Reimche) Bigelow
21. Susan (Williams) Way
22. Jeff Landreth
23. Joan (Walden) Riesland
24. Janine (Baker) Hudkins
25. Nancy (Buck) Lee
26. Doug VanDenbrugh
27. Suzanne Scriven
28. R. Cheryl (Becker) Horne
29. DeAnn (Bail) Bork
30. Leslie Bumgardner
31. Lloyd Perrin
32. Ed Jensen
33. Bev (Hochstetter) Fristad
34. Janis (Mackie) Hunter
35. Carol Ann (Albertsen) St. Clair
36. Gene Daffern
37. Maria (Carrera Infante) Solaita
38. Jay Shady
39. Ivana Meacham
40. Dennis Davis
41. Cheryl (Blodgett) Coleman
42. Gayle Craig
1. Susan (Sanders) Gardner
2. Monty McCoy
3. Del Griebel
4. Daryl Payne
5. Kathi (Mantid) Payne
6. Len Harms
7. Donna (Iverson) Shute
8. Lynda (Teske/Litchfield) Dúchenle
9. Ann (Atkins) Stentzel
10. Doug Ammon
11. Jim Klein
12. Daniel Knapp
13. John Lawson
14. Rita Corbett
1. Kenneth Hart
2. Ruth (Scyphers) Bebee
3. Marolyn (Eiseman) Wagner
4. Bob Wresch
5. John Johnson
6. Richard Worley
7. Elmar Sakala
8. Warren Peters
9. John Ash
10. Jay Magnuson
11. John Henriques
12. Jim Hall
13. Len Laabs
14. Beverly Holland
15. Shirley (Norhton) Panasuk
16. Joyce (Rasmussen) Gregg
17. Joan (Riter) Carmen
18. Patricia (Stephens) Wettstein
19. Nancy Teale
20. Arlene (Socia) Jerabeck
21. Andrew Dressler
22. JoAn (Bauer) Gulbrandson
23. Janice (Payne) James
24. Ken James
25. Connie (Hartzell) Ash
26. Gerry Miller
25 TH ANNUAL CAR SHOW
This year, alumni celebrated the 25th annual car show, a cherished tradition that began in 1999 when Loren Dickinson displayed a few classic cars in front of the old Administration Building.
Over the years, the event has grown into a highlight of homecoming weekend, thanks to the dedication of Linda Hintz, who ran the show for a decade. Today, the show fills the Havstad parking lot with more than 100 cars, trucks, and motorcycles.
“What makes the car show so special is that everyone who brings their vehicle feels their ride is special,” says Hintz. The event continues to bring together generations of alumni, united by memories, chrome, and a shared love of the open road.
1. Donna (Monks) Worley
Reuben Tataryn
Alyce (Matthews) Bais
Alumni Currents
Staying in touch with our family of graduates
BACK TO YOU // KAELYN MARIE ’20
Dressing the story
When I was seven years old, I designed my first show: a production of The Three Little Pigs, complete with costumes, props, and scenery.
My brothers and I took on the roles of the adventurous swine while my dad went off-script with his portrayal of the Big Bad Wolf, much to my dismay as director, designer, and playwright.
Our little company, clad in construction paper ears, gave a truly chaotic performance as my mom applauded enthusiastically from the one-woman audience.
As a freshman at Walla Walla University, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in art, but I had no idea what medium to focus on. I declared an art major with a concentration in illustration and hoped that, as time passed, I would discover an art form that truly captured and inspired me. At the end of my first year, I discovered costume design for theater and quickly realized that I had found my passion. It was one of those classic theater moments: you express a little interest, and suddenly you’re in the deep end, designing an entire show. Costume design brought together two of my favorite things: illustration and fashion, and it quickly became clear that this was the art I was meant to pursue.
Because Walla Walla didn’t offer technical theater classes, I had limited formal training. Most of my early design experience was selftaught or figured out through trial and error. I knew I needed to find a way to break into the industry, so I took a nine-month internship in Naples, Florida, and then decided to pursue costume design at the graduate level. I was eager to join a collaborative environment where I could deepen my rendering techniques, immerse myself in intensive research, and grow as a conceptual thinker.
I like to joke that I did more art in my first semester of grad school than in my entire undergraduate career. Over the past three years, I’ve had the opportunity to design
several productions for the Clarence Brown theater, including Men on Boats, Kinky Boots, and Inherit the Wind. Each show pushed me to grow in different ways, but my favorite part of the process has always been the people. Theater brings together a beautiful cohort of storytellers, each with a unique voice and background. That sense of community, of creating something meaningful together, continues to inspire me every day.
I graduated with my M.F.A. this May and am currently designing Kiss Me, Kate and Steel Magnolias for the Texas Shakespeare Festival. I’m deeply grateful to the art program at Walla Walla and to my mentors Joel Libby, Matthew Pierce, and David Crawford, who encouraged me to chase what I love. Art has always made sense to me. Creating brings me joy, purpose, and connection, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.
“ ... it quickly became clear that this was the art I was meant to pursue.”
Alumni Currents
AlumNotes
1950s
Doris (Bush) Anderson ’59 lives in Highland, Calif., where she teaches for the San Bernardino City Unified School District. Her time at WWU left a lasting mark, especially the friendships she formed—many of which she still treasures today. After earning her English degree, Doris taught at Loma Linda Academy for a year, then spent 36 years with the San Bernardino School District. She later earned a master’s in English Composition from California State University, San Bernardino, and was encouraged to pursue writing. She published Tackling Tough Choices: Discussion Starting Skits for Teens and The Girl with the Chicken House Pony, and continues to write with several projects underway. After 58 years of marriage, her husband passed away, followed just four months later by her younger son. She finds healing through a Christian grief group and a small writing circle. For 50 years, she has lived in a lovingly restored 1886 Queen Anne Victorian home, once home to horses, avocados, and a touch of farm life. Her fond WWU memories include French horn duets with Larry Leiske, English classes, The IceBurg hamburgers, and the small, close-knit community. “Walla Walla and the precious friends I made remain dear to my heart.”
Robert “Bob” Wresch ’65, a retired ophthalmologist, lives in College Place with his wife, Betty Jo (Bishop). He has five children: Keith ’98, Alysia ’01, Chad Vercio ’01, Peter Vercio ’12, and Alex Vercio ’11. While at WWU, Bob worked as a plumber and electrician and was fascinated by electronics, becoming a ham radio operator at 14. He helped launch KGTS, the valley’s first FM station, and earned advanced radiotelephone licenses with Ken Hart. Bob studied at Loma Linda University, interned in Ohio, and planned to serve in Latin America—until marrying Eunice Jewell, a third-generation missionary. They served in Malawi, where Bob performed general and surgical care. In 1974, they moved to Loma Linda, where he became chief of ophthalmology at the VA hospital. Later, they served in Lesotho, then Guam, where Bob led an Adventist eye clinic for 32 years. After Eunice died in 2003, Bob married Betty Jo, a family friend and fellow Bible student. They now live in her home near WWU. Bob remains passionate about the intersection of geology and theology and fondly recalls the mentorship of Dr. Harold Cobin in freshman biology.
Marilyn (Pinder) Hubley ’63 lives in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada, where she has retired. She lives in an apartment for those 55 and older and is able to walk nearly everywhere and bus anywhere else. She said God has blessed
her abundantly as she is in good health and has a wonderful, closeknit church family that she loves getting to meet with each Sabbath. She also has Bible studies over the phone during the week with two people and is happy to have her children and grandchildren not too far away. Her favorite memories from WWU were the evening worships in the dorm.
Fair (Ochs) Fuschetti ’61 lives in Palm Desert, Calif., where she is now retired after a variety of occupations such as high school and college science teacher, environmental health specialist, registered nurse and education specialist at the Living Desert Zoo, and several years of volunteering. Her most impactful traveling experience she remembers was visiting Israel, especially the Sea of Galilee environs. She said, “It changed my concepts of the Bible teachings and our God’s life and gift of salvation.” From her time at WWU, Fair enjoyed the two summers spent at Rosario Beach, the numerous days of classes and work in the chemistry building, morning worship, Sabbath hikes and weekend camp trips. While there were aspects that she didn’t enjoy, like having to play tennis in a long skirt, there was so much more that she did, including getting to visit the homes of her teachers who had taught both of her parents.
1970s
R. Cheryl (Becker) Horne ’75 lives in Walla Walla where she volunteers at the SonBridge Community Center for Better Living and her church, where her ladies Bible study group has been together for over 20 years now. In 2018 she retired from being a registered nurse at Providence St. Mary Medical Center after 43 years of service. Her husband, Barry ’75, passed away several years ago. Now, she enjoys spending her time with her golden retriever, Sitka, camping and traveling during the warmer months. She is proud of her son, Matthew ’03, who went on to get his doctorate in education administration and is currently a principal of an international school in Europe. Her favorite hobbies include reading, hiking, and working on her yard. She also said, “I enjoy my friends and family and the blessings from our Lord Jesus Christ.” Some of her favorite memories of WWU come from her time living in the Portland campus dormitories while finishing her nursing degree.
1980s
Ann (Stickle) Schwisow ’89 lives with her husband, Mark ’94, in Beaverton, Ore., and works as the country director for Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Vietnam. She and her husband worked for ADRA for over 20 years in Cambodia and moved to work for them in Vietnam in 2024. Ann and Mark both love the challenge of exploring new places and learning different languages. They also enjoy spending much of their free time in God’s beautiful nature, making music, with friends and family, and most of all sharing Jesus’ love. During their time at WWU, their favorite memories included practicing in
the Fine Arts Center, classes with Carlisle Manous, Loren Dickinson and Ann Gibson, and building new friendships with people she still holds dear today.
David Riley ’85 lives with his wife, Cathy (Michel) att., in Union, Ore., and works in sales and customer support for Countryside Sheds. They have two kids, Brent att. and Laura ’13. His favorite memories of WWU were of directing College Bowl his senior year, where he got to introduce “Stump the Profs,” and especially “meeting my spouse there!!!”
James “Jim” Weller ’80 lives with his wife, Ginger (Ketting) ’85, in Silang, Cavite, Philippines, where he works as assistant professor and K-12 principal for the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS). They have a daughter, Brandy Farley ’01, and two grandchildren currently attending WWU. After his own graduation from WWU, James went on to use his Bachelor’s in Elementary Education to teach in a one-room school on Marrowstone Island, Wash. Seeking further education, he also earned his master’s from WWU. He then served as teacher and principal at Tacoma Adventist School for eight years, a principal in Hawaii for another eight years, and later a principal at Rogers Adventist School for 12 years. Then, after earning his Ph.D. from Andrews University, he worked as the principal at Loma Linda Academy, Junior High for five years before joining AIIAS. Looking back on his time at WWU, James remembers enjoying his education classes,
Readers Theater with Donnie Rigby, Literature of the Bible with Bev Beem, Movement Education with Coach Napier, and Secondary Bible Methods with Larry Veverka.
1990s
Michael Devitt ’90 lives with his wife, Angeline “Angie” (St. Clair) ’89, in Boise, Idaho, where he has practiced physical therapy for the past 31 years and currently owns and operates Focus Physical Therapy. They are both proud of their two daughters, Isabelle and Eve. Isabelle lives in Paris, France, where she graduated from American University in Paris. Eve lives in New York City and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. He and his wife have recently published a book titled Finding Eve: Raising a Transgender Teen in Idaho, which is available on Lulu.com and Amazon.com. His favorite memories of WWU were made while exploring abandoned houses during late winter nights with Steve Smith, Lafe Bissell, and Craig Foster.
Keith Owen ’95 lives with his wife, Glenda Clevenger, in Salem, Ore. In November 2016, he retired from being a biomedical equipment technician III at Salem Hospital. He is still singing with the Oregon Adventist Men’s Chorus after first joining in 1997. The group has performed at two General Conference Sessions and traveled to sing in Romania, South Africa, and Ukraine. He now attends the Central Seventh-day Adventist Church where he is a deacon and member of the audio visual committee, running audio and livestream. He has two sons, Jay and Bryan, and four grandchildren. His favorite memories of WWU are roller skating for the first time, playing in the band and saxophone ensembles, and teaching electronics labs.
2000s
Heather (Enders) Dietrich ’00 lives with her husband, Shawn ’00, in Kennewick, Wash. She works as a student mentor for WWU. Heather and Shawn have lived in Washington state since they first came to WWU in 1996. They love helping out at animal rescues and have foster failed a number of times. They also enjoy camping around the western U.S. and doing home renovations. Over the years, Heather has worked at WWU, Portland Adventist Medical Center, Tri-City Adventist School, Kennewick Seventh-day Adventist Church, and now WWU again. She said her two most significant life changing events were the arrival of their daughters, Emma att. and Lily att., who are both currently attending WWU. Her favorite memories of WWU were of Tuesday spaghetti nights and Merchants and going to the parks on Saturday afternoons to hangout, play football, or throw Frisbees with her brother and his civil engineering friends.
Lisal (Stevens) Folsom ’05 lives with her husband, Nathan ’04, and their rambunctious Boston terrier, Della, in Louisville, Ky. Professionally, she is an adult and pediatric endocrinologist. She is an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and serves as medical director for Adult Diabetes - Endocrinology for the Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, running, eating and cooking delicious plant-based food, and reading. She also likes to travel—her next stop is Costa Rica—and spend time with
people she loves. From all the memories of WWU, she said her favorite is meeting her spouse.
Robert Renck ’05 lives with his wife, Catherine (Wilson), in Spokane, Wash., and has four children—Charlotte, Sam, J.P., and Hannah. Robert owns and operates Sunrise Dental of North Spokane with R.J. Henneberg ’05 as his business partner. He also enjoys being involved in music at his local church, Spokane Countryside Church. His favorite memories of WWU were of practicing for Improv Church with Karl Hafner, Adam Lombard, Ryan Lunsford, Allison Bacon, Will Frei, Tina Guldhammer, Bryan Cafferky, Erica Sharp, Nick Lambert, Jason Friedrich, and Scotty Ray.
2010s
Briana (Lanza) Toelke ’10 lives with her two kids, Fletcher and Emry, in College Place. After graduating from WWU with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education, she returned years later to get her math teaching endorsement and is now teaching physics at WWU and high school math. In her free time she enjoys getting outdoors, baking, playing board, card, and video games, traveling (especially on mission trips), and spending time with her “two awesome kids and two pawsome cats.” While attending WWU, Briana said one of her favorite memories was of Sabbath afternoons in the mountains with friends.
Alumni Currents
Staying in touch with our family of graduates
In Memory
Family members may submit obituary information for their loved ones at wallawalla.edu/obituary.
Mary Aaron ’61 was born in 1939 in Aberdeen, Wash., and died May 14, 2025, in Shelton, Wash., at age 85. Surviving: husband Thomas att. of Shelton; daughters Ann of Lacey, Wash., and Marilyn of Shelton; and son Robert ’90 of Shelton.
Nieta Adams was born in 1931 in Walla Walla and died Aug. 26, 2024, in College Place, at age 92. Surviving: daughter Diane att. of College Place; son Duane of Boise, Idaho; and brother Edverne Pflugrad att. of Long Creek, Ore.
Ila Baltrusch ’59 was born in 1936 in Colfax, Wash., and died May 29, 2024, in College Place, at age 87. Surviving: husband Roger ’59 of College Place; daughter Regina of Great Falls, Mont.; and sons Loren att. of Wenatchee, Wash., and William att. of College Place.
Arthur Bigelow att. was born in 1931 in Minneapolis, Minn., and died Aug. 3, 2023, in Prineville, Ore., at age 92. Surviving: wife Myrtle of Prineville; daughters Carolyn of Angwin, Calif., and Anita Jordan of Prineville; and sons Lester att. of Yakima, Wash., Robert of Central Point, Ore., and Kenneth att. of North Pole, Alaska.
Monte Cheney ’61 was born in 1938 in Caldwell, Idaho, and died Dec. 26, 2024, in Northridge, Calif., at age 86. Surviving: wife Lila att. of Northridge; daughter Marlo Cheney-Albritton att. of Newbury Park, Calif.; and son Monte Cheney III ’94 of Madras, Ore.
Nichole (Kreuder) Doering ’01 was born in 1977 in Royal Oak, Mich., and died March 19, 2024, in Meridian, Idaho, at age 46. Surviving: daughter Jenna Marie Franklin of Caldwell, Idaho; son Conner Allen Franklin of Meridian; sister Angela Lowman att. of Eagle, Idaho; and mother Marilyn Kreuder of Boise, Idaho.
Scott Duncan ’69 was born in
1942 in Santa Monica, Calif., and died Dec. 18, 2024, in Kennewick, Wash., at age 82. Surviving: wife Elisabeth ’66 of College Place; daughters Rebecca Connell ’95 of College Place and Pamela Rodman ’98 of Centralia, Wash.; and brother James of Shoreline, Wash.
Walter Emery ’49 was born in 1927 in College Place and died April 29, 2024, in San Diego, Calif., at age 96. Surviving: wife Marilyn of San Diego; daughters Jennifer Clarke of Raleigh, N.C., and Janelle Fellow of Powny, Calif.; sons Jeffrey of Portland, Ore., Jerrel of Murrieta, Calif., and Jay of Yucaipa, Calif.; and sister Olivia Heleniak of Reno, Nev.
Timothy Fritz ’67 was born in 1944 in Billings, Mont., and died April 6, 2025, in Billings, at age 81. Surviving: sister Betty Duncan ’66 of College Place; and brother Lyman ’71 of Ennis, Mont.
Barry Geates ’81 was born in 1956 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, and died July 20, 2024, in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada, at age 68. Surviving: wife Faye of Lacombe; brother Terry att.; and mother Mildred of Lacombe.
Marvin Kneller ’70. Surviving: wife Eloise of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada; daughters Heidi ’00 of Lynnwood, Wash., and Amy Ambrose ’04 of Tri-Cities, Wash.; sister Grace Dublanko ’75 of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; and brother Ralph ’66 and ’68 of Kelowna.
Donna Lindstrom ’51 was born in 1927 in Hope, N.D., and died July 13, 2024, in Kennewick, Wash., at age 96. Surviving: daughter Teresa Myers ’77 of Eugene, Ore.; and son Len Burns ’76 of Pasco, Wash.
Dennis Moore ’72 was born in 1946 in Anamosa, Iowa, and died Sept. 12, 2020, in Vancouver, Wash., at age 74. Surviving: daughter Carole of Wood Village,
Ore.; sons Dennis Jr. of Walla Walla and John Moore II of Stafford, Va.; and sisters Margaret Walsh of Toledo, Iowa, and Janet Patterson of Kansas City, Mo.
Barbara Morford att. died in 2024 in Wash. Surviving: brothers Ted att., Tim, and Todd ’91
Bill Pappajohn ’53 was born in 1931 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and died June 10, 2018, in Vancouver, at age 86. Surviving: daughter Lori att. of New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada; and son Bob att. of West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Lynn Rattray ’69 was born in 1947 in Walla Walla and died July 5, 2024, in Yakima, Wash., at age 77. Surviving: husband David of Yakima; daughters Kerri Paxton of Lincoln City, Ore. and Kambra Buell ’00 of Lincoln City; and stepson Jarred att. of Sandpoint, Idaho.
Peggy Rice att. was born in 1947 in Bend, Ore., and died April 9, 2025, in Corvallis, Ore., at age 77. Surviving: daughter Christina Batten ’96 of Albany, Ore.; and son Jonathan of Milwaukee, Ore.
Gwendolyn (Davis Teal) Robins att. was born in 1936 in Portland, Ore., and died March 8, 2025, in Woodburn, Ore., at age 88. Surviving: daughters Malinda Davis of Salem, Ore., and Suzanne Staub att. of Sacramento, Calif.; and son Neal Davis of Stayton, Ore.
Walter Rue att. was born in 1937 in Los Angeles, Calif., and died March 2, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nev., at age 87. Surviving: wife Janice of Boulder City, Nev.; and daughter Noelani Sunderland of Boulder City.
Herbert Stratton ’69 was born in 1941 in National City, Calif., and died May 11, 2024, in Caldwell, Idaho, at age 83. Surviving: wife
Marie ’62 of Caldwell; daughters Marta Stone ’96 of Caldwell and Jill Granberry ’98 of Glen Ellyn, Idaho; and sister Norma Green ’60 of Portland, Ore.
Larry Unterseher ’74 was born in 1951 in Eugene, Ore., and died July 22, 2024, in Eureka, Calif., at age 73. Surviving: wife Rhonda of Beaumont, Calif.; daughter Kim Espinoza ’02 of Simsbury, Conn.; son Michael ’06 of Redlands, Calif.; and sister Jeanie Rindahl of Eugene, Ore.
Carol Perrin att. was born in 1932 in College Place and died Nov. 10, 2024, in College Place, at age 72. Surviving: husband Milford att. of College Place; daughters Nancy Myers att. of College Place, Jannice King ’82 of Caldwell, Idaho, and Teri Richardson ’86 of College Place; son Ron Pifer att. of Forest Grove, Ore.; sister Ramona Jennings att.; and brothers Charles Homann ’57 and Edwin Homann ’57 of Forest Grove. Perrin was the residence hall dean at the Portland campus from 1986 to 1998.
A New Era: Alumni Association Becomes the WWU Foundation
At the WWU Alumni Association’s annual business meeting, held during homecoming weekend in April, alumni voted on a proposal put forth by the officers of the Association to change the name of the organization to the Walla Walla University Alumni Foundation.
The change was prompted by the officers’ desire to have the name more accurately reflect the role the organization plays in managing the alumni endowment funds, which currently total just over three million dollars. The Foundation will continue to maintain its status as a nonprofit organization, separate from the university. The mission of the organization remains unchanged: they are charged with stewarding revenue from endowment dollars to support the university—in particular providing scholarships for students, funding Havstad Alumni Center’s continuing operations, and supporting alumni engagement with WWU.
This change brings bet-
ter alignment with current practices of peer institutions, where traditional alumni engagement and services are managed from within the university itself.
After two years of planning, the Alumni Association’s board unanimously agreed it was time to move forward with the new model. The new Foundation’s board is committed to collaborate with the office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement to support the ongoing ministry of Walla Walla University.
The structure of the Foundation’s board will remain much the same as the Association’s, with officers and board members continuing to be pulled from and elected by members of WWU alumni. The one significant change is the previous rotating roles of president-elect, president, and board chair are being replaced with a single three-year presidential/board chair. Secretary and treasurer roles will also bump from two to three years, alongside elected at-large board members.
Current officers and board members
BOARD CHAIR / PRESIDENT JERRY WOODS Class of ’97
SECRETARY LORRAINE JACOBS Class of ’89
BOARD MEMBERS KARLI HART Class of ’18
BRAD BROWN Class of ’98
DANIELLE CRAIGG Class of ’11
TREASURER
JIMMY JOHNSON Class of ’97
JOY VEVERKA Class of ’04
SUE HUETT Class of ’75
BILL GERBER Class of ’84
August 22–24, 2025
Walla Walla University
204 S. College Ave.
College Place, WA 99324
See you there!
SEPTEMBER 21–26
Freshmen arrive on campus for orientation at JumpStart. New students and their parents are invited to join WWU President Alex Bryan for a welcome lunch starting at 12:00 p.m. Classes start for all on Monday, September 29, and the adventure will begin!
OCTOBER 9–11
Cheer on your favorite soccer and volleyball teams at the Fall Classic Tournament. More than 20 teams from across the country will compete. Watch for the game schedule in September online at wallawalla.edu/ fallclassic.
OCTOBER 18
Come celebrate your student at Parent Sabbath on the Portland campus! Join us for a special ceremony as junior nursing majors are welcomed into the profession, plus enjoy Sabbath lunch hosted by President Alex Bryan. Registration opens in September.
OCTOBER 24–25
Come visit your student at Family Weekend! Events include class visits, ice cream at Bright’s Candies, Friday vespers, and more! Registration opens in September. Learn more at wallawalla. edu/family-weekend.
NOVEMBER 9
Come hear Joanna Attoh, associate professor of business, present her Distinguished Faculty Lecture “Interconnected Economies: Trade in the Age of Global Value Chains” in the Melvin K. West Fine Arts Center or watch live at wallawalla. edu/dfl.
NOVEMBER 8, 9, 13, 15, & 16
It’s showtime! Jane Austen’s adored heroine gets the musical treatment in Emma, a timeless tale of love, making mistakes, and holding yourself accountable. Visit wallawalla.edu/drama for updates and to purchase tickets.
