Seen and Heard
See who's in the news
|
|
|
We love to hear what our alumni are up to! Browse through these stories and more at wallawalla.edu/Westwind. Be sure to share any alumni news you learn of—and definitely send your own news so we can celebrate with you!—by emailing westwind@wallawalla.edu.
|
|
Westwind magazine delivery notice
|
|
|
 To be thoughtful about our financial resources (so that we can best support students and equip our campus for safe learning during the pandemic) WWU will print only one of the three Westwind magazine issues that will be delivered to you this coming year.
The fall issue will be printed and delivered via mail, as usual. However, our spring and summer issues will be delivered to you via email with a link for easy access.
Please be sure your contact information, especially your email address, stays current to continue to receive Westwind magazine.
Alumni who do not have access to email are encouraged to call (800) 377-2586 to make other arrangements to receive our spring and summer Westwind issues.
|
|
Virtual Alumni Weekend
Definitely one for the books!
|
|
 In April our Walla Walla University spirit of community was very much present, though at a distance.
Friday afternoon Greg Brothers '80 led a Zoom seminar, and into the evening we enjoyed a beautiful worship song service with Steve Moor '05, Erin Will '08, Jered Kostenko '06 and Jaci Cress Solis '05. Sabbath we enjoyed Walla Walla University Church and Evensong via livestream. Virtual campus tours and a virtual guest book helped us celebrate our connections, even when we couldn't be together in person. You can still view the events, or even revisit them, at our Virtual Alumni Weekend 2020 web page.
We know that our annual Homecoming Weekend is an invaluable and irreplaceable experience, and currently plans are being made for a combined on-campus 2020 and 2021 weekend. We'll congratulate Alumni of the Year in person and celebrate honor years for both 2020 and 2021 (Vanguards, 1960, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2010 and 2011). We hope you'll plan now to participate in the celebration!
|
|
Welcome to the resilient Class of 2020!
|
|
|
In June we welcomed more than 400 new members to our WWU alumni family, celebrating their achievements through Walla Walla University's first-ever virtual commencement. We awarded 331 bachelor's degrees, 97 master's degrees and 36 associate degrees to graduates representing 25 states and 13 countries. Our youngest graduate was 20 years old, while our oldest graduate was born in 1960.
The Class of 2020 received more than $18 million in grants and scholarships while at WWU, a record-breaking investment from generous alumni and friends who support the pursuit of excellence in thought, generosity in service, beauty in expression and faith in God.
"Class of 2020, your class will certainly go down in the history books," said WWU President John McVay during the commencement ceremony. "You will not have a hard time recalling that you endured a very serious ransomware attack at the end of fall quarter of your senior year, and you now have the distinction of having endured the first totally online quarter in the history of Walla Walla University, compliments of the COVID-19 outbreak." Indeed, as we welcome our newest alumni, we congratulate them not only for their achievements, but also for the grace and resilience with which they navigated unprecedented times.
And the celebration continues! Learn more about the class, watch Virtual Commencement and department events, or enjoy celebratory messages and speeches at wallawalla.edu/grad.
Class of 2020 is invited to march during 2021 commencement services on Centennial Green.
|
|
|
Due to the pandemic, WWU's summer and fall events—such as our annual night with the Walla Walla Sweets Baseball Club and Rosario Alumni Sabbath—have been cancelled. We hope to resume in-person events in January 2021 and are currently looking at ways to connect with you virtually. Be sure to keep your contact information updated so we can notify you about schedule changes and event details, or bookmark wallawalla.edu/alumni-events.
We encourage you to stay connected with WWU and fellow alumni through our Walla Walla University alumni Instagram and Facebook accounts, using the hashtag #wallawallauniversityalumni when you post about WWU.
|
|
For more information about any of our events,
call Alumni and Advancement Services
at (800) 377-2586 or visit wallawalla.edu/alumni
|
|
Ways to stay connected to WWU
- Update Your Contact Information — New address, new job or name change to share? Simply complete an online Alumni Contact Update Form.
- Alumni Currents e-newsletter — Learn about alumni events, campus news, and alumni activities and accomplishments. Alumni Currents is emailed three times a year.
- LinkedIn — Network with alumni professionals through our LinkedIn group by joining the Walla Walla University Alumni group.
- Facebook — Socialize and keep in touch online with fellow alumni through our Facebook group. Take a minute to join the Walla Walla University Alumni group.
- Instagram — Follow and tag @wallawallauniversityalumni to stay connected with the university and other alumni, one post at a time.
- Westwind magazine — From alumni profiles to campus news to special feature articles, Westwind is a full-color magazine mailed to alumni and posted online.
|
|
Walla Walla University update
|
|
Honoring our distinguished 2020 retirees
In May we honored faculty and staff members as they begin retirement life through a virtual Celebration of Service event. We are grateful to this distinguished group for their tireless and generous service to WWU.
 To celebrate WWU faculty and staff, and to leave a message of congratulations for any of this year's retirees, visit wallawalla.edu/celebration-of-service.
|
|
COVID-19 pandemic and Walla Walla University's fall plans
To provide our students with the quality academic programming they need to progress toward their goals and also to protect our entire community, Walla Walla University made the difficult decision to limit population density on our campuses for fall quarter 2020. To accommodate distance education, we've added more than 250 dual-modality and distance learning classes to our list of in-person classes. Residence hall occupancy is limited to one student per room, and we've made adjustments to campus facilities to ensure capacity limits and distancing.
Classes for College Place campus students will begin Monday, Sept. 14, two weeks earlier than normal, and will conclude before Thanksgiving. Classes on our Portland, Ore., campus will begin Monday, Sept. 28. Classes for master of social work programs on the WWU campuses in College Place and Montana (Billings and Missoula) will begin Monday, Sept. 21.
University teams continue to monitor closely any local, regional and national guidance and circumstances as we adjust and refine our plans.
How to help WWU move forward with strength
This is an unprecedented time in Walla Walla University's history, and we join colleges and universities across the nation who are bracing for drops in enrollment and increased expenses. Here's how you can help:
- Pray for us. Our students, faculty and staff are together navigating unusual circumstances this quarter, and we believe your prayers are powerful in these moments.
- Guide people to our online resources if they have questions or need the latest information about WWU's plans.
- Ask us your questions. Our online "Ask a Question" form is an easy way to get accurate information directly from the university.
- Encourage virtual campus visits. Know someone thinking about college? Encourage them to schedule a virtual visit to WWU. Our virtual campus visits are easy to schedule and fun to do!
- Make a donation to the WWU Fund, which is designed to help the university with its most immediate needs. This year the WWU Fund equipped our classrooms for dual-modality and distance learning; provided students, faculty and staff with personal protective equipment (PPE); and helped to fund student scholarships. Gifts to the WWU fund directly impact the lives of students.
|
|
Share your news!
Recently married? Did you receive a promotion or an award, change your job, complete a new degree, or have a baby? We want to hear about it! Submit your news now.
Know of an internship opportunity for WWU students?
When you offer an internship with your organization, or refer an internship opportunity, you are helping WWU students secure real-life experience. Start an internship at WWU!
Walla Walla University is hiring.
Despite the current economic challenges, we have several open positions for which we are looking for the most qualified candidates! If you or someone you know qualify for any of the employment opportunities currently available, please visit wallawalla.edu to apply.
|
Support WWU with Amazon purchases.
When you purchase items on Amazon, you can help support Walla Walla University. To get started, go to amazonsmile.com and use your regular login information. Then enter “Walla Walla University” as your donation choice. Amazon will automatically donate 0.5% of your purchase to the University Fund which goes toward student scholarship, academic innovation, and facility improvements. Amazon Smile does not work on the Amazon app.
Give a gift.
Thank you for supporting today’s students with your gift, etc. Give online at wallawalla.edu/give.
|
|
Where to stay (when campus is open again)
Havstad guest rooms: Located in the Havstad Alumni Center and managed by the Alumni Association. Rate: $60/night. Make a reservation >
University guest rooms: WWU also offers University Guestrooms that are near the campus for a rate of $60/night. Make a reservation >
Camper/RV accommodations: Camper/RV parking is available behind Sittner, the men’s residence hall. Power, water, and sewage hook-ups are included in the $20 nightly fee. It is a first-come, first-serve arrangement. Contact Sittner Hall: (509) 527-2111.
Area lodging options: wallawalla.edu/lodging
|
|
Stay connected with what’s happening on campus by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also download our campus app for quick access to the calendar, directory information, and other campus resources. |
|
|
|
|
