Westwind, Summer 2015

THE JOURNAL OF WALLA WALLA UNIVERSITY

SUMMER 2015

A LUM N I FASH I ON CA R E ER S IN C L OT H I NG DESI G N P. 10

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Start fresh, be healthy On a lovely spring weekend last April, alumni from around the world gathered at WWU to reminisce about their days in college. It was a pleasure to see the excitement they shared catching up on life events since they were last together—career changes, babies born, battles fought. Laughter was more abundant than tears.

I even got to catch up with one of my high school physical education teachers, Willie Goltz ’65, who hasn’t changed a bit. He is as fit as ever, runs 10K races, and could probably still press to a handstand from a seated position—although I didn’t dare ask him!

Seventh-day Adventists have a long tradition of healthful living, and it showed among the alumni who returned to campus, such as the 93-year-old gentleman who happily stood for 15 minutes while we posed his fellow Vanguards for a photo and then spryly volunteered to take a seat ... on the floor. Thank you, James Stirling ’44, you are an inspiration.

photograph by BRANDON HILL

In this issue of Westwind, you’ll find several feature stories about alumni who have discovered the enjoyment of regular physical activity and who also design clothing for all sorts of outdoor adventures. LaJean Lawson ’72, one of the top designers of sports bras in the country, says, “What gets me up every morning is knowing there’s something I can do that will enable more women to exercise and enjoy all the physical, the mental, and the emotional benefits of exercise.”

I hope, along with me, that you will be inspired by the advice on page 5 of Gary Rittenbach att., WWU director of academic computing, who recently became one of only 212 runners worldwide to have completed the “big six” marathons. Gary’s advice: “Rediscover the joy of movement. It will change your life.”

Kim Strobel Westwind Editor

Westwind Staff (from left to right)

Holley Bryant

Director of Marketing and University Relations

Terri Dickinson Neil Director of Alumni and Parent Relations

Chris Drake

Senior Manager of Media and Design

Katelyn Swager

Student staff writer

Tania Baranov

Student staff writer

Dorita Tessier

Director of Gift Planning

Libby Knapp

Student staff writer

Kim Strobel

Westwind Editor

Dennis Huynh (not pictured) Art Director

FEATURE // CLOTHING DESIGN

“There’s no more difficult piece of apparel to design than a sports bra ... .” p.10 LaJean Lawson ’72

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College Avenue

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Alumni of the Year

the President From A great army waging peace

THE JOURNAL OF WALLA WALLA UNIVERSITY // SUMMER 2015

The latest from across campus

Behind the Seams

For a run through the park or a ski slope near you, these alumni design the gear you need Meet four alumni who were recently honored for outstanding contributions to society

LAWSON PHOTO: BRANDON WITZEL

Currents

20 Alumni 20 Honor Class Photos,

About the Cover

A freelance gig at Adidas led alumnus Shawn Steward ’96 to a life where work and passion are one and the same.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOYCE LEE

Westwind Summer 2015, Volume 34, Number 2 / 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 July 2015. Third-class postage is paid at College Place, Wash. © 2015 by Walla Walla University. Westwind/University Relations, 204 S. College Ave., College Place, WA 99324.

Telephone (509) 527-2363 Toll-free (800) 541-8900 E-mail westwind@wallawalla.edu Online westwind.wallawalla.edu

27 Alumnotes, 31 In Memory, 34 Alumni of Note

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Fighting the good fight For peace-loving Adventists, Paul’s image for the church can be a startling one.

In Ephesians 6:10-20, he offers a vigorous call to battle, portraying the church as God’s well-equipped army. Church members, says Paul, are soldiers who must dress themselves for the battlefield. They must “put on the whole armor of God” and become energized combatants in the great controversy between good and evil.

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I was reminded of Paul’s heartening image for the church by a special feature on page 10 in this Westwind about WWU alumni working in industry to design high-performance clothing. Parallels with the mission of WWU sprang into view as I imagined our alumni designing high-quality gear for Adidas and Columbia Sportswear. Can you imagine students and alumni wearing both types of ultra-high-performance gear—the Adidas/Columbia Sportswear kind and the “armor of God” kind—as they share Christ’s love on hiking trails, at ski resorts, in fitness centers, along marathon routes, and atop mountains all over this world?

Near the end of Paul’s passage, he invites believers to make “supplication for all the saints” and for him that he might declare boldly the gospel (Ephesians 6:18-20). Could I invite you to pray for all at WWU as we seek to equip young soldiers of the Cross?

And may God bless you as you enlist in His army and wage peace in His name.

Cordially, John McVay President

PHOTOS: COLBY KUSCHATKA

Could we borrow Paul’s image as a way of thinking about Walla Walla University and its mission? Ellen White famously writes, “With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Savior might be carried to the whole world!” (Education, 271).

The mission of Walla Walla University is to train and equip a great army of young troops, ready to do battle for truth and justice in the world. That global battlefield requires highly specialized skills like those used by Jesse Churchill and Erik Edstrom to create their award-winning short film (see page 6). And it requires an army willing to leave the comforts of home like our student missionaries (see page 7).

We could misunderstand Paul’s words as a call to take up military weapons against our enemies or to be combative in our relationships with others. But Paul emphasizes unity, edifying speech, and tenderheartedness (see Ephesians 4:25-5:2). And he describes God’s good news as “the gospel of peace” (v. 15). Through this vivid military metaphor the church is not urged to wage war in the traditional sense. Rather, we are to “wage peace” in the spiritual battle against evil. Paul steps onto the battlefield of the great controversy and calls us to enlist in God’s army, to train young soldiers to wage peace, and to spread “the message of a crucified, risen, and sooncoming Savior.”

We invite young soldiers into this army with a realistic assessment of the enemy in view since it will never do to underestimate the forces arrayed against us. We don’t confront just human enemies but “spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (v.

12), led by a wily general, the devil (v. 11). However, young soldiers need not be daunted by our enemies. God is present with us in the battle (v. 10) and has supplied us with the finest ultra-high-performance gear, His own armor, the “armor of God” (v. 11; cf. Isaiah 59:15b-17). He has placed at our disposal truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Spirit (vv. 13-17). With God going before them and equipped from head-to-toe in the armor He has supplied, God’s youthful army cannot fail. Victory is assured.

College Avenue The latest from across campus

Marathon major

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Gary Rittenbach completes world’s top six marathons Not many people remember the exact day they embarked on a life adventure, but Gary Rittenbach, director of academic computing, certainly does.

“It was the day after Christmas of 2004,” he says. His niece was training for the Los Angeles Marathon and wanted him to go with her on a 12-mile run. His longest run to date had been three miles, so he declined. But she insisted, saying they would run three miles, rest, run three more miles, then repeat that pattern on the way home.

“After the run, it was like a barrier evaporated,” he says.

It wasn’t long before he signed up with his niece for his first marathon in Los Angeles, crossing the finish line at 4:46:02. Within two years, he had whittled his time to 3:57:52—just 12 minutes over the Boston Marathon qualification time. “I knew I could take 12 minutes off of my time so I could run Boston,” he says.

In 2009, he ran a 3:44:34 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, guaranteeing a place in Boston— one of the six major marathons in the world.

Boston. New York. Chicago.

Rittenbach started checking them off his list. Just Berlin, Tokyo, and London remaining.

“By this time, I had already done three of the major marathons, and there were only three left. I had to finish. I was already halfway there,” he says.

In Berlin in 2012, Rittenbach finished in the top 14 percent of his age group at 3:43:19—his fastest marathon.

“It’s hard to get into some of these major marathons. The Boston marathon is a time-qualification entry, but the rest are based on a lottery system,” he says. “I tried for four years to get into the London Marathon, but never was accepted in the lottery.”

photograph by CHRIS DRAKE

With entrance to London elusive, in 2013 Rittenbach entered the Boston Marathon again. “Providentially, I had a good run and finished 19 minutes before the bombs went off,” says Rittenbach, who was just a few blocks away when he heard the explosions that rocked the finish line.

“I will never forget my comment after the first explosion, ‘No sound like that should ever come from the finish line. I hope it’s just an accident and not malicious,’ but when the second one went off my heart just sank,” he says.

“I run to stay healthy,” says Rittenbach. “I’m 64 years old and I’ve never been so fit in my life.

The health benefits of running are incredible. You never know what you’re capable of until you actually try. People think our bodies are like cars, but they’re not. They don’t break down the more you use them. The more you use it, the stronger you become.”

Last year, after running Boston for the third time, he signed up with a marathon tour operator to gain a spot in Tokyo, and not long after got long-awaited news that he had a place in the London Marathon.

“Running two marathons in one year is a big deal, especially when they’re nine weeks apart.”

On February 22, 2015, Gary completed Tokyo, his fifth major marathon. On April 26 he crossed the finish line in London, becoming a Six Star Finisher of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Currently, there are just 212 Six Star Finishers.

London was Gary’s last planned marathon, but he says he will always be a runner.

“If I could say just one thing to people, I would encourage them to go out and do something!

No matter what it is—biking, swimming, running. Rediscover the joy of movement. It will change your life.”

College Avenue The latest from across campus

Sharing Acts Student film about Saul’s conversion wins top awards at SONScreen Film Festival

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Jesse Churchill (left) and Erik Edstrom won top honors at the SONScreen Film Festival.

Three WWU students also contributed to two winning mini movies created by teams comprised of students from WWU and other universities. In this category, Edstrom won first place as cinematographer, Cloud Tsai, junior communications major, won first place for audio and acting, and Micah Hall, sophomore communications major, won second place as director of Stay.

The SONScreen Film Festival was created in 2002 by the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists to nurture Christian filmmakers. The 2015 festival was held at La Sierra University.

“WWU students and faculty attended the festival because we believe in the mission of the festival to encourage students to consider ways of sharing their passion for Christian filmmaking,” said Bullock.

To watch The Way, visit wallawalla.edu/theway.

Touch the heart, reach the mind

New master’s degree to enhance reach and effectiveness of Christ-centered messages Walla Walla University will offer a master of arts degree in media ministry beginning fall 2015. The two-year program will provide a research foundation

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for the study of ministry effectiveness and will be a think tank for creative Christian programming and technological innovation.

“Modern technologies are challenging traditional ministries to remain effective,” said David Bullock, professor of communication and chair of the Department of Communication and Languages. “Added to that complexity is the challenge to create content that is relevant to media consumers—and to be able to ascertain the impact of that content. We have designed this program to assist media ministries in developing innovative ways

of telling the story of Christ to tomorrow’s Christian.”

Students may choose from two concentrations. Those enrolled in the media

APPLICATIONS are currently being accepted at apply. wallawalla.edu.

For further information, visit wwumedia ministry.org or call (509) 527-2421.

and cinema concentration will learn the essential components of video and sound production, media ministry management, and the theory of influence through media. The Web and interactive media concentration will focus on skills needed to design, deploy, and maintain websites, Web services, and mobile applications.

“This program combines the talents and energies of professors in four departments on the WWU

campus—theology, communication, computer science, and technology,” said Bullock. “The breadth of perspective provides a supportive environment drawing on the strengths of a multidisciplinary approach to learning.”

Students will learn to enhance the reach and effectiveness of Christ-centered messages through social media, video, and web-based content.

The program can be completed online with three two-week workshops in College Place, making it an ideal option for professionals from across the country who work full time.

PHOTOS: DAVID BULLOCK, COLBY KUSCHATKA

HE WAY, a short film created by Walla Walla University students Erik Edstrom and Jesse Churchill, won Best in Festival and Best Dramatic Short at the annual SONScreen Film Festival. The film is a modern retelling of Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus.

“The film is filled with biblical references and parallels,” said Churchill, a senior theology major. “For instance, the Jesus character in the film is named Soteras, which in Greek means ‘Savior,’ and the title of the film, The Way, is a reference to what the early church called themselves in the book of Acts.”

“The award for Best in Festival is the highest award given at the SONScreen festival and represents exceptional merit in both content and technical quality,” said David Bullock, chair of the communications department. “The competition this year included more than 15 entries in the Documentary Short category, and quality was exceptionally high among entries.”

Edstrom, a senior industrial design major, said that he and Churchill were inspired to make a film that could be enjoyed by Christians and non-Christians. “We don’t state that this is biblical until the end of the film,” he said, “so we hoped that anyone who didn’t recognize the story could get to the end and be inspired to think of the Bible in a more relatable way.”

Edstrom and Churchill hope The Way will inspire other filmmakers to tell biblical stories in an original way and that it will inspire viewers to pick up the Bible and read it from a different perspective.

A second film created by WWU students, “Student Story//Stephen Farr,” was a finalist in the documentary category.

Business abroad

School of Business to offer degree in international development Beginning fall quarter 2015, the Walla Walla University School of Business will offer a bachelor of science degree in international development.

“This program would appeal to students who are interested in business but who want to do something mission minded. It would also appeal to students with a global business perspective who want to be involved in general business activities that allow them to work in emerging economies or anywhere outside the United States,” said Josefer Montes, dean of the School of Business.

The program includes a strong business curriculum partnered with study of a foreign language, travel abroad, and courses that build cultural awareness. It will prepare students for international development, opportunities in accounting, finance, marketing, human resources, fundraising,

and other areas.

“Most international development programs come out of a liberal arts emphasis,” said Montes.

“The innovation of this program is that it focuses on international development within a full-fledged business degree.”

Three business professors who will contribute to the program—Mihail Motzev, Steven VanOrden, and Johanna Attoh—have international development experience in New Guinea, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Mozambique, and with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency.

“The timing is perfect to start a program of this kind,” said Montes. “There has been a shift from just sending aid to foreign countries to doing more sustainable capacity building as it relates to commerce and entrepreneurship.”

The program will be offered as both a major and a minor.

The 2014–2015 WWU Ethics Bowl team included (back row from left) Coach Monty Buell, Coach Melodie Selby, Brennan Hoenes, Matthew Hagele, Brennan Stanyer, (front row from left) Eryn Hopps, Sara Bumgardner, Elizabeth Selby, Katherine Heinrich, and (in front with trophy) Acacia Chan.

BY THE NUMBERS

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WWU student missionaries on assignment outside the United States during the 2014–2015 school year

9553 MILES

to the farthest location (Namibia, Africa) from College Place that WWU student missionaries have traveled

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The largest number of WWU student missionaries in one location (Pohnpei) during the 2014–2015 school year

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WWU students who studied abroad with Adventist Colleges Abroad during the 2014–2015 school year

PHOTO: BOB CUSHMAN

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Number of Adventist Colleges Abroad schools available to WWU students.

Countries include Spain, Italy, Argentina, and Germany.

Keep calm & do the right thing WWU team places third in statewide Ethics Bowl

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HE WALLA WALLA University Ethics Bowl team placed third this April in the second annual Ethics Bowl competition sponsored by the Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW) on the campus of Seattle Pacific University. Gonzaga University placed first and Whitworth University placed second.

WWU lost in the semi-final round by four points out of a possible 180 points to the eventual winner, Gonzaga University.

The competition is designed to showcase communication skills, teamwork, ability to think and speak about important issues, and knowledge of applied ethics. Each ICW college and university sends a team of up to five students to compete. Teams explore real or hypothetical ethical issues such as corruption, corporal punishment, social media experimentation, and euthanizing zoo animals to preserve genetic diversity.

“Walla Walla University students were very strong in classical ethical theory and gave well-structured arguments,” said Melodie Selby, WWU assistant professor of engineering and one of two WWU coaches. “The judges and many of the other coaches commented on the excellence of our teamwork and our high level of professionalism and civility.”

Members of the WWU team were Brennan Hoenes, junior humanities major; Matthew Hagele, junior bioengineering major; Brennan Stanyer, senior engineering major; Eryn Hopps, junior bioengineering major; Sara Bumgardner, freshman sociology major; Elizabeth Selby, junior history and mathematics major; Katherine Heinrich, sophomore business administration and humanities major; Acacia Chan, senior biblical languages major; and coaches Melodie Selby and Monty Buell, associate professor of history.

Judges, moderators, and case writers for the competition included representatives from Boeing, Microsoft, the Seattle Ethics & Elections Commission, U.S. Bank, the Washington State Supreme Court, and other notable companies and organizations.

ICW is an association of 10 private nonprofit liberal arts colleges in Washington state. ICW member colleges are Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University, Whitman College, University of Puget Sound, Pacific Lutheran University, Saint Martin’s University, Heritage University, Gonzaga University, Whitworth University, and Walla Walla University.

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College Avenue The latest from across campus

books sites

Shelby Shotwell (left) and Katie Sweezey presented their 3-D printing senior project at the symposium.

Reading and browsing recommendations from our experts

LEADERSHIP STYLES

Undergraduate Academic Symposium highlights student scholarship

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ALLA WALLA UNIVERSITY held its third annual Undergraduate Academic Symposium (UAS) during Alumni Homecoming Weekend this April.

Designed to showcase student work from a variety of disciplines, the symposium featured students presenting their research and other projects in one of seven themed groups: structures, organization, sustainability, construction, responsibility, tradition, and perspectives.

In the construction group, Michael Rafuse, senior mechanical engineering major, presented his project to design and build an automated electrospinning machine. The machine is a system to produce aligned nano-scale fibers for tissue engineering research. “By the time the machine is finished, it will be equal or superior to $50,000 to $80,000 systems sold to research labs,” said Ralph Stirling, WWU project engineer.

In the organization group, Kofi Twumasi, senior history major, presented “Unforgettable: An In-depth Look at Three Factors That Shaped the Radical Bold Leadership of Malcolm X From 1960–1965,” and Shelby Shotwell and Katie Sweezey, both senior mechanical engineering majors, presented their work using a 3-D printer to develop a process for creating scaffolds and matrices out of a polymer on which to grow bone cells.

“There has been so much positive feedback from students,” said Deborah Silva, professor of communications and UAS chair. “This type of experience prepares them for their future, including graduate school, and for future careers that would involve conference presentations in this fashion.”

For a complete list of symposium presentations, visit wallawalla.edu/symposium.

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By Brad Stone (Little, Brown and Company, 2013)

Lauded by most major business publications, Brad Stone’s The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon has been described by geekwire.com as “the definitive story of Amazon.”

This history of Amazon gives a fascinating inside look into the rise of the retail and technology giant, while providing a glimpse into the digital economy. Be prepared to cringe as you read how Bezos bullied, cajoled, and charmed. One of my students succinctly captured the prevailing class sentiment that after “reading The Everything Store, I have mixed feelings about shopping at Amazon.”

You may find yourself skeptical about everything Amazon, including AmazonSmile.

—Josefer Montes, professor of business and dean of the School of Business

So, Anyway…

By John Cleese (Crown Archetype, 2014)

This memoir by John Cleese is an interesting look at the development of a comic genius.

His discussion about education is enlightening when thinking about the reduction of arts education in schools. He goes on to prove the rule that “yes” is the right choice when opportunity presents itself as he turns from his training as a lawyer to the world of art, television, and theater. If you enjoy his work, give this book a look.

—David Crawford ’04, assistant professor of communications

The Complete Maus, a Survivor’s Tale From your mobile device,

get more WWU news.

Scan me with your favorite app (like Red laser)!

By Art Spiegelman (Pantheon Books, a division of Random House, Inc., 25th Anniversary Edition, 2011)

Sometimes, it is good to revisit a classic like Maus, or just delve in for the first time.

Art Spiegelman uses the graphic novel medium to share the true Holocaust survival story of his parents, Vladek and Anja. He hides nothing in his storytelling, weaving tales of his own difficult familial relationships around those of his parents’ hardship and survival. Spiegelman’s use of anthropomorphism (Jews are mice; Nazis are cats) creates an intellectual and emotional impact not soon forgotten.

—Andra Aaby ’03, public services and resource sharing manager for the WWU library

PHOTOS: CALEB RISTON, WWU ARCHIVES

Bright, curious minds in action

Social work dissertation explores attachment and leadership Congratulations to Jim Boyd, associate professor of social work, who recently completed a doctorate in organization and management from Capella University. Boyd successfully defended his dissertation titled “Attachment and Leadership: A Qualitative Exploration of How Adult Attachment Style is Expressed in Leadership Behavior.”

Boyd’s study explored his hypothesis that individuals with secure attachment history are drawn to relationally-based leadership while people with insecure attachment history shy away from relationally-based leadership. Boyd has taught in the WWU School of Social Work since June 2002.

The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon

From the archives / If memory serves

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Natural world

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From glaucous-winged gull calls to anatomy and physiology labs, since 1975 Joe Galusha has found ways to entertain and inspire bright young minds as they study and explore this fascinating world.

Westwind Summer 2015

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LaJean Lawson ’72 is one of the foremost authorities on sports bra research and design. Her doctoral dissertation was the first study to explore the link between sports bras and athletic performance.

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READ MORE ONLINE: WESTWIND.WALLAWALLA.EDU

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Alumni fashion careers in clothing design

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BY AMY WILKINSON PHOTOGRAPH BY BRANDON WITZEL

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W LaJEAN LAWSON In 1977, three women in Vermont created the first Jogbra by sewing together two jockstraps to fashion a new supportive garment all their own. Two years later, LaJean Lawson would run her first marathon, the Walla Walla Interstate, earning a 4:21:05 finishing time—and raw, tender skin from a conventional bra that couldn’t keep up with the pace of a 26.2-mile race. With that, Lawson’s interest in the fledgling sports bra industry was piqued—and her career off and running.

A 1972 WWU graduate with a major in home economics, Lawson earned a master’s degree in clothing and textiles from Utah State University in 1984, followed by a doctorate in exercise and sports science from Oregon State University. Her dissertation was the first study into the

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link between protective sports bras and athletic performance, and today, Lawson is considered one of the foremost authorities on the subject.

“There’s no more difficult piece of apparel to design in the whole planet than a sports bra given all you have to do to control the motion, the chafing, the sweating,” says Lawson.

“And, of course, you want to look cute.”

To that end, Lawson has worked as a consultant for Champion, the athletic apparel giant, since the late 80s, advising on everything from product design to marketing strategy. But as Lawson will tell you, the “crown jewel” of her consultancy is the bra lab she houses in her Portland home, complete with a clinical treadmill for taking infrared measurements of subjects in motion.

“The woman runs on the treadmill, and I collect data in 3-D,” Lawson explains. “I can actually measure down to a hundredth of a millimeter how much the marker on the outside of the sports bra is moving relative to a marker on the body—up to down, front to back, and side to side.”

Lawson uses these numbers—in addition to qualitative data about fit, comfort, and style gathered during focus groups—to give Champion a “full 360-degree” evaluation of its products and its competitors, to continue furthering innovation.

But complicated calculus aside, Lawson considers her work nothing short of a calling. “What gets me up every morning is knowing there’s something that I can do that will enable more women to exercise and enjoy all the physical, the mental, and the emotional benefits of exercise,” Lawson says.

“That’s my purpose.”

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e’ve been told clothes make the man (and woman)—but who are the men and women making the clothes? One is a sports-bra researcher ensuring exercise is accessible to women of all shapes and sizes. Another is an outerwear designer helping skiers and snowboarders stay warm and dry on the slopes. Then there is a pair of entrepreneurial friends launching a clothing line during their free time from day jobs. And they are all Walla Walla University graduates. Meet four alumni who are leaving their mark on the fashion industry, stitch by stitch.

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SHAWN STEWARD “No one told me I could make a living doing my passion,” says Ventura, Calif.-based apparel designer Shawn Steward, explaining how she nearly enrolled in medical school after graduating from WWU in 1996 with an art major. But a graphic design job in Portland proved to be the inspiration she needed to eschew the MCATs in favor of a sketch pad and pencil. A freelance gig at Adidas led to a full-time position as an assistant apparel designer for the brand’s women’s training line.

“Adidas was an incredible place to work and learn,” Steward says of the role, which also afforded opportunities to travel—most often to headquarters in Germany. After four years, though, Steward was ready for a new challenge and accepted an offer at Columbia Sportswear.

“Technical outwear is very three-dimensional compared to activewear,” Steward explains of the increased level of difficulty involved in designing for and running the company’s “Convert” category—snowboarding gear for men, women, and children. Her three years at Columbia laid the practical groundwork for her to then become the vice president of global product/design at Bonfire Snowboarding, where her creativity was arguably nurtured like never before.

One of her biggest accomplishments at Bonfire was winning the 2006 SnowSports Industries America Innovation Award for Gore-Tex by creating a new embossed fabric for the brand. With increasing responsibility on the production side, Steward also earned an MBA from Willamette University. (It wasn’t all work and no play, though. Says Steward: “Getting paid to go snowboarding in the Italian Alps, is like, pinch me!”)

Steward left Bonfire in 2012 when she gave birth to her first child and now runs her own consultancy with an eye toward starting a new business, “taking from the different parts of my career that I really enjoyed and love,” Steward says. “It has a lot to do with my love of travel, family, food, and love of other cultures. We don’t just want to make a profit, we want to make a difference.”

photograph by JOYCE LEE

MATTHEW SHEVITZ

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Matthew Shevitz knows something about the road less traveled. A 2011 industrial design graduate, Shevitz initially struggled to gain traction in his industry of choice, footwear design. “It took a while to get a full-time design position,” Shevitz recalls. “It’s a competitive industry. It’s becoming more and more saturated with talent.” So the Portland, Ore., resident took an unconventional approach to getting his work into the marketplace: He began entering design competitions—at least a dozen in all, for companies like Under Armour and Golf. And it paid off. In 2012, he scored a major win with Dick’s Sporting Goods. Shevitz’s Field & Stream hunting boot design earned second place and was produced and sold by the retailer. “It’s like putting your resume up a little higher in the pile,” Shevitz says of his win.

Fast-forward three years and Shevitz now works full time at Columbia Sportswear as a materials and color designer, where he’s part of a team that manages the aesthetic of the brand. “It’s a really cool place to be,” he enthuses. “The company is experiencing lots of growth right now, so it’s a very dynamic environment. I’m blessed to be there.” In his spare time, Shevitz is also collaborating on a business, Localstar, with fellow WWU alumnus Hiro Minami, focusing on Northwest-sourced and sports-inspired fashions.

Shevitz’s motto: “Having a passion for design doesn’t really stop at the end of your work day.”

photograph by 14

BRANDON WITZEL Westwind Summer 2015

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HIRO MINAMI “I don’t claim myself to be a designer,” says Hiro Minami.

Yet, with a handmade heat press, a collection of rudimentary images created with Microsoft Paint, and a few T-shirts, the business major launched his own street-wear clothing line, Freshman 101, from his university apartment during his junior year at WWU. As for the product design?

Well, he did that for a while too, sneaking into the campus Mac lab to teach himself to use software like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Eventually, though, Minami was able to hire a few freelance designers and turn his attention to a new challenge: learning the supplychain side of the business.

After graduating from WWU in 2010 and improving the company’s manufacturing process, he began selling his clothes to a couple of stores in Seattle.

Though Minami admits to a few shortcomings with his business (namely, not focusing on branding enough and losing designers to bigger, better-paying companies like Quicksilver and Dakine), Freshman 101’s success helped Minami earn a scholarship to attend business school at Willamette University, where he earned his MBA in 2014. And today, although he’s employed full time as a social media manager at Intel, the Portland, Ore., resident is working with his buddy and fellow WWU graduate Matthew Shevitz to not only launch a new business, but also rebrand Freshman 101 to cater to adventurers and travel junkies. “It will have a more mature feel to it, but still have that Freshman 101 mindset—just being young again, being positive, being able to take chances, and being ready to experience new things.”

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Alumni Currents Staying in touch with our family of graduates

ALUMNI

CLASS OF 2005

ANDREA HAWKINS-DAARUD

2015

Andrea Hawkins-Daarud is one of those remarkable people working behind the scenes that anyone in treatment for cancer is profoundly thankful for.

Since graduating from Walla Walla University, her focus has been on cancer research, mathematical modeling of tumors, and the development of effective cancer treatments.

In 2011, Hawkins-Daarud completed a doctorate in computational science, engineering, and mathematics at the University of Texas at Austin supported by a four-year Computational and Applied Mathematics Fellowship.

She is currently using mathematical models to study a particular form of brain cancer called glioblastoma. As a result of her research, she received a three-year fellowship in transformative computational science using cyberinfrastructure from the National Science Foundation. She plans to continue conducting research at the interface of mathematics and medicine in order to help bring about a new paradigm in the way cancer patients are treated.

Hawkins-Daarud has held positions at the University of Washington and at Northwestern University where she has mentored undergraduate and graduate students in their own research endeavors.

She is married to her college sweetheart, Justin Daarud, and in 2014 they welcomed to the world baby Eric Scott Daarud.

When she isn’t working on research, Hawkins-Daarud enjoys reading, camping, gardening between breaks in the Seattle rain, and drinking coffee with friends.

OF T

HE

YEAR

Meet four Walla Walla University alumni who were recently honored for service and achievements that embody the spirit of their alma mater.

BY KIM STROBEL • PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS DRAKE

CLASS OF 1975

ROBERT KYTE Robert Kyte has taken his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Walla Walla University and built a highly distinguished career.

His first stop after graduating from WWU was Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, where he obtained a juris doctor degree.

Kyte is currently president and chief executive officer for Adventist Risk Management (ARM) and its affiliated companies. With offices around the globe, ARM provides risk and insurance services for the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide. The insurance companies write $64 million in premiums annually, insure more than $12 billion in church properties, and handle defense of hundreds of property and liability claims each year.

Kyte has more than 25 years of legal experience in private practice, and has worked as general counsel for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and as president and general council for Pacific Press Publishing Association.

He has served on numerous boards in the communities where he has lived, including a nonprofit organization in Idaho that assists in building and converting apartment units into affordable housing for low-income families.

Kyte met his wife, Nancy (Lyon), his senior year at Walla Walla College, and they have been married more than 40 years. Kyte has skied at elevations over 10,000 feet in the Andes, but always looks forward to returning to the West Coast of North America for its great powder skiing.

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Alumni Currents

CLASS OF 1955

RUSSELL STAPLES

Staying in touch with our family of graduates

Russell Staples arrived at Walla Walla College in 1954 already having spent 10 years pastoring in South Africa. He had witnessed struggles with apartheid in Cape Town that for some would have supplied a lifetime of adventure, but God still had big plans and big surprises in store.

Prior to his work in South Africa, Staples had received a three-year diploma in theology at Helderberg College. In 1954 he came to Walla Walla College to complete a bachelor’s degree in theology. It was “a wonderful year,” he says, during which he worked as an electrician to pay the family bills—earning a journeyman electrician license in the process.

Armed with a master of arts degree in theology and a master of divinity degree from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., Staples expected to return to South Africa when he received a call to Solusi College in Rhodesia—now Zimbabwe. While there, he taught

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and served as principal while developing a program for ministerial preparation in the Trans Africa Division and working with the World Council of Churches to develop united theological seminaries in Africa.

To prepare for further work in Africa, Staples returned to the states and completed a doctorate in systematic theology at Princeton Theological Seminary with ancillary studies in social anthropology at Princeton University.

Then he received a second unexpected call, this time to join the faculty at Andrews University to help prepare missionaries for service in Africa and to teach in the seminary. He taught at Andrews until 2009.

Staples has often been recognized as a professor, theologian, and missionary. In 2003 he was named Helderberg College Alumnus of the Year, and in 2007 he was named Andrews University Teacher of the Year.

CLASS OF 1960

KENNETH KELLN

By the time he was five years old Kenneth Kelln was studying his parent’s copy of The Home Physician and Guide to Health. By age seven, he had decided that one day he would be a physician. His childhood goal eventually lead him to Walla Walla College where he studied physics before specializing in internal medicine at Loma Linda University.

During medical school, a 10-week medical missions elective course in Nicaragua cemented his sense of calling to mission work, and he signed up with the General Conference for a deferred mission appointment.

The conference assigned him to West Africa, which is how in 1965—instead of his planned internship at the Mayo Clinic and instead of the government’s plan to send him to Vietnam—he and his wife, Marilynn, found themselves on a boat dock in Lagos on their way to Jengre Hospital in northern Nigeria.

From 1965 to 1977, Kelln provided medical care throughout Nigeria, seeing more than 120 outpatients each day. He also served as cashier, ambulance driver, maintenance man, electrician, and purchasing agent.

As Jengre Hospital expanded, so did Kelln’s responsibilities. His daily routine included construction site inspection, hospital rounds, clinic appointments, lunch at some point in the late afternoon, surgical operations until 9 p.m., administrative duties, then bicycling home, collapsing for the night, and hoping for no emergencies.

In 1977 Kelln established a gastroenterology practice in Ogden, Utah, where he and Marilynn lived for the next 34 years. Since then, he has taught at Loma Linda University and continues to provide medical care in Nigeria.

Despite malaria, poisonous snakes, and political unrest, Kelln says he and his family never felt threatened or afraid in Nigeria.

“We were where the Lord had called us, and there is no safer place than in the hands of the Lord,” he says.

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Alumni Currents

Homecoming Staying in touch with our family of graduates

Vanguards

1 Elwood Mabley, 2 Mace Gay, 3 Verona (Montanye) Schnibbe, 4 Vera Young, 5 Fred Schnibbe, 20

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6 Robert Graham, 7 Virginia Mabley, 8 Shirley Hartnell, 9 Cal Hartnell, 10 Doyle Saxby, 11 Victor Fitch, 12 Leland Quinn, 13 James Stirling, 14 Jimmy Sadoyama, 15 Barbara

Stratton, 16 Don Dealy, 17 Orletta (Wilson) Dealy, 18 Elaine (Skinner) Derby, 19 Lenella (Hitchman) Chellis, 20 Lorelei Saxby, 21 Edna Maye (Alexander) Loveless, 22 Eldon Stratton

If you have not received an email with your class photo, you may request a copy at alumni@ wallawalla.edu or by calling (800) 377-2586.

During Alumni Homecoming Weekend in April, honor class members reconnected with classmates during a joyful family reunion.

g Class Photos PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRANDON HILL

Class of 1955

1 Jean (Klokeid) Garner, 2 David Spaulding, 3 Russell Staples, 4 Harlan Paddock, 5 Jean Nation, 6 Louise (Lund) Warren, 7 Melvin C. Johnson, 8 Don Jacobsen, 9 Myrna Tetz, 10 Myrna (Walker) Bowie, 11 Ramona (Brown) Sturgill, 12 Bernadine (Johnson) Carr, 13 Frances McRae, 14 Mona (Slaybaugh) LeDuc, 15 Eileen (Tran) Smith, 16 Patricia (Munro) Swisher, 17 Dorothy (Kuhn) Holm, 18 Marlene (Nelson) Ferguson, 19 Taffy (Fjarli) Johnson, 20 Fred Bennett, 21 Vera (Block) Davis, 22 Lois (Lampson) Turpel, 23 Fern (Johanson) Piper, 24 Gilbert Mohr, 25 Roger Dorner

Class of 1960

1 Shirley A. Thomas, 2 Kenneth Ladd, 3 Joyce Klocko, 4 Perry Parks, 5 Carol Siaw, 6 Michael Siaw, 7 John Engstrom, 8 Sam Carvajal, 9 Mattie (Knight) Wren, 10 Keith Gibbons, 11 Art Ward, 12 Marlyn Hoffman, 13 Anita Isene, 14 Dolores (Lambert) Lee, 15 Gloria (Thomas) Matthews, 16 Tom Matthews, 17 Viola (Smith) Peach, 18 Beverly (Preston) Fletcher, 19 Bev (Baker) Thygeson, 20 Bob Bond, 21 Wanda (Leaming) Chipeur, 22 Charlie Smith, 23 Jim Zachrison, 24 Bob Wood, 25 Marian Dawes, 26 Pat (Parks) Gomes, 27 Kenneth Kelln, 28 Margaret “Rose” Hodgkin, 29 Betty Penner, 30 Bob Sarve

Alumni Currents Staying in touch with our family of graduates

Class of 1975

Class of 1970

1 Shirley Peterson, 2 Ron Woods, 3 Monty McCoy, 4 Jerry Meyer, 5 Jim Klein, 6 Melanie McDonald, 7 Ann (Wilson) Atkins-Stentzel, 8 Lester Riter, 9 Robert Stumph, 10 Len Harms, 11 Doug Clark, 12 Jim Eiseman

1 Arlene (Schultz) Hunt, 2 Clinton Schultz, 3 Peter Hardy, 4 Phyllis Wagner, 5 DeAnn (Bail) Bork, 6 Caroline (Johnson) Taylor, 7 Ken Taylor, 8 Maria (Carrera) Solaita, 9 Ted L. Carpenter, 10 Judy (Davidson) Fetroe, 11 Gary Reiber, 12 F. Ben Moor lll, 13 Robert Vixie, 14 Daryl Gohl, 15 Sue (Gibson) Huette, 16 Leslie (Helfer) Bumgardner, 17 Mary (Weeks) Betz, 18 Claire (Fisher) Hart, 19 Mickey Meyer, 20 Rick Henderson, 21 Cheryl Horne, 22 John Johnson, 23 Dennis Davis, 24 Cheryl Coleman, 25 Aileen Litchfield, 26 Larry Luce, 27 Jay Spady, 28 Donald Fletcher, 29 Challis Casebolt, 30 Barbara (Robertson) Collins, 31 Bev (Hochstetter) Fristad, 32 Grace (Kneller) Dublanko, 33 Janis (Mackie) Hunter

Homecoming Class Photos Class of 1965

1 Dallas Kindopp, 2 Leonard Laabs, 3 Alden Thompson, 4 Wanda Thompson, 5 Joyce Gregg, 6 Myra (Wilson) Sanders, 7 Maurice Kivett, 8 Robert McChesney, 9 Shirley (Norhton) Panasuk, 10 Roger Meharry, 11 Lois (Holloway) Wilson, 12 Ruth (Scyphers) Bebee, 13 William Fisher, 14 Keith Dearing, 15 LeRoy Rieley, 16 Warren Peters, 17 Richard Worley, 18 Ronald Riter, 19 Joan (Riter) Carman, 20 Ronald Case, 21 Joan (Bauer) Gulbrandson, 22 Andrew Dressler, 23 Christene (Short) O’Toole, 24 Marolyn (Eiseman) Wagner, 25 John Henriques, 26 Kenneth James, 27 Dorothea (Renschler) Amey, 28 Doug Sayles, 29 Beverly (Chappell) Holland, 30 Arlene (Redmer) Socia, 31 Shirley Schoepflin, 32 Carol (Qualley) Strandley, 33 Nancy Teale, 34 Lynda (Heid) Bieber, 35 Wanda (Knowles) Ingold, 36 Elmar Sakala, 37 Forrest Meckling, 38 Jesse Johnson, 39 Pat (Stephens) Wettstein, 40 Jeanne Tait, 41 Elwood W. Starr, 42 Willy Goltz, 43 Virginia Woodruff, 44 Kenneth Hart, 45 Mary (Starr) Demaris, 46 Ruth Hall, 47 Jim Hall, 48 Allen Radke

Class of 1980

1 Dorita (Perry) Tessier, 2 Debbie (Merritt) Russel, 3 Cheryl (Graham) Klym, 4 Debbie (Smick) Muthersbaugh, 5 Phil Muthersbaugh, 6 James Foster, 7 Ronda King, 8 Gary Morgan, 9 Duwayne Opitz, 10 David Webster, 11 Jeff Kinne, 12 Les Kelley, 13 Nancy Montgomery

Homecoming Class Photos

Class of 1985

1 Donna (Demaline) Collins, 2 Linda (Masden) Vixie, 3 Derrick Johnston, 4 Paul Stirling, 5 Dan Russell, 6 Dean Tupper, 7 Doug Houck, 8 Darrell Jones, 9 Catherine (Paulson) Berglund, 10 Jackie (Benwell) Hood, 11 Mark Harding, 12 Terry Wigley, 13 Brett Robinson, 14 Shery Torretta, 15 Greg Robinson, 16 David Panossian, 17 Mark Ranzinger, 18 David Hutton, 19 Sherilyn (Wysong) Holm, 20 Patsy (Hare) Vazquez, 21 Don Riley

Class of 1990

1 Robert Aaron, 2 Richard Jackson, 3 Ethan Josiah, 4 Lance Irvine, 5 Denise (Armstead) Colley, 6 Michael Devitt, 7 Lois (Parks) Pryor, 8 John Guiher, 9 Sheryl (Wren) Park, 10 Gene Pyke, 11 Heidi (Hargrave) Schuette, 12 Wayne Herbel, 13 Lynelle (Childs) Ellis, 14 Kathleen K. Varnell, 15 Monty Buell, 16 Felix Tan

Class of 1995

1 Darcy Neidigh, 2 Cynthia Dinwiddie, 3 Kandy Cantwell, 4 Stephen Turk, 5 Sam Tooley, 6 Bob Thayne, 7 Becca Lewis, 8 James Kneller, 9 Suzanne MacLachlan, 10 Josh MacLachlan, 11 Gerry Larson, 12 Pam (Cornforth) Greenlaw, 13 Trina McCoon, 14 Tammy (Teed) Reitz, 15 Denise Childs, 16 Shawnna M. (Rentschler) Drake, 17 Laurel (Smith) Rogers, 18 Julie (Winkle) Pellow

Class of 2005

1 Steve Sanders, 2 Becky Meert, 3 Kristen Taylor, 4 Andrea (Hawkins) Daarud, 5 Jody (Foster) Washburn, 6 Daphne Duncan, 7 Michael Goff, 8 RJ Henneberg, 9 Robert Renck, 10 Kevin Schultz, 11 Katie Meidinger Henneberg

Homecoming Class Photos

Vanguards

Key

1955

1965

1960

1970

1980

1985

1990

1995

2005

OUTLINES BY ALIX HARRIS

1975

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Improvement Project. Sid has done short-term mission work in China, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Bolivia, and Argentina.

He enjoys music, sailing, hiking, and running. “I love life!” he says. Some of his favorite memories from WWU include Evensong, vespers, Elder Heubach’s sermons, the Conard Hall gals singing to the guys in the Sittner Hall lobby, and taking winter trips to the Blue Mountains.

Sid and Carol have three children: Todd ’93, Greg ’97, and Shawna Northrup att.

AlumNotes

Get up to date with fellow WWU alumni.

Send in your information for AlumNotes at wallawalla.edu/form/class-member-profile.

1950s

Fern (Johanson) Piper ’55 and her husband, Lloyd att., live in Happy Valley, Ore. Fern worked as a nurse at Portland Adventist Hospital for 23 years. The death of their son, Stuart, in 2007 was a traumatic and difficult time for their family. Fern retired in 1995. She enjoys motorhome traveling and machine embroidering greeting cards. Some of Fern’s favorite memories of her time at WWU are of each unique class member of her nursing class and her instructors. Fern and Lloyd had four children: Kathy Erickson, Stuart, Linda Kramer, and Wendy Egly.

in allergy and immunology at the University of Washington where he published research findings about a new asthma medication and about bee allergies. In 2005 he retired from his allergy and immunology practice in Olympia, Wash. Since retirement he has enjoyed going on mission trips with his son, Brian att., and working with his son, Edward ’93, giving depression recovery seminars at their local church. His favorite memory of WWU is arranging with the director of ushers to have Joan usher the same door at vespers as he was at, causing them to officially meet for the first time.

Raleigh Hardin ’60 and his wife, Dorothy (Hooker) att., live in Brewster, Wash. Throughout his career, he worked as a business manager for a community medical center, served as church treasurer for 17 years, and managed a retirement facility with his wife. Raleigh is now retired and enjoys playing guitar and participating in small groups at his church. Some of his favorite memories of WWU are playing guitar with Paul ’60 and Ed Nystrom ’70, and Sabbath afternoon hikes in the Blue Mountains. Raleigh and Dorothy have two children: Michael ’75 and Don.

Jeanne (Wilson) Battenburg ’68 and her husband, Joe, live in Port Hadlock, Wash. After graduating from WWU, Jeanne worked as a pediatric nurse associate and earned a master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner. Over the course of her career, Jeanne has been an administrator, clinician, nurse practitioner preceptor, and a nursing instructor.

She and Joe have lived in Egypt, Syria, Germany, and Malaysia.

Jeanne enjoys working in her yard, singing, and trying new recipes.

After retirement, she plans to volunteer her nurse practitioner skills for organizations in need. Some of her favorite memories from WWU are graduation and making lifelong friends.

Mary Ellen (Wall) Demaris ’65 and her husband, Ray, live in Prineville, Ore. Mary Ellen has practiced in various areas of nursing ranging from bedside nursing to administrative positions.

She retired in 2012 after 47 years as a nurse. Since retirement, she has taken up hobbies such as music, spinning, gardening in the summer, and lots of reading and writing during the winter. She also enjoys her cats, dogs, and horses as well as cooking and baking. Mary plays the organ for the Presbyterian Church near her house and works with Prineville Music and Theater Boosters. One of her favorite memories of WWU is singing during worships in Conard Hall.

Mary and Ray have two children: Lora (Starr) Desjardins and Julie Ann Starr, and two grandchildren.

Kenneth James ’65 and his wife, Janice (Payne) James att., live in Camas, Wash. After graduating from WWU, Kenneth did graduate work in biostatistics at the University of Minnesota, receiving a master’s degree in 1967 and a doctorate in 1969. Kenneth’s first job was assisting in the management of the king crab fishery out of Kodiak, Alaska, and the salmon fishery in Bristol Bay, Alaska, for the Commercial Fisheries Division of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. In 1971 he went to work in Palo Alto, Calif., as a biostatistician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and as a lecturer in biostatistics at Stanford University Medical Center. In 1992 he accepted a position as senior biostatistician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Portland, Ore., and as an associate professor at Oregon Health & Science University where he retired as a full professor emeritus in 2008.

Kenneth and Janice have two children, David and Tamara France att., and four grandchildren.

Ronald Lee Case ’65 and his wife, Joan (Harvey) att., live in Lacey, Wash. After graduating from WWU, Ronald studied medicine at Loma Linda University. He worked as a family practice physician in Chehalis, Wash., for seven years.

Ronald also completed a fellowship

Robert Egbert ’65 and his wife, Anita att., live in College Place.

Robert has taught at the university level for 35 years and has worked as a professor at WWU for the past 15 years. He enjoys restoring old radios, bird watching, reading history, and traveling with his wife.

Sid Kettner ’65 and his wife, Carol, live in Gray Creek, British Columbia, Canada. Sid went to medical school at Loma Linda University and has done mission service in the Canadian arctic and in Hong Kong.

He has worked with Hans Diehl to launch the Coronary Health

1960s

Myrna (Shultz) Long ’64 lives in Caldwell, Idaho. Her husband, Albert, is now deceased. Highlights of Myrna’s nursing career include being a nurse in Africa and working in a Refugee Program in Salem, Ore. She also enjoyed more than eight years as a genetic outreach nurse for North Georgia Public Health/ Genetics and Emory University. “I love working with and helping people,” she says. Some of her favorite WWU memories include the music at vespers and one summer of public health experience at the University of Washington. Myrna has two children: Valerie Radu ’91 and Kevin.

Ben Lonto ’65 and his wife, Margaret, live in Gaffney, S.C. Ben has worked as a principal, teacher, and business manager at Greater Philadelphia Junior Academy, where he combined two smaller schools into one new school. He has also worked in administration at Hadley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., and as national manager for the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Quarterly Fee Program where he set up an accounting and fee administration system for 96 field offices. Ben has taught Sabbath School classes for 45 years and teaches a Sunday School class at the Baptist church near his home. Some of his favorite memories of WWU are the work opportunities that helped him pay for his education and provided valuable industrial education. He learned press operations at the College Press, dairy operations at the College Dairy, and construction skills on various campus buildings.

Ben and Margaret have three children: Robert, Randall, and Richard, and two grandchildren.

Ken McGaughey ’61 and his wife, Lois ’61, live in Yerington, Nev., where they are both retired and

Westwind Summer 2015 27

active in the Yerington Seventh-day Adventist Church. Ken has served in the denomination for 17 years, and Lois for 21 years. “We are happy and healthy,” they said as they celebrated 65 years of marriage last December. Lois fondly remembers climbing to the fourth floor in the old Administration Building for classes with Genevieve Weaver and Evelyn Rittenhouse.

Gerald Miller ’65 and his wife, Nancy Ann (Carpenter) ’76, live in Friday Harbor, Wash. After receiving a master’s degree at Andrews University, Gerry spent nine years in pastoral and teaching ministry before obtaining a law degree. He has been an attorney for 35 years in private and corporate practice and is currently developing renewable wind energy projects. Gerry fondly remembers his WWU teachers and his years as WWU’s first campus chaplain. The Millers have three children: Kimberly Salow ’90, Jodi Hilder, and Natalie Nawn.

Perry Parks ’60 and his wife, Gloria, live in Medford, Ore. Perry spent 53 years in ministry and is now retired. Some of his favorite memories of WWU include the time of learning and growth in the ways of the Lord. He also remembers the dedicated teachers and friends he met. Perry and Gloria have three children: Dan att., Donita Jensen, and Darlene Perkins ’92.

Charles Rouse ’69 and his wife, Patty (Kinzer) ’85, live in Spokane, Wash.

Charles retired in 2012 after 42 years teaching in Oregon and California. After Patty retired in 2013, they moved to Spokane to be close to their children and five grandchildren.

They enjoy reading, traveling, going on walks together, and playing tennis and pickleball. One of his favorite memories of WWU include meeting and getting to know Patty, “my wife and best friend for 46 years.”

Shirley (Witherspoon) Schoepflin ’65 and her husband, Gerald ’66, live in Happy Valley, Ore. Shirley has worked as an oral surgery nurse at the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, as a charge nurse for LLU Medical Center, and with Gerald in his rheumatology practice for more than 25 years.

She enjoys hiking, bird watching, identifying wildflowers, cooking,

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Alumnus runs North Pole Marathon On a two-mile loop with a medical tent for defrosting, Rob White ’91 ran a marathon in April 2015 at the North Pole. The run took place at Camp Barneo, a Russian research camp set up each April for tourists to visit and from which scientists study the frozen land.

During the race the average temperature was -41 degrees Fahrenheit, but White said the terrain was the most challenging aspect, not the cold. “The terrain was very uneven with some hard-packed snow and some very soft. In some areas you would break through the snow a few inches. The ice is supposedly 6 to 12 feet thick, then there is 12,000 feet of ocean below.” White said the ice is constantly moving and that despite the relatively short time frame from start to finish, his personal GPS showed each lap as several feet apart.

writing children’s Sabbath School programs, and being a grandma.

Some of her favorite memories of WWU are vespers, church, and making lifelong friends. The Schoepflins have two children: Michelle Sanders ’98 and Todd ’97.

Judith (Brown) Silver ’69 and her husband, Don ’68, live in Huntington, W.Va. In 2014 Judith retired as professor emeritus at Marshall University and received the Reynolds Award, a university-wide teaching honor.

Since retirement, she stays busy watching over two of her grandsons. Her favorite memories of WWU include playing in her father’s physics lab as a child and working on the custodial crew, which would occasionally drop

White has trained for various races on and off since 1994 and spent the past six months training for the North Pole run. He has completed more than 10 marathons and 15 Ironman triathlons.

With the North Pole behind him, he has plans to complete Ironman Brazil this fall, Ironman Australia next year, and Ironman Africa in 2017. His goal is to complete an Ironman on every continent.

With him at the North Pole was his father, Wendell ’62. White said he was inspired by his father’s many adventures and that it was great to have his dad walk one lap of the race by his side. By running various races, White encourages friends and family to support organizations such as the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, Portland Adventist Community Services, and International Children’s Care.

White and his wife, Jennifer ’89, have two sons, Zachary and Benjamin.

water balloons down the stairwells.

Judith and Don have two children: Christy Risch and Katy Silver-Bower.

Arlene (Redmer) Socia ’65 lives in Damascus, Ore. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, Aene worked at Portland Sanitarium and Hospital where she became head nurse of a busy medical floor and worked in the newborn nursery. She then became director of nurses and administrator of long-term care facilities. Some of her favorite memories of WWU include evening worship in Conard Hall with Dean Helen Evans calling the girls “her gracious Conard women” and giving each one of them a small white New Testament Bible.

One of her fondest memories was

taking organic chemistry during the summer from Dr. Charles Jones, who Arlene says “helped me understand chemistry in a way that allowed me to wrap my mind around a difficult subject.”

Cecelia (Hall) St. Clair ’60 and her husband, Leo att., live in Yucca Valley, Calif. Cecelia works as an instructional assistant for Morongo Unified School District.

She earned a master’s degree in religion from Loma Linda University in 1979, an education specialist degree from LLU in 1984, and a doctor of education degree from LLU in 1992. Cecelia taught in Christian schools for eight years and has been working in the public school system for 11 years. As a new Christian and Seventh-day

READ WESTWIND ONLINE: WESTWIND.WALLAWALLA.EDU

Alumni Currents Staying in touch with our family of graduates

Adventist, Cecelia remembers her time at WWU as feeling like she was wrapped in a secure spiritual cocoon. She says she emerged dedicated to sharing the gospel wherever and with whomever she could. She and Leo moved 28 times, which she says gave her plenty of opportunities to share the gospel. The St. Clairs have three children: Shelley Howell, Shaun, and Shane.

Robert Wood ’60 and his wife, Elberta “Betty” (McGinnis) ’59 live in Walla Walla. Bob and Betty were married in Conard Hall Chapel on the day of Bob’s graduation and spent the next ten years moving around the country for Bob’s work as an engineer and for graduate school. Bob taught for six years at the Loma Linda University School of Health before moving to Walla Walla where he joined the School of Engineering faculty. Bob taught at WWU for 28 years before retiring in 2004. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, canoeing, woodworking, and video editing. His favorite memories of WWU include having the engineering department located in an old World War II bunker.

“The facilities were humble and that was okay—it was the people that were what made the whole experience so much fun,” he says. Robert and Betty have four children: Brent ’83, David ’88, R. Scott ’87, and Susan.

1970s

Denise “Dee” (Kyle) Emmerson ’75 and her husband, Gary att., live in Fort Collins, Colo., where Dee is a freelance writer. She decided to make writing her focus after working 25 years in healthcare administration and relocating with her husband’s aviation business. Her favorite gig and life-changing experience was writing for a fellow WWU alumnus who provides pain-management coaching. One of her favorite memories of WWU was when her English composition teacher, Hollibert Phillips, suggested she pursue journalism. She admits to frequent absences from Friday classes and felt sure that Phillips was pessimistic about her future in writing. But on Monday mornings, he customarily stopped in front of her desk, smiled widely, and quietly reminded her that absences wouldn’t contribute to

her growth. “Now is my chance to thank him for planting the vision I didn’t have for myself all those years ago,” Dee says.

Debbie (Wigget) Frederick ’75 and her husband, Chuck, live in Redlands, Calif. Debbie retired in 2012 after 37 happy years of teaching. Currently, she and her husband are busy remodeling their house. Some of her favorite memories of WWU are of vespers, which she says, “was always so restful—the week was over and rest was on the way.” She remembers her freshman year in Conard Hall, where she and Dianne Eslinger ’78, Twyla (Young) McIntyre ’79, and Glenda (Rogers) Lund ’77, and other girls down the hall would get fruit from the cafeteria, chop it up, and add ice cream for a fabulous fruit salad.

“I loved college!” she says. Debbie and Chuck have one daughter, Katie Hoffmann.

Janice (Hall) Schirmer ’74 and her husband, John att., live in Gladstone, Ore. Janice has worked as a nurse in Walla Walla, in pediatric nursing in Portland, and now in the short-stay department where she has been for more than 32 years. Janice’s hobbies include health education, traveling, and gardening. Her favorite memories of WWU include a nursing retreat to the beach, Friday night singing, dorm life, and the tulips in the spring. Janice and John have two children: Amanda Jean ’07 and Eric att.

Kerry (White) Trethewey ’75 and her husband, Mark att., live in Chehalis, Wash. Kerry works for Centralia College as an associate professor in transitional education.

She recently helped design an online high school program for people over age 21 who want an alternative to the GED. Some of Kerry’s favorite memories of WWU are attending vespers after a long week. She says she really felt the Sabbath arrive when the chimes rang out across campus.

She also remembers the lumber yard burning next to Foreman Hall.

Kerry and Mark have two children: Matthew att. and Crystal.

Theodore “Ted” Uren ’70 and his wife, Fern att., live in Myrtle Creek, Ore. Ted is retired after working 35 years for the Adventist church at Milo Adventist Academy; in Washington, D.C.; in La Sierra, Calif.; and in Hawaii. Ted and Fern enjoy country living in southern Oregon. Fern grows dahlias and works in the local church, and Ted just completed his 16th year as treasurer for the local school. He says, “God has blessed us both with good health.” Some of Ted’s favorite memories of WWU are the change of seasons on campus and bike riding in the valley. Ted and Fern have three children: Theodore Jr. ’85, Connie Robeson, and Calvin.

1980s

Gary Benton ’89 and his wife, Tami (Barnett) ’91, live in Fallbrook, Calif. Gary’s favorite memories of WWU include his classes from Dr. Dickinson; semantics, argumentation, and logic class with Dr. Phillips; and electronics classes with Mr. Laabs and Mr. Fisher.

Stephen Ing ’89 and his wife, Shona (Schwisow) ’87, live in Beaverton, Ore. Stephen has a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University and started several businesses including a software consulting firm called Future Software Technologies. He has worked as a software engineer at Intel for most of the last 20 years.

Stephen and Shona have two children: Karisa curr. att. and Stephanie.

Cynthia Jernée ’89 lives in College Place where she works as a correctional officer for the Washington State Penitentiary. She says it is not a particularly glamorous job, but it is challenging, exciting, and fun. Her most memorable experiences at WWU include raising her four children, Christina Griffith, Zoe Taylor, Kris Johnson, and Huston, while she was a student.

Kate (Kelley) Keltz ’88 and her husband, Jack, live in Wichita, Kan., where Kate is the director of a supply chain for GKN Aerospace.

Some of her favorite memories of WWU are trips to Jubilee Lake with her friends. Kate and Jack have two children: Dan and Kinsey.

Carolyn (Bliss) Seltman ’80 and her husband, Max, live in Topeka, Kan. Carolyn is a musician and hairstylist. She and Max have three children: Laughn, Lauren Ruth, and Max Jr. Dorita (Perry) Tessier ’80 and her husband, Mark ’81, live in Walla Walla, where Dorita is director of gift planning at WWU. Dorita enjoys traveling and spending time with family, especially her six grandchildren. Her favorite memories of WWU include vespers, the Christmas program, lunch in the cafeteria with friends, and Lyceum programs. Dorita and Mark have two children: Melissa Rae ’05 and Michelle Werner ’06.

Terry Wigley ’85 and his wife, Marlene (Oslund), live in Pendleton, Ore., where Terry is an otolaryngologist. After graduating from WWU, Terry studied medicine and completed his residency at Loma Linda University. He has worked in private practice in Pendleton ever since and has participated in Canvasback Mission Trips to Micronesia. Some of his favorite memories of WWU are of his summer at Rosario, playing hockey, and time spent with members of the Canadian Club. He remembers admiring the amazing staff of the biology department, especially his advisor Joe Galusha.

Terry and Marlene have one daughter, Olivia att.

1990s

Robert Aaron ’90 lives in Shelton, Wash., where he is a bus driver for the Olympia School District. Robert is also an organist and pianist for the North Bay Lutheran Community Church and is an organist and communications director for his home church, the Lacey Seventhday Adventist Church. In his free time, Robert enjoys sports, reading, and watching DVDs. One of his favorite memories of his time at WWU is of putting red heart stickers all over Elder Winston de Haven with a group of friends to show their love.

Westwind Summer 2015 29

Carol J. (Trowbridge-Johnson) Edholm ’90 and her husband, Keith ’92, live in Mountlake Terrace, Wash., where they are both retired.

They enjoy working on their stamp collections, making greeting cards, gardening, reading, and staying in touch with family and friends on Facebook. Carol’s favorite memories of WWU aren’t specific because she says, “Attending WWU was the best thing I ever did for myself,” and that her all-around experience was great. Keith’s long list of favorite memories of WWU include the joys of Christian education, which had not been available to him before, the prison ministry, volunteering for the community, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army, vespers, hiking in the Blue Mountains, lifelong friendships, and wonderful instructors like Elder de Haven. “In short, my greatest memory of WWU is everything,” he says.

Pamela (Cornforth) Greenlaw ’95 and her husband, Michael att. live in Oregon City, Ore., where Pamela is a mental health nurse for the State of Oregon. She enjoys spending time with her family and loves reconnecting with friends.

She also loves going to the zoo, visiting the Oregon coast and mountains, and spending time at home. Her favorite memories of WWU include the many kind teachers and office personnel at the WWU Portland Campus during a very stressful time in her life.

Pamela and Michael have two children: Shannon ’05 and Matthew.

Kim (Newbern) Nelson ’90 lives in Salem, Ore., where she works as a program manager for the City of Salem Police Department.

Heidi (Hargrave) Heaton Schuette ’90 and her husband, John, live in West Richland, Wash.

Heidi has a master’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Central Florida, spent five years in the Navy teaching submarine power plant operators, and has worked for more than

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John Sackett John Sackett ’80, president of Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville, Maryland, has lived with cystic fibrosis his entire life, yet inspires his fellow employees and children to find the blessings present in their everyday lives.

His daughter, Rena ’15, who is heading to pharmacy school next year at Loma Linda University, said, “I think what inspires me most about my dad is that he is so disciplined. With a disease like cystic fibrosis, it is really crucial to do every treatment, not even missing one. He never misses his treatments.”

Treatments for cystic fibrosis, a progressive disease that affects the lungs and digestive system, are part of John’s routine.

Alongside meetings, seminars, and new employee orientations, John sees his longtime doctor, Even Herbert, to receive therapy.

As a result of cystic fibrosis, John experienced stomach cramps and indigestion throughout high school, which affected his grades. But that all changed when his high school choir director told John that he was capable of so much more.

He began to do better. He graduated from Walla Walla College as a business major and then went to graduate school. His career in hospital administration has spanned more than 25 years as president and CEO of Avista Adventist Hospital in Louisville, Colorado, and then as president of Shady Grove.

Rena said, “Instead of complaining and feeling sorry for himself, he takes every day at a time and sees the beauty in every day.”

John came to Shady Grove Medical Center at a time when the hospital was struggling. The staff was eager to focus on excellence, and John set the bar high, telling his new employees during his initial meetings with them about the importance of living life with meaning.

Rena said, “It is so eye-opening, especially for a college student because we tend to focus on all of the things we have to do and forget about all of the things that we get to do.”

John is a leader at Shady Grove and a leader in his family. He inspires his children and his community to find the blessings in the little things and to work hard to achieve their goals.

In addition to their daughter, Rena curr. att., John and his wife, Sue, have a son, Greg att.

20 years in the nuclear power production industry. “I love that I haven’t had to spend all my career at a desk,” she says. Heidi’s most cherished memory of WWU is of taking her daughter to physics lab and doing experiments while her daughter slept in her portable swing set. She and John have six children: Alexia Morgan att., Howard curr. att., Hope curr. att., Jonathan, Jessica att., and Jordan.

Sam Tooley ’95 has worked at Gray Middle School in Tacoma, Wash., for 15 years as an orchestra and band teacher.

After graduating from WWU, he completed a master’s degree in

music education at the Eastman School of Music. He is treasurer for the Commencement Bay Music Educators Association, volunteers with the Peninsula Youth Orchestra where he plays violin and cello, and teaches for the local Pathfinder club. Sam enjoys working on his model railroad, which represents the Tacoma waterfront in the 1890s. Sam says that one memory of WWU that stands out is when a group of his friends, led by his roommate Stephen Turk ’95, threw a surprise “un-birthday” party for him. Sam says that he made many great friends at WWU and misses the camaraderie of campus life.

2000s

Charla (Aguilar) Burke ’04 and her husband, Zach ’04, live in Vancouver, Wash. Charla is the senior project manager for the Bonneville Power Administration. Her hobbies include playing co-ed indoor soccer, traveling, and hiking with Zach and their dogs. Her favorite memories of WWU are of having dinners with her engineering teachers and going sledding, camping, and snowshoeing in the winter.

Jessie (Vela) Martin ’04 and her husband, Levi ’06, live in Pasco, Wash., where Jessie is a bilingual kindergarten teacher. She has a master’s degree in reading and literacy from Walden University and received national board certification in 2008. Jessie’s favorite memories of WWU include meeting Levi and a hiking trip in the middle of a snowstorm for her backpacking class. She almost fell off a steep cliff after a falling rock hit her.

“Even though I was hurt, I still had to finish climbing the mountain in a snowstorm and make it back to camp.” Jessie and Levi have two children: Evan and Gunner.

Robert Renck ’05 and his wife, Catherine, live in Boonsboro, Md., where Robert is a dentist in practice with fellow WWU alumnus, Carl Appleton ’05. After graduating from Loma Linda University, Robert spent two years as a missionary dentist in Guyana, South America.

He enjoys cycling and has competed in three triathlons. Some of his favorite memories of WWU are the long hours practicing for drama and improv. “Every Christmas someone would work into a scene: ‘That’s whack, foo! But I LOVE Christmas!’ Oh, the memories,” says Robert. He and Catherine have two children: Charlotte and Samuel.

Dustin Whipple ’05 and his wife, Katy, have a daughter named Aria.

Dustin works as an engineer for Oceaneering.

2010s

Fredrick Grant ’12 and his wife, Kellie, live in Valentine, Nev. Fredrick is currently pastoring a four-church district near Valentine.

His favorite memory of WWU is the spiritual Christian staff in the School of Theology.

Alumni Currents Staying in touch with our family of graduates

In Memory Balmes—William (Bill) att. was born June 4, 1938, in Oroville, Wash., and died March 24, 2008, in Spangle, Wash. Surviving: wife Lois (Boicourt) att. of Spangle, Wash.; son Brian of Selah, Wash.; daughter Julie Neeley of Walland, Tenn.; and sister Melanee Waite of Cheney, Wash.

Cavanaugh—James att. was born April 27, 1939, in Portland, Ore., and died Aug. 5, 2014, in Portland. Surviving: wife Donna (Sheets) of Portland; sons Brian of Cloverdale, Ore., and Kerry of Battle Ground, Wash.; and daughter Shelagh att. of Oregon City, Ore.

Bates—Harlan C. ’75 was born Aug. 7, 1927, in Provo, Utah, and died July 19, 2013. Surviving: wife Coral Provonsha of Walla Walla; sons Randy ’83 and Ryan; and daughters Diane Hendry and Dion.

Christianson—Stanley att. was born Feb. 7, 1938, in Creston, B.C., Canada, and died July, 16, 2014, in Leavenworth, Wash. Surviving: wife Doris of Leavenworth, sons Stan II of Mt. Vernon, Wash., and

Russ of Everett, Wash.; daughter Gail Toebe of Renton, Wash.; and sister Elaine Wilson ’58 of Albuquerque, N.M. Drake—Nelma Laverne (Akins) ’49 was born Aug. 26, 1924, in Felt, Idaho, and died May 13, 2014, in Twin Falls, Idaho. Surviving: husband Harold ’48 of Boise, Idaho; son Richard ’78 of Twin Falls; daughter Cheryl Knowles att. of Bozeman, Mont.; and sister La Jean Botimer att. of Nampa, Idaho.

CREDIT TK

Rosa Jimenez For more than 25 years, Rosaura “Rosa” (Rodriguez) Jimenez ’85 was the voice of Walla Walla University for many WWU friends and alumni. She was a gifted communications and fundraising professional who was devoted to advancing the mission of the university and to mentoring students.

During her career at the university, Jimenez worked in grant writing, donor recognition, university relations, and project management. From 2000 to 2014, she was editor of the WWU alumni journal, Westwind.

She served for two years as interim vice president for University Advancement and was director of University Relations for 16 years.

Jimenez was instrumental in launching the first WWU website in the late 90s when the Internet was a newly emerging communications medium. She managed two redesigns of the alumni journal, Westwind, and in 2000 worked on a team to rebrand the visual identity of the university.

“Thousands of alumni and community members have remained connected to Walla Walla University thanks to Rosa,” said Jodi Wagner, vice president for University Relations and Advancement. “She attended hundreds of university events, wrote scores of articles and press releases, mentored dozens of students, and provided thoughtful perspective for her colleagues.

She was an important part of our university family, and we will miss her deeply.”

“Rosa was always out there looking for ideas on how to make stories better or for new stories to pursue. She wasn’t scared to try new things. She really enjoyed the mix of academics, staff, and students at WWU. She was very involved in the lives of her kids and even studied Tai Kwan Do with her daughter,” said Chris Drake, director of media services.

Hardwood—Victor ’77 was born Nov. 26, 1946, in Corvallis, Ore., and died Feb. 10, 2015, in Vancouver, Wash. Surviving: wife Christine of Bellingham, Wash.; sons Garret of Carlsbad, Calif., and William att. of Gresham, Ore.; daughter Tessa Evans of Debenham, United Kingdom; sisters Paula McRae of Courtenay, B.C., Canada, and Karen Gill of Courtenay; father Wallace of Clatskanie, Ore.; and mother Jean Dutro of Hillsboro, Ore. Jensen—William att. was born April 7, 1921, in Tacoma, Wash., and died May 30, 2014, in Walla Walla. Surviving: sons Edward ’75 of Corbett, Ore., and Gary of Hillsboro, Ore.; daughter Nancy Davis ’77 of College Place; and sisters Charlyne Wertz ’48 of Loma Linda, Calif., Joyce Way att. of Gladstone, Ore., Dolores Brooker att. of San Jose, Calif., and DeNelda Schwartz att. of Scappoose, Ore. Kay—Ernest ’69 was born Oct. 26, 1920, in Stettler, Alberta, Canada, and died in Oct. 22, 2014, in Milwaukee, Ore. Surviving: wife Evelyn ’69 of Damascus, Ore., son Bruce ’83 of Kirkland Ore., and daughter Karen Tetz ’99 of Portland, Ore. Knowles—George att. was born March 31, 1924, in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada, and died Sept. 23, 2013, in National City, Calif. Surviving: wife Elizabeth “Lillian.”

Krause—Denny ’79 was born Jan. 3, 1951, in Pasadena, Calif., and died July 28, 2014, in Yucaipa, Calif.

Surviving: wife Joy (Fearing) ’78 of Yucaipa; son Alan ’08 of Redlands, Calif.; daughter Laurie ’04 of Yucaipa; brother Derris of Silver Spring, Md.; and mother Isabell of Silver Spring.

In July 2014, Jimenez left WWU for a new challenge as communications manager for the City of Walla Walla where she helped the city serve its growing population. Jimenez was also a devoted wife, mother, sister, and daughter.

She was born Aug. 30, 1963 in Estacion de Catorce, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and died March 22, 2015 in Seattle from complications related to cancer. She is survived by her husband, Vincent ’00 and ’04, their three children Marisa, Michael, and Isabella, her parents Teresa and Miguel, and her siblings Blanca, Mike, Lisa Villenueve att., Jaime ’89, and Diane.

Sarah Corley ’11, one of many students whose life and career were shaped by Jimenez, wrote a tribute to her that can be read at wallawalla.edu/tribute.

Lee—William ’50 was born Aug. 12, 1922, in Hamilton, Mont., and died April 27, 2014, in Gresham, Ore. Surviving: son William of Bozeman, Mont.; daughters Laura Avery of Vancouver, Wash., Cheryl Nelson of Sandy, Ore., and Lisa Moore of Nampa, Idaho; and brother Alvin of Polson, Mont.

Ludden—Hubert ’50 was born Sept. 14, 1919, in Anacortes, Wash., and died July 14, 2014, in Athol, Idaho. Surviving: son David ’66 of Athol, and daughter Tia LuddenBeigel ’72 of Tillamook, Ore.

Westwind Summer 2015

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Alumni Currents Staying in touch with our family of graduates

Macomber—Roy ’50 was born Oct. 16, 1927, in Saginaw, Mich., and died July 27, 2014, in Lodi, Calif.

Surviving: sons Roy att. of Keene, Texas, and Barry ’75 of Galt, Calif.; and daughter Carolyn.

Severance—Harland ’50 was born Aug. 7, 1923, in South Pasadena, Calif., and died April 30, 2003 in Albany, Ore. Surviving: sons Kenneth, Donald, and David of Albany and Kent of Jefferson, Ore.; brothers Norman ’53 of Chloride, Ariz., Virgil of Post Falls, Idaho, James ’69 of Portland, Ore., and Vernon of College Place; sisters Verna of College Place, and Carol McAllister att. and Silvia of Dallas, Ore.

Matar—Angel att. was born Dec. 15, 1928, in Dominican Republic, and died Jan. 21, 2014, in Santa Maria, Calif. Surviving: daughters Jolene Rodriguez of College Place, Vivian MacDonald ’87 of Santa Maria, and Karen Betat att. of Huntington Beach, Calif.; brother Joaquin Matar att. of Monterey Park, Calif.; and sister Grace Savre att. of Redlands, Calif.

Olsen—Harry att. was born Oct. 10, 1931, in Springville, Tenn., and died Sept, 18, 2014, in Berrien Springs, Mich. Surviving: wife Janet (Wiemerslage) of Berrien Springs; daughters Jayne Taylor and Janelle Howell; sisters Lucy and Nancy White; and brother William.

Penner—Jack att. was born Nov. 17, 1932, in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada, and died Oct. 22, 2014, in College Place. Surviving: wife Betty Jean (Anderson) ’60 of College Place; son Douglas att. of Apison, Tenn.; daughters Cindy McCrery ’86 and Laurie Meservia att. of College Place; brothers Peter of Christina Lake, British Columbia, Canada, and Ed of Chetwynd, British Columbia, Canada; sisters Margaret Davis of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, Elsie Kwiram of Kelowna, Nettie Kilba of Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada, and Tena Penner of College Place.

Potter—Rheta (Woodland) ’58 was born April 25, 1935, in Roswell, N.M., and died May 3, 2014, in Pasadena, Calif. Surviving: husband Norman of Oakland, Calif.; son Richard Heintz of Oakland; parents Clinton and Esther Woodland of MiltonFreewater, Ore.; brothers Dennis ’63 of Berrien Springs, Mich., and James and Phillip of Walla Walla.

Pyke—Dale att. was born Sept. 2, 1924, in Port Angeles, Wash., and died Sept. 28, 2014, in Loma Linda,

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Westwind Summer 2015

Sargeant—Francis ’60 was born May 28, 1931, in Bella Coola, British Columbia, Canada, and died April 19, 2012, in Puyallup, Wash.

Surviving: wife Janet (Heubach) att. of Puyallup; son Kevin ’83 of Kennewick, Wash.; and brother Stanley of El Paso, Texas.

Sornberger Brown—Merrilyn ’55 was born March 13, 1933, in Denver, Colo., and died Dec. 14, 2013, in Niland, Calif. Surviving: sisters Evangeline Gerard, Bonnie Kaiser, and Roberta Eisner.

Streifling—Grace (Nelson) ’44 was born May 24, 1918, in Sumner, Wash., and died July 9, 2014, in Walla Walla. Surviving: son Clinton of Walla Walla; daughters Lila Lindsay ’70 of Antelope, Calif., June Austin of Reno, Nev., and Laurel Eriksen of Juneau, Alaska; and sister Mary Kinzer of College Place.

Thompson—Wayne ’51 was born Oct. 17, 1926, in Fruitland, Wash., and died Sept. 8, 2014, in Sunnyside, Wash. Surviving: wife Barbara of Granger, Wash.; daughters Susan Materi att. of Lake Stevens, Wash., Janel Shearer ’83 of Brush Praire, Wash., Kris Johnston ’85 of St. Paul, Minn., and Peggy att. of San Diego, Calif.; and sister Nadene Bork ’51 of Pendleton, Ore. Unterseher—Elmer ’52 was born March 4, 1928, in Dupree, S.D., and died July 23, 2014, in Hillsboro, Ore. Surviving: wife Betty ’53 of Hillsboro; son Randy ’79 of College Place; daughter Marla (Danielson) ’86 of Hillsboro; and sister Lillian (Nielsen) of Lincoln, Neb. West—Pearl ’49 was born May 31, 1922, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and died Oct. 25, 2014, in Walla Walla. Surviving: daughters Rhonda Erbenich and Carmel Bechtel of Walla Walla.

J. Paul Grove, Jr. att., taught in the Walla Walla College School of Theology from 1958 until his retirement in 1983 and served as dean of the school for three years. He also provided flight instruction when the college first began offering aviation training.

Early in his career Grove pastored in churches throughout the Northeast United States and in Bermuda, using his building and mechanical skills to help build churches in many locations where he pastored. In 1958 he was invited by Elder Paul Heubach and Gordon Balharrie from WWC to move west and teach at WWC. In 1961 he completed a doctorate at Andrews University.

“I’ve had many wonderful teachers and colleagues during my years at WWU. Paul Grove towers above them all,” said Alden Thompson, WWU professor of biblical studies. “I look forward to talking to him more in the kingdom someday. In the meantime, I miss him greatly.”

Grove strived to help people see the true nature of God—not as a stern judge, but as a loving God who continually calls His people to return to Him. “Paul Grove was the epitome of a Christian gentleman,” said Jon Dybdahl, professor emeritus of biblical studies. “To know him was to love and respect him, and he will be greatly missed.”

Grove passed away Feb. 15, 2015 in Walla Walla. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edna (Holst) ’63, and his second wife, Maureen (Moore) Carpenter att. He is survived by daughter Rosemary Dressler ’64; stepsons Ted Carpenter ’75 of College Place and Gary Carpenter att. of Bozeman, Mont., and daughters Trudy Klein ’72 of College Place and Nancy Miller ’76 of Friday Harbor, Wash.; brothers Lloyd of New Market, Va., Earl of Waco, Texas, and Homer of Longwood, Fla.; and sisters Helen Maneval of Silver Spring, Md., and Harriet Stimpson of Apopka, Fla.

Paul Turpel Paul Turpel ’55 came to Walla Walla College from Massachusetts in 1951. He and his wife, Lois, were married in 1952 while they were both students at WWC. Turpel graduated in 1955 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

In 1984 he returned to WWC as director of alumni and acting director of development. In November 1986, he was named vice president for college advancement. His vision included involving alumni in efforts to recruit prospective students, and he frequently distributed recruitment materials at alumni events. He developed one of the most extensive and energetic alumni programs in Adventist higher education. He reorganized the WWC Office of Development and developed a highly successful annual fund program.

In 1990, he launched the Century Campaign, a fundraising program that established the first endowment program at WWC. Allan Fisher, a colleague of Turpel’s, said, “He promoted teamwork and comradeship while helping the team do the very best for the institution. Paul was a perceptive Christian gentleman who will be missed until we meet again.”

Turpel retired from WWC in 1991. He died Jan. 15, 2015, in Moses Lake, Wash. He is survived by his wife, Lois (Lampson) ’55; their son, Thomas ’94; and their daughter Lori Diaz.

PHOTOS: TURPEL BY SHAWN METZKER, ASO BY BEN BLOOD

Calif. Surviving: son Bob ’80 of Ridgecrest, Calif., and daughter Janelle Pyke of Loma Linda.

CREDIT TK

Lutz—Marie Elizabeth (Bolton) ’54 was born April 10, 1925, in Rose Town, Saskatchewan, Canada, and died June 18, 2009, in College Place, Wash. Surviving: son Rick of College Place; daughters Karen Bickford of Burleson, Texas, Dorothy of College Place, and Maryann Barrett ’87; and sisters Doris Bolton of Oliver, British Columbia, Canada, and Alice Ames att. of Walla Walla.

J. Paul Grove

New Officers Elected for Alumni Association

Ken Aso ’97 President-elect

As president-elect, Ken Aso will serve one year as presidentelect, one year as president, and one year as Alumni Association board chair. Aso is currently an executive at The Boeing Company. He has been a partner at the international management consultancy, Oliver Wyman, and a senior vice president at StandardAero. Aso was president of the Walla Walla University class of 1997, was a Christian Service Volunteer in Australia, and has been active as a WWU class agent for the past 18 years.

He has a master of business administration degree from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Aso lives in Auburn, Washington, with his wife and three children.

Patti (Thompson) Green ’83 Secretary

Patti Green will serve a two-year term as Alumni Association secretary. Green lives in Beaverton, Oregon, and works as a senior editor for Providence Health & Services. She and her family are active in City Sanctuary, a Seventh-day Adventist mission serving the people of inner-city Portland. Green has served as interim Alumni Association secretary since August 2014 when she stepped in to fill the last half of a term vacated by the previous secretary.

Alumni Sabbath at ROSARIO AUGUST 29, 2015

Walla Walla University alumni have elected four new officers to serve on the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Jaci (Cress) Perrin ’05

Michael Walter ’70

Jaci Perrin will serve a threeyear term on the Alumni Association board. She is the associate chaplain at Walla Walla General Hospital and has worked as a staff chaplain at four hospitals in the Orlando area. She has a master of divinity degree from Andrews University and has taught religion as an adjunct professor at Walla Walla University and at Adventist University of Health Sciences. She is a consultant for The One Project and is a mother to beautiful 2-year-old Isla.

Michael Walter will serve a three-year term on the Alumni Association board. He is a gastroenterologist at Loma Linda University and a retired Brigadier General who has held many commands during his 30-year military career. He was the 3rd Army (CFLCC) surgeon in 2004 while deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He has a master of strategic studies degree from the U.S. Army War College.

Board member

Board member

Join special guest speaker Darold Bigger for a relaxing weekend with friends and fellow alumni. We will also celebrate Joe Galusha’s legacy of 41 consecutive summers at Rosario. Join us for Sabbath or the full weekend. Reservations available beginning June 15, 2015.

wallawalla.edu/rosario-sabbath | (800) 377-2586 Westwind Summer 2015 33

Alumni Currents Staying in touch with our family of graduates

Jonathan Natiuk & Jonny Long

AC Alumni of note

WWU spirit of service in action

Jonathan Natiuk (left) and Jonny Long shot a portion of Blue’s music video footage at Washington Park Amphitheater in Portland.

Blue is seven, and she has a neuromuscular disorder. But more than that, she loves her family and she loves music videos. Blue made a wish to star in a music video, and that’s where Jonathan Natiuk ’99 and Jonny Long ’10 enter the picture.

Through the Make-A-Wish foundation and with the support of his employer, Natiuk worked with American Idol contestant Candice Russell to make Blue’s wish come true. Natiuk tells the story.

I was working at Visual Aid—a video agency in Portland, Oregon. The owner and executive producer, James Allen, had a meeting with Makea-Wish. They said they had a unique wish that needed the right people to handle. They told us Blue’s story, and James and I looked at each other for about a quarter of a second and said, “Absolutely, yes.” You just don’t say no to Make-A-Wish.

Blue’s story had an immediate impact on me because my daughter, Avery, is almost the exact same age. That night, at home, I squeezed Avery

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Westwind Summer 2015

extra tight and realized everything that is so easy to take for granted. At that moment I knew I would do everything I could to make the best video possible for Blue.

I reached out to Jonny Long to do the aerial shots for the music video, which are his specialty.

He did all the aerial shots, mostly focusing on the concert scene at the end of the video.

James and I were involved in every step from concept to completion. Because Blue suffers from a neuromuscular disorder, she is extremely limited in voluntary movement. James and I wrestled with ideas and concepts for two weeks. Then we hit on an idea, locked ourselves in the studio, and with the song on loop and plenty of Post-It notes, we laid out a plan.

My experience at WWU served me well on this project. Most importantly was developing a mindset of serving others. I don’t think you ever regret the time you spend in service of another.

The core of the idea was to show Blue getting to do her favorite things with her favorite people —swimming with her brother, getting her hair and nails done by her sister, and snuggling with her mom watching music videos. We just stayed true to the reality of Blue’s life. We wanted it to be as perfect as possible for her. In the end, she loved it, and that’s what really mattered to us.

Currently, I’m living out one of my dreams of working at a startup from the early stage.

At Skyward, we’re developing software for the commercial drone market. I will also be one of our expert commercial drone operators, which means I’ll need a private pilot’s license. I started ground school this week, and I’m incredibly excited. I haven’t flown in a small plane since my favorite class at WWU—Intro to Flight.

To see Blue’s music video, visit wallawalla.edu/Bluesvideo.

photograph by BRYAN AULICK

Invest in our students with your legacy gift.

Legacy gifts make a tremendous difference for students by: • Establishing new scholarships to benefit deserving students.

• Creating new chairs and professorships to strengthen teaching and learning.

• Enhancing academic and cocurricular programs.

• Strengthening unrestricted resources and the unrestricted endowment.

Legacy gifts that benefit Walla Walla University include: • Gifts providing income to you or other beneficiaries, such as gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts, with the remainder going to the university.

• Future gifts from your estate including bequests through your will or trust, or designation of your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or life insurance.

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

NONPROFIT ORG US Postage

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

College Place, Wash.

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Upcoming events to note on your calendar

October 25

The women’s residence hall club Aleph Gimel Ain invites you to Fight Like a Girl at the annual AGA Breast Cancer 5K. The run raises funds for local breast cancer treatment, and weeklong events leading up to the run raise awareness about breast cancer detection. To learn more and to register for the run, visit wallawalla.edu/ form/AGA-5K.

Join alumni and friends at the Rosario Beach Marine Station for Rosario Alumni Weekend. Activities will include worship services with Darold Bigger, a nature walk, a hot dog roast, and sundown worship on the beach. Register at wallawalla. edu/rosario-sabbath or call (800) 377-2586.

September 20

New students and their parents are invited to join WWU President John McVay at 11:30 a.m. for the President’s

Welcome and Luncheon as freshman JumpStart begins. Fall quarter classes begin on September 28.

October 23–25

Welcome, families! We invite you to join your students on campus for Family Weekend. From Friday morning classes with your WWU student to Apple Fest and Sabbath Seminars, the weekend is packed with interesting and fun events on the WWU campus.

Find more information at wallawalla.edu/familyweekend.

November 8

November 14

Distinguished Faculty Lecture at

Parent Sabbath at Portland Campus.

Kellie Bond, associate professor of English, will present the 2015

7 p.m. in the Melvin K. West Fine Arts Center Auditorium.

The honor of presenting this lecture is awarded each year to a faculty member in recognition of outstanding academic scholarship and service to the university.

A dedication service for nursing students will be held at 3:30 p.m. during

The day will include a special church service at the Sunnyside Seventh-day Adventist Church and a luncheon for family members of nursing students. For details visit wallawalla.edu/ family-weekend or call (800) 377-2586.

Receiving duplicate copies of Westwind? Still getting mail for your grown children at your address?

Send updated address information to westwind@wallawalla.edu.

PHOTO: ERICK JUAREZ

August 28–30