Westwind wallawalla.edu/westwind
The Journal of Walla Walla University Summer 2010
Working Toward Wakefulness How Humanities Shape Us
The Power of the Pipe Organ The Full Plate Diet
INTRODUCING ...
Alumni Currents
THE WWU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION E-NEWSLETTER
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Contents
4 Campus Current 9 Bits and Pieces 10 New Alumni Officers 11 Working Toward Wakefulness 15 Pulling Out the Stops 18 Making Positive and Lasting Changes
20 Making Their Mark,
2010 Alumni of the Year
Courtesy of WWU Archives ©Walla Walla University
22 Alumnotes
15 Musical Masterpiece Westwind Summer 2010, Volume 29, Number 2 Editor Lisa Krueger Writers Nicole Batten, Rosa Jimenez, Becky St. Clair Cover Photo Chris Drake Design Robert Car Graphics About the cover Dan Lamberton, professor of English, leads the humanities program at Walla Walla University.
29 In Memory 31 From My Point of View 32 College Avenue Crossings
Walla Walla University is a community of faith and discovery committed to – Excellence in thought – Generosity in service – Beauty in expression – Faith in God Westwind is published three times a year for alumni and friends of Walla Walla University, a Seventh-day Adventist institution. It is produced by Marketing and Enrollment Services/University Relations. This issue was printed in July 2010. Third-class postage is paid at College Place, Wash. © 2010 by Walla Walla University. Westwind/University Relations 204 S. College Ave. College Place, WA 99324 Telephone: (509) 527-2397 Toll-free: (800) 541-8900 E-mail: westwind@wallawalla.edu Online: westwind.wallawalla.edu
Summer 2010 Westwind 3
Campus Current
Freshman Mentoring CommUnity Summer Reading Book Picks
One of Us Now
Walla Walla University welcomed 347 new graduates into the alumni family on June 13 at the 114th commencement service. The class of 2010 was an impressive group, with 47 cum laude graduates, 34 magna cum laude and 17 summa cum laude, as well as one nursing student who maintained a flawless 4.0 grade point average. In addition, there were 10 graduates with double majors and one graduate with a triple major. Graduates ranged in age from 20- to 57-years-old—proof that it is never too late to go to college.
4 Westwind Summer 2010
The top three majors were nursing, business, and engineering. While more than half of the graduates had roots in the Northwest, the entire globe was represented with students from Bulgaria, Canada, Ethiopia, Jamaica, Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia. Approximately 50 of the graduates had served as student missionaries while at WWU, which seemed appropriate as this year is the 50th anniversary of the university’s student missions program. The speaker for the commence-
Chris Drake
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alla Walla University welcomed 347 new graduates into the alumni family on June 13 at the 114th commencement service. The class of 2010 was an impressive group, with 47 cum laude graduates, 34 magna cum laude, and 17 summa cum laude, as well as one nursing student who maintained a flawless 4.0 GPA. In addition, there were 10 graduates with double majors and one graduate with a triple major. Graduates ranged in age from 20- to 57-years-old—proof that it is never too late to go to college. The top three majors were nursing, business, and engineering. While more than half of the graduates had roots in the Northwest, the entire globe was represented with students from Bulgaria, Canada, Ethiopia, Jamaica, Kenya, Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, and Zambia. Approximately 50 of the graduates had served as student missionaries while at WWU, which seemed appropriate as this year is the 50th anniversary ment service was Eric Anderson, of the university’s student missions president of Southwestern Adven- program. tist University in Keene, Texas. The speaker for the commencement Ginger Ketting-Weller, vice presi- service was Eric Anderson, president of dent for academic administration, Southwestern Adventist University in summed it up well, “We are confi- Keene, Texas. dent that wherever these graduGinger Ketting-Weller, vice president ates are found next year, they will for academic administration, summed be known as alumni who embody it up well, “We are confident that wherthe mission of WWU. They will par- ever these graduates are found next ticipate in their communities as year, they will be known as alumni who people committed to: Excellence in embody the mission of WWU. They will thought, Generosity in service, Beautyparticipate in their communities as peoin expression and Faith in God.” ple committed to: Excellence in thought, Generosity in service, Beauty in expression, and Faith in God.”
Campus Current
Students Recognized for Research, Scholarship
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Pete Stone
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hat is an immortalized Schwann cell?” Walla Walla University president John McVay asked senior biochemistry major Lisa Barcelo from the platform of the University Church. It was WWU’s annual Alumni Homecoming Weekend Awards Celebration, when the president takes a few minutes to highlight a few of the many high-caliber projects students are working on. “My research studies cells to determine if there’s too much sugar,” Barcelo explained. “This can eventually have implications for people with diabetes.” Barcelo was one of several students who shared their research with students, staff, faculty, and alumni. The Awards Celebration is held during Alumni Homecoming Weekend so that the many alumni who give to scholarship funds can be there to see their generous gifts in action. At this year’s Awards Celebration, 504 students were recognized for their achievements and $576,570 was given out from 176 scholarship funds. McVay also uses this opportunity to demonstrate how involved WWU students are in research in their fields of study. Andrew Sell, senior mechanical engineering major, talked about his project using sunlight to heat water, even when there is no sun. “This is possible because we use a molecule called a zeolite,” said Sell. “Zeolites get hot when they suck up water, and they can
then transfer that heat into the water itself.” Aric Vyhmeister, Kyle Lafferty, and Kevin Starkey made a team of three engineering majors who shared a little bit about their current project to design and build a solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle capable of self-sustained flight. To accomplish this, they are using lightweight materials, efficient aerodynamic design and a strategically formed array of solar cells on the top surface of the wing that will power a small electric motor and propeller. Tiffany Thiel, senior chemistry major, spent last summer working in the National Security Internship Program through Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash. She worked in a lab developing methods to identify the source of organisms used
in biological warfare, such as anthrax. After sharing about their research, several students received awards for their academic achievements. “Recognition is given to students who engage in original research, immerse themselves in performance, distinguish themselves in the academic area, challenge themselves by participating in the honors program, and maintain outstanding academic records,” said Scott Ligman, associate vice president for academic administration. Nine students received awards of over $7,000 each, one of whom has completed over 300 hours of coursework. More than 250 students who received awards maintain a GPA of 3.75 or higher, and
Adding to the List In support of its mission to promote excellence in thought, Walla Walla University has added or reconfigured some majors in its more than 100 areas of study. The following degree programs will be available starting fall 2010: - Bachelor of Business Administration: New concentration—Health and Senior Care Management - Bachelor of Arts in International Communication - Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science: Concentrations—Business and Industry, Human Thought and Culture, Communication - Bachelor of Science in Health Science - Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion - Bachelor of Science in Web Design The university has also added an Athletic Coaching Minor to its Health and Physical Education program, and will also offer two-year degrees in Pre-Nutrition and Dietetics, Pre-Dental Hygiene, Pre-Physical Therapy, and Pre-Occupational Therapy.
Senior biochemistry major Lisa Barcelo was one of several students selected to share about her research at the annual Awards Celebration, a time when students are recognized for their academic achievements and commitment to service.
one senior was set to graduate with a 4.0 cumulative GPA. “Although many of the awards focus on academic achievement,” said Ligman, “award decisions often involve broader consideration of the student’s contribution to WWU, their professional potential, and their commitment to service.” “It has been so much fun to learn in some detail about the projects and research these students have been a part of,” said McVay after the brief on-stage interviews. “Thank you all for your excellence in thought.” Would you like to support a WWU student by funding a scholarship? To learn more, call (800) 377-2586. n Summer 2010 Westwind 5
Campus Current
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he move from high school to college can be a difficult one, to say the least. Students have to transition from living at home and relying on Mom and Dad for everything, to keeping track of curfews, assignments, and appointments on their own, becoming virtually independent overnight. For many, the college years will present their first experience in the working world, and some will be 100 percent responsible for their own school finances. All of this is in addition to any stressful situations taking place in their personal lives, such as an illness in the family, relationship issues, and more. Three years ago, after much research into what other schools were doing, Walla Walla University instituted the Freshman Success Program. Aimed at helping incoming freshmen have a positive experience that would give them confidence to continue their education and complete their degree, the program initially utilized half a dozen mentors and 75 randomly selected college freshmen. Mentors were expected to meet with their mentees weekly, either in person or by phone, with personal visits expected at least biweekly. In turn, the mentors would meet each week with the director of the program to discuss successes and areas of concern. “In addition to providing academic assistance, mentors were also expected to provide spiritual and social support,” says Mel
6 Westwind Summer 2010
Lang, program director. “We believe progress in all three of these areas is necessary for a successful college experience.” The pilot program was a resounding success, with the coaches, as they prefer to be called, spending over 1,000 hours with their mentees. The second year saw WWU connecting each of the over 300 incoming freshmen with one of nearly 30 coaches, several of whom have master’s degrees. Most are graduates of WWU, and are therefore well versed in its resources. “The goal is to improve freshman satisfaction and success,” explains Lang. “Coaches provide support contributing to a successful first year. They help students stay on course, direct them to get the help they need, and discuss issues that may be personal, social, academic, or spiritual.” Coaches are selected through an extensive interview process. During their first week on campus, freshmen are given biographical sketches of all 28 coaches, and are asked to indicate their top five choices. Most are given their top pick. Coaches are also expected to attend special training and additional seminars throughout the year to keep them on top of their game to best serve the students they mentor. Today, three years later, the statistics look good, and WWU’s students look even better. Seventy-seven percent of the mentored freshmen returned to the
Julie Sanders-Keymer ’93, coach for the WWU Freshman Success Program, shares a laugh and a bit of advice with freshman Kathleen Schaefer to help her navigate the daily challenges of the first year of college.
university in fall 2009 for their sophomore year, a seven percent increase from the average over the last 20 years. Winter and spring quarter retention went up six and seven percent, respectively, from the past two decades. “Retention isn’t reliant solely upon academic success,” says Scott Ligman, associate vice president for academic administration at WWU. “Many factors cause students to leave college: relationship issues, family health concerns, spiritual questions, etc. The mentorship program deals
with all of these and more, allowing students to address and work through anything and everything that might be detrimental to their college experience.” Ligman and Lang are both excited to see where the numbers go from here as the Freshman Success Program excels and grows. Not only have retention numbers grown, but the number of students on academic probation is notably lower. “Our goal is to see students succeed,” says Lang. “Our coaches are committed, caring individuals who will do everything within their power to help these young people move forward and make their lives something to be proud of. So far, freshman mentoring has been a resounding success, and I am thrilled to be able to lead a program like this.” n
Pete Stone
Freshman Success Continues Through College
Campus Current
CommUnity Connection More Options Reach More Students
Chris Drake
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any things set Walla Walla University apart from other colleges across the nation, but one thing in particular has been part of the university’s culture from the day of its founding in 1892: a weekly convocation. “It’s one of the pillars of parochial education,” says Ken Rogers, WWU vice president for student
With that in mind, WWU began to re-evaluate Chapel in 2007. Even though the variety and frequency of WWU’s worship opportunities serves the campus well, the university needed an opportunity to come together to celebrate various school activities and to engage in civic, national, and international causes.
life. “We still consider that gathering very important here.” Up until three years ago, the weekly Tuesday morning meetings were known as Chapel and were usually some type of worship service, much like Friday night vespers. Students were required to attend a certain number of them every quarter, and sometimes they felt like they were being required to worship, says Rogers.
Picking up a piece of pizza and a Mt. Ash yearbook—that’s CommUnity and a good reason not to miss the last gathering of the school year.
“There was never any discussion of canceling the weekly gathering,” Rogers says. “We just needed a broader platform for it. Such a change would allow for greater freedom, allowing for
worship, civil enlightenment, and academic pursuits.” When WWU decided to make the change, the Campus Life Committee, made up of students, faculty, and staff, discussed the issue extensively, and together they decided to make the change. Combining community and unity, CommUnity was born. While the Tuesday morning meeting is still the primary option, there are a variety of other options that allow for CommUnity attendance credit. The committee looks for programs such as special Campus Ministriessponsored concerts or ASWWU (Associated Students of WWU) events that engage the whole campus, as well as events that address political issues, race and diversity issues, health issues, and many more. “If students aren’t exposed to those important things here, where are they going to get it?” asks Rogers. “We needed a vehicle to provide this exposure to students, and, so far, they really
seem to appreciate the variety of options we offer now.” The greater number and variety of CommUnity events has made a marked improvement in attendance. Previously, policy stated that those missing more than the allowed number of meetings were to listen to recordings of the events and write a report. Rogers’ office regularly received more than 700 papers per quarter. In their research prior to the change from Chapel to CommUnity, Rogers and his team discovered that a lot of other Christian universities fine students who do not attend the regular worship meetings, which often boosts their funds significantly for programming. “In spite of the huge incentive we get from imagining that amount of money in our speaker budget, we have shied away from that approach,” says Rogers. “Writing papers wasn’t achieving community. Instead, we’ve leaned toward providing what the students were asking for: more options. Attendance issues are much better as a result.” “We place a high value on regular convocation and community. CommUnity is central to who we are, and what we want to emphasize in our Christian education philosophy,” says Rogers. If you know of someone who would be a thoughtful and engaging speaker for one of WWU’s CommUnity programs, please call Rogers’ office at (509) 5272511. n Summer 2010 Westwind 7
Campus Current
Faculty and Staff Recommend Their Favorites Project Prompts Outpouring of Support Paddy McCoy ’99, campus chaplain, recommends “Dangerous Wonder” by Michael Yaconelli. “It’s one of my all-time favorite books because Yaconelli is a kindred spirit. He talks wildly and passionately about a life following after Christ, and he’s not afraid to get messy in the process. The book specifically focuses on living with childlike faith, encouraging us to get to the place in our walk with Jesus where we jump first and fear later … or never.” McCoy enjoys Yaconelli’s discussion of having the life of a disciple full of passion, “strapped in for the ride of a lifetime.” Austin Archer, professor of psychology and education, recommends “Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption” by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton (with Erin Torneo). “This book documents a sobering story of how the limits of human memory and resultant errors in eyewitness testimony can lead to a 8 Westwind Summer 2010
devastating miscarriage of justice. It alerts us to the ways in which our desire for retribution must be tempered by an insistence that the right person is brought to justice. Written jointly by the accused, now vindicated, and his erstwhile accuser, it is also an uplifting account of how the truth can be redemptive, and how forgiveness can bring reconciliation.” Kyle Craig, associate professor of chemistry, recommends “Stones into Schools” by Greg Mortenson. The book is the follow-up companion to the 2006 best-seller “Three Cups of Tea.” Craig says, “These two books show that while military action in these countries can be debated, one thing cannot: The people there need schools. The only way to counteract extremist madrassa that fuel hatred is to build neutral schools. It is also important that the women of the region be educated because evidence shows that with education of the women, society’s living conditions improve dramatically. In short, here is the story of a guy who got it right about how to ‘win the peace’ in this far corner of the globe.”
Bruce McClay, Portland campus librarian, recommends “Through the Valley of the Kwai” by Ernest Gordon. “Few come to the brink of the abyss like those interned in the World War II jungle prisoner-of-war camp on the banks of the river Kwai. This moving and powerful account shows how faith, love, and fellowship transcended the horrors and hatred of war and transformed the hearts and lives of men on both sides. For these POWs, the law of the jungle was replaced with the rule of love and compassion, not only for each other but also for those who held them captive. I read this book over 40 years ago while a young college student. It helped me understand then the real meaning of religion, learning, and a spiritual experience and education. Ernest Gordon’s story shows that through our living example of Christ’s love, we can bring hope to others and create a ‘church without walls.’” Melodie Selby ’86, assistant professor of engineering, recommends “The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right” by Atul Gwande. “This book is interesting, readable, and useful, and its lessons are applicable to everyone. The basic
question he’s addressing is: How do you deal with human error in fields where error is unacceptable? We all know that humans make mistakes. But when you’re building a skyscraper, flying a plane or operating on another human, mistakes are not acceptable. He points out there are really two kinds of mistakes: stupid mistakes—when we know better— and one-time events—when we don’t have the right information or knowledge. His approach works for both and will work in any field.” Susan Smith, professor of social work and sociology, recommends “Mountains Beyond Mountains” by Tracy Kidder. “This book is both disturbing and inspiring. It gives a shining example of how one passionate and quirky person can make such a phenomenal difference in the world. This book tells the story of medical doctoranthropologist Paul Farmer who is a compassionate servant to those with the greatest need and dogged champion of social justice to address health disparities and access to high-quality care. The way Farmer lives his life gives authority to his scholarship. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone I can.” WWU’s School of Social Work and Sociology gave the book “Mountains Beyond Mountains” to its 2010 graduates. n
Chris Drake
Summer Reading Book Picks
Bits & Pieces
Pulling Strings
After an official application and 10 months of waiting, the Walla Walla University string quartet were invited to play on opening day of the 2010 General Conference Session in Atlanta, Ga. The group performed two pieces arranged by music professor Lyn Ritz: “God Is Here,” and “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Ritz also directs the quartet, which includes students Noel Jabagat and Nolan Kinne on violins, Kelsey Zuppan on viola, and Jonathan Woodruff on cello.
To Your Health Quilted WWU
Marlene Oddie has excitedly picked up a hobby she’s been fostering for several years: quilting. Her love of the Walla Walla area and the university inspired her to create quilt designs representing the two. Since 2004, Oddie has designed quilts, table trivets, lap blankets, and baby quilts based on a WWU and Walla Walla Valley theme, as well as two additional patterns that have received recognition for their design and will be featured in the product catalog of the fabric manufacturer this year. Want to express your love for WWU by displaying a handmade quilt? You can make your own from patterns ($8), or you can commission Oddie to create one for you. Place your order at marlene@kissedquilts.com.
Take a step to improve your health today. An hour-long fitness DVD, led by Linnae Davis ’03, fitness instructor at Walla Walla University, offers a full-body workout that includes stretching, cardiovascular exercises, and strength training. The DVD is available for $13 (plus shipping) through the Health and Physical Education Department. Proceeds will go toward the WWU Communications and Languages Department, which had an advanced film class do the camera work. Proceeds will also benefit the Teri Kuhlman Fitness Center in the Winter Educational Complex. To purchase your copy, go to wallawalla.edu/fitness.
Robotic Rumble Called During the 2009-10 school year, the Walla Walla University student missions program celebrated 50 years of service to the world. In the last five decades, over 2,200 students have served as medical workers, orphanage volunteers, teachers, assistant deans, maintenance workers, and more. To read their first-person stories, request your copy of “Called: Our Journey Into Faith and Discovery.” Send your request by e-mail to my.mission@ wallawalla.edu, or visit wallawalla.edu/called. A student missions cookbook is also available by calling (800) 541-8900, ext. 2633.
Two hundred students between the ages of 6 and 14 along with their programmable LEGO robots and nearly two dozen Walla Walla University engineering majors came together this spring for the annual FIRST LEGO Regional Robotics Challenge on the university campus. Students from the School of Engineering volunteered as judges, information contacts, referees, pit crew staff, and photographers. The theme of the LEGO event this year was “Smart Move,” with a focus on transportation.
Summer 2010 Westwind 9
Alumni Association
WWU Alumni Elect New Officers
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he alumni of Walla Walla University have elected four new officers to serve on the Alumni Association board of directors. They are Clarence Anderson ’78, president-elect; Matt White ’02, treasurer; Heather Jarnes ’02, board member position 1; and Alan Coffey ’79, board member position 2. Anderson is president and CEO of Blue Mountain Credit Union. Prior to that, he served as the Dean for the School of Business at WWU. Anderson serves as a Commissioner on the County of Walla Walla Housing Authority Board and has previously served on the Blue Mountain Action Council Board. He and his wife, Judy (Newell) ’78, have two children, Cordel ’05 and Talea ’07. White is a commercial loan officer at the Bank of Whitman. He and his wife, Carrie (Biegel) ’05, have 3-year-old twins, Landon and Lillian. Jarnes is a consumer underwriter at Banner Bank in Walla Walla. She and her husband, Ted
Clarence Anderson ’78
Matt White ’02
Heather Jarnes ’02
Alan Coffey ’79
Swinyar ’02, have a 1-year-old daughter, Veronica. Coffey is the CEO for Coffey Communications, a family-owned
advertising and marketing agency based in Walla Walla. He was awarded the 2009 Alumni of the Year award from the WWU
For cabin rentals, meal tickets and additional information, call (800) 377-2586 or visit alumni.wallawalla.edu/rosario-weekend.
10 Westwind Summer 2010
Alumni Association. Coffey is married to Sherilee (Goerlitz) ’91, and has a stepson, Seth. The president-elect of the Alumni Association is elected annually and serves a three-year term—one year as president-elect, one year as president and one year as the board chair. The treasurer serves a two-year term and board members serve three-year terms. WWU students, faculty, and staff are members of the Alumni Association and can vote; more than 700 alumni voted in this year’s election. The association provides support in planning events, programs, and services for its alumni, as well as overseeing the use of the Havstad Alumni Center and managing an endowment that provides funding to the university. The association is incorporated and has its own bylaws and officers, separate from the university. To learn more about the alumni association, visit alumni.wallawalla.edu/alumni-association. n
Working Toward Wakefulness How Humanities Shape Us
By Ginger Ketting-Weller
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alla Walla University has a long tradition of placing strong curricular emphasis on the humanities, which the Cambridge Dictionary defines as “the study of subjects such as literature, language, history, and philosophy.” Every Walla Walla University student takes courses in the humanities. Every bachelor degree but one (bachelor of science degree in engineering) requires at least 12 credits of humanities classes in the general studies curriculum. Students at Walla Walla University can choose from rich, thoughtprovoking classes such as World Music, Aesthetics and Photography, The AfricanAmerican Experience, Latino Literature, Moral Philosophy, Film Studies, and Shakespeare at Ashland—all designed to prepare them to understand and participate thoughtfully in the world around us. In addition to majors in the humanities, we also offer an interdisciplinary humanities major with concentrations to choose from in English, fine arts, history, languages, philosophy, or religious studies. We believe—and reports from alumni have affirmed—that this kind of pursuit of excellence in thought has positive and lasting affects far beyond the ability to complete a specific job function. This recent conversation with Walla Walla University Professor of English Dan Lamberton reveals how and why we continue a strong tradition of teaching the humanities within Seventh-day Adventist higher education. Summer 2010 Westwind 11
GKW: With 70 percent of our students enrolled in from the Philippines. Soon, I was confused but involved majors preparing them for the professions, what do we in cafeteria discussions with faculty and graduate students, achieve by offering a strong core of humanities in the I was traveling to various colleges to hear national figures education of all WWU students? debate, and I became involved with Model United Nations We do all we can in the humanities to help students graduand voter registration. This was against my expected ate with confidence and continued curiosity about the ideas agenda—I was a physics major then, and had a family who and skills our departments represent—art, drama, English expected to see me in medical school, and though I con(literature and writing), history, languages, music, phitinued to study science through college, the experience of losophy, and religion. Most graduates will remain deeply humanities-in-action bit me, and I stayed bitten. So classes involved in these subjects day by day, employing critical are one thing, a community of thinkers, readers, speakers, thinking, forming political viewpoints, making decisions and listeners is another. The humanities core should be vital about religion, and making choices about film, books, and in every student and faculty member’s spine, and should be the electronic media. We obvious on the college bulletin hope what we teach sticks, boards, entertainments, chabut more importantly, we pels, and publications. hope students develop lifelong College humanities should appetites for solid, well-coninsinuate themselves. True, sidered fare in the humanities. one will leave a good humaniIn a good college, humanities class watching one’s step, ties opportunities should be thinking hard. But humanities available [more] through the are also in the college’s external curriculum. Chances are, a things. What kind of sculpstudent might not remember tures do we have, what kind a particular principle of rhetoof designs do we use, how do ric from one of our English or we address each other on camphilosophy courses, but if all —Linda Emmerson, assistant professor of philosophy pus signs, in general e-mails of the faculty are reasonable and syllabi—what are the eviin their speech and respondences that humans matter? sible in their thinking, the particular principles our departThere are so many ways for a campus to say, “This place ments teach are reinforced, and students are reminded in all is about respect; it displays how to be humane.” We design departments how important style and clarity should be. places to read and discuss, bring important lectures to hear, In a good college, there should always be extracurricular provide news of the outside so that we won’t remain small opportunities for discovery—persuasive evidence of humaniand parochial. ties for all of our students, whether they are engineers, or nurses, or business students. If our college and community American industrialist J. Irwin Miller said, “The calling provides visiting speakers, film series, or challenging public of the humanities is to make us truly human in the best discussion, we then offer the humanities systemically, in lifesense of the word.” How exactly do you see Walla Walla altering ways. University going about making our students “human in It worked that way in my own education: I went from the the best sense of the word?” farm, where we got a small town weekly newspaper and two I really love an obtuse phrase from “Historical Thinking and timid radio stations, to a college where my roommate was Other Unnatural Acts,” a book about teaching history by
Our theology strongly argues that humanities questions are of paramount importance, not just for ourselves, but for the lives we will and do live in this world.
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Stanford University’s Sam Wineburg. He says what defines struggles and joys continuously. Humanities aren’t a body’s a considerate human is a mind that “cultivates puzzlement.” decorations; they’re its spine. That is, the humanities teach us not to avoid difficulty, but to pause, habitually, over “received” and easy wisdom and Why should today’s students study the humanities when say, “What more can be learned and expressed about this?” there are some who argue that the world is calling for Rather than accept the first answer, we need to stir ourselves “real job skills” in business, science, technology, and to restlessness, to stay puzzled. By the way, I don’t mean other professions? the idea of “mystery” or perpetual intellectual suspension. I don’t see evidence for national alarm that humanities Rather, I mean we dig, and good students will learn that to majors don’t get jobs. I’ve reviewed the last 20 years of be human is to wonder what humanities graduates, and others are going through, they’re doing fine, and, in how a historical idea evolved, many cases, doing very well. and how science continues Even in these difficult times, its restless inquiries. That’s a this year’s humanities graduchallenge because we have all ates are placed in significant kinds of pressures to “close the work—in Teach for America, loop.” The humanities should in JET (Japan English show how to cultivate puzzleTeachers), in AmeriCorps. ment, open the eyes, and These are competitive placeultimately, to make the world ments. Most of our majors go more open, and to help people —Dan Lamberton, professor of English to graduate and professional who simply have to close school, and these recent gradudown in order to survive. ates I mentioned have postI see two principles for the university. First, to cultivate poned acceptances to excellent advanced degree programs. puzzlement by teaching what is importantly provocative, It’s fair to ask why these students are hired, when they’re while simultaneously providing comfort in the humane stereotyped to live with their parents and pull espresso sense, that is, to make a place where students are challenged at Starbucks. Here are three reasons: The students are and respected, so they can study safely. refined—they speak well, and write very well. Their applicaSecond, the core has to be a true core. Nobody rememtion letters and interviews prove it. The students have faced bers everything one is taught. The student has to rehear it, real difficulty academically and can prove it. Their seminar rehearse it, learn it again, and again, and again. We forget. papers are strong evidence of critical thinking for employers So to claim we have a humanities core should imply that who desire such skills. Finally, the students embody WWU’s the core has to be constant. For example, we don’t teach mission—integrity and rigor. a writing class and then say, “Now you know writing.” I would assure any employer of another, less obvious trait. Throughout college and after, every writing problem may These students, who have learned to think for themselves, be as hard as the last one. It’s never easy to form a thesis; it’s have also learned to listen and be a part of an honorable work to think critically and freshly. It’s not a one-time thing organization. They can herd cats, make systematic those you do when you’re a freshman, or in a major’s few humani- difficulties we call individualistic. We often don’t do the ties requirements. Humanities should be systematic and dif- right thing when we give up on an argument by saying, “It’s ficult. The classes are the vital beginning to guide students up to the individual.” Humans do act collectively; we have in important directions, but humans will face humanities’ collective good to consider. We have to think about what
The humanities should show how to cultivate puzzlement, open the eyes, and ultimately, to make the world more open.
Summer 2010 Westwind 13
ideas in art, music, theology, history, and literature mean to fully alive. One sees this certainly in Adventism’s care for the community. Because our students practiced it in classes and human body. There are lots of things about this denominaseminars, they listen and apply those ideas that help us all tion that are really admirable, and each of those things dismake sense of difficulty. courages a tepid, “Laodicean” life. Good training in the humanities stays with us. When Consider this very carefully and don’t misconstrue. you hear the news, see a film, or read a book, and someone Every day I see amazing things—today, a baby hummingasks, “What do you think about it?”, training in critical birds’ tongue. But I also treasure things I don’t see. I stay thinking and in the traditions of the arts, helps us respond in the faith through the unbelievable. The virgin birth is to that question thoughtfully and responsibly. Study in the not believable. The resurrection is not intuitive. But that’s humanities imprints how we read, how we hear a sermon, exactly the point for me. If I didn’t see them as unusual, if how we spend time on our computers. It all entails a public I accepted these miracles stories straight out, then what is responsibility. wonderful anymore? That very discomfort about the unbeYou hope, when you send a child to college, he or she lievable is what keeps me humane, keeps me amazed, keeps will have professors who require careful discussion, who me interested. If I accepted it straight out, I’d be as my expect students to speak father said, “in the traces,” exerclearly in class discussions, cising no faith at all. I’d be in and, if the discussion is carethis belief system for the sociless or casual, say, “That won’t ety. Without continual puzzledo, think again and say it betment, we’re not practicing, not ter.” Faculty should say to a renewing, the belief. student who speaks thoughtOne of the things I think lessly, “What you’re saying the humanities must do is here affects this culture of stustudy Jesus in a way that speaks dents, it reflects the way your to the skeptical student. For life’s education has informed instance, story-by-story the this thing you just said. Do parables mix messages and you remember what Socrates you need to think again. For said about that, do you recall —Kellie Bond, associate professor of English example, in the Gospels, the how historians have debated discussion of Mary and Martha what you just claimed? is followed by the story of Remember what you read, figure it out, and say it again.” the Good Samaritan. In one, Mary “has chosen that good But this takes close listening on my part, and, in class, stupart” and is sitting and listening, but in the next one, the dents should listen to each other carefully, and speak with Samaritan is doing what Martha was doing, in essence. reference to each other. There are so many ways that the gospels can intrigue you, To practice such listening every day, I’ve designed a class puzzle you, call you to bring every sense alive, every anaroster with space to write under each student’s name, and if lytical skill you have into play. What Jesus said is profound, a student says something significant, I try to write it down. it will change your life. Tolstoy thought so, John Updike But if they say something poorly or in an unformed way, thought so, the poet Denise Levertov thought so. I can give I ask them to go back and say it again with more thought. students name after name of people who have thrown their That fusing of memory and expression is a way the humani- art at Christ and said, “OK, everything I do will be a way ties meet every other discipline. One can ask a marketing of meditating on what You did.” student, “How do business ethics inform this film about Humanities, from art to theology, may break the world the oil industry?” One can ask an engineer, “How does open and give you the tools to reform, but remember, as the the design of that freeway divide the neighborhood in this poet Leonard Cohen says, “There is a crack in everything. story?” Then these students educate us all together. I think That’s how the light gets through.” We have to see our faculty in all disciplines employ these techniques. Science imperfections as avenues for the Spirit. The humanities presand humanities are elements of the same story, though they ent our human condition, our flawed selves, beautifully. We may organize themselves differently. teach what has remained, what exists because of its quality. Quality—a masterpiece of music or art, a novel, a poem, a If Adventist education endeavors to educate students brilliant analysis of history or theology—is what we hold in to be “thinkers, and not mere reflectors of other men’s memory. The humanities are, finally, those things we want thoughts,” is it possible that once we teach students to to recall, reuse, and reinvent throughout our lives. n be thinkers, they may just think themselves out of the church? With the emphasis on careful, analytical thinking in the humanities, is this not a risky business to be in, teaching in this field of study? Our task isn’t to work toward comfort, but toward wakefulness. I believe one of the great contributions of Adventism is Ginger Ketting-Weller ’85, is the vice president for academic the way it encourages its membership to be open-eyed, to be administration at Walla Walla University.
Writers show us how we fail to think and then teach us how we can redeem ourselves; they invite us to misread so they can teach us to read.
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Chris Drake
A
sense of quiet anticipation hovered over the valley. In hushed tones, people talked about what they’d heard of a massive, oneof-a-kind pipe organ being built for the church by renowned organ builder Casavant Frères in Canada. Was it true? If so, how would it sound? What would it look like? And how would it travel all the way to College Place from St. Hyacinthe, Quebec—more than 2,000 miles away? A flurry of articles started cropping up in The Collegian and the North Pacific Union Gleaner. As readers learned that the organ—all 14 tons of it—had chugged into Walla Walla by freight train, suspense grew even more. “A Canadian National Railway boxcar sat on a siding in town last week,” reported the Feb. 14, 1963, issue of The Collegian. “Under the metal seals and custom stamps lay the mystery—the new Casavant organ for the College Church ….” Of all the curious locals, perhaps none were so delighted to witness delivery as Melvin K. West, chair of the Music Department who had spearheaded the pipe organ project from the beginning. “I could hardly wait for each box to come through the side door [of the church],” West recalls. Even the console—the wooden part of the instrument that the organist sits at and plays—arrived in multiple boxes since it was too bulky to travel as an assembled unit, says engineering professor emeritus Fred Bennett, who helped design and construct key sections of the sanctuary where the organ sits. Over the next month or so, each organ piece and pipe was carefully installed and precisely tuned by Casavant experts. Meanwhile, formal invitations rolled off the press. Thick, ivory cards inked with an elegant script cordially invited people to “attend the initial concert featuring the Casavant pipe organ in the College Church.” Finally the long-awaited evening arrived— April 26, 1963. Students, faculty, staff, and local church members filed down aisles, whispering as they slid into the pews. The college’s brass ensemble, percussionists, and choirs gathered in their respective places, adjusting their instruments and clearing their throats.
Pulling Out The Stops How the pipe organ came to be at the Walla Walla University Church By Loree Chase-Waite
Summer 2010 Westwind 15
Then the sanctuary fell silent. As 8:00 drew near, eyes turned to West. In a long, black robe typically worn by organists of the day, he strode up to the console, took his seat on the bench, and pulled out the stops. In an instant, suspense became music. “West began with the quiet chords of a country chapel, and built up to the reverberating full-organ most often heard in European cathedrals,” reported an article in the May 2, 1963, issue of The Collegian. In a lavish and inspiring program, West featured nine numbers that demonstrated the wide versatility of the organ as a solo instrument as well as one that could accommodate large groups, college choirs, brass ensembles, and percussionists. HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS “The acquisition of a pipe organ was a condition for West’s coming” to Walla Walla College, writes Dan Shultz, former chair of the Music Department, in the book “A Great Tradition: Music at Walla Walla College, 1892-1992.” West’s vision, however, was not heartily endorsed at first. Controversy brewed
over which was better for the church: a pipe or electronic organ. At a student assembly in January 1961, West spoke in support of a pipe organ, and students launched a campaign to raise $10,000 for an organ, regardless of the type or ultimate price. Following that assembly, West wrote an editorial in The Collegian, which said, in part: “By virtue of the very nature of electronic reproduction, with its unnatural exactness of sound, an electronic organ can do no more than imitate the genuine …. True, it will cost considerably more to have a pipe organ than an electronic one, but in view of the role in which Walla Walla College finds itself, can we afford to be less than leaders— leaders in the spirit of worshiping God?” History speaks for itself: A contract for a pipe organ was signed with Casavant Frères in December 1961. “The organ was built to specifications agreed upon by West and Casavant,” Shultz writes. “Only three [divisions] were installed initially, with the final two to follow as funds became available.” “I felt that it would be many, many years before the remaining stops would
be added to make a complete instrument,” West recalls. Little did he know at the time that completion would be just around the corner. After West played an organ solo at camp meeting a few years later, Shultz reports, a semi-retired musician and church leader named Lloyd Biggs walked up and said, “Dr. West, I really appreciated hearing you play, but I think your organ is minus quite a few stops,” which he proceeded to list. Then he looked right at [West] and asked, “Would you mind if I raised the rest of the money for the organ?” “I nearly fainted on the spot,” West says. “Fabulous leading by our wonderful Lord.” Biggs followed through, challenging the board to match him on a two-to-one basis, and ultimately raising the final $44,000 to complete the organ. The second (and concluding) installment, which took place in 1967, supplied two new organ divisions and several other stops, including beautiful new flutes, a fresh family of reeds, and expanded solo possibilities.
Guiding with grandeur and grace. “I tell my organ students that the single most important thing they do is accompany congregational singing in a worship service,” Scott says. “Preludes and offertories and postludes are important, but not as important as helping the congregation with their own song. “The University Church organ is powerful enough to lead a large congregation. Everyone can be singing full-throatedly, but the organ can envelop, it can support, and it can still be heard. It has such a wide palette and range of colors and possibilities; it can be very strong or it can lead quietly.” Resonating with hearts. “The organ is a marvelous instrument to mellow the soul,” says engineering professor emeritus Fred Bennett, who helped construct key areas of the sanctuary where the organ is installed. “Music … is a neat accumulation of psychology, physiology, consciousness, awareness, and mood-minding. Noise can be sharp and bright, or it can be warm and friendly. Our organ can speak those voices and many others. I’ve listened to a lot of
organs, and of all of them I would choose the Casavant, easily, because the tonalities you get out of it are just gorgeous.” Adds Scott: “The organ is capable of conveying all of the emotions common to humanity. Since ours is in a beautiful, dedicated house of worship, I want it to convey not just the human condition as people experience it coming into that room, but the human condition as it is capable of being when people have come to that sacred place, encountered God, and then left with a different frame of reference and with the assurance of salvation.” Making meaningful memories. Melvin K. West, who led the efforts to procure the pipe organ we have today, says, “I recall so vividly that students used to head out after graduation only to realize that the magnificence of the Sabbath morning worship experience turned out to be perhaps one of the most cherished memories of their WWU years. I personally feel there is no spiritual experience that can equal the praise of God with an organ assisting in the service.”
A MUSICAL MISSION From the twinkling of flutes to the rumbling of reeds, a pipe organ can play the sounds of a whole orchestra in one majestic, yet nimble instrument. But showcasing a wide array of voices, colors, and harmonics doesn’t begin to describe the mission that a pipe organ can fulfill in a sanctuary setting, says Kraig Scott, minister of music at the Walla Walla University Church and WWU professor of music. During worship, the pipe organ can serve by: Bringing words to life. “The words are really what it’s all about,” Scott says. “The combination of the words and the music, of course, is larger than the sum of the parts. Nevertheless, the words are really why we sing hymns. If we just plow through without focusing on the words, we miss a worship opportunity. So I like to pay particular attention to each stanza and alter my playing based on what we’re singing at the moment. Our organ has a wide variety of sounds, so there are many possibilities at my disposal to bring the words to life.” 16 Westwind Summer 2010
At last the organ was paid for in full. The total cost—paid for by donations, student campaigns, and matching funds—just over $100,000. By comparison, in today’s market, an organ of that caliber would cost about $2 million, Kraig Scott, minister of music at the Walla Walla University Church and WWU professor of music, estimates. STAYING STRONG Over the years, the pipe organ has continued to prove it was the right choice, Shultz says. Had an electronic model been purchased back in the ’60s, the church might have gone through six
Chris Drake
NOTABLE NUMBERS One of the largest pipe organs in the Pacific Northwest, the organ at the Walla Walla University Church has: . 4,982 pipes. The smallest pipe is about an inch in length and about as wide as an adult’s little (pinky) finger. The largest pipe is 32 feet in length and about 20 inches in diameter. . 92 ranks, or sets, of pipes—some of metal and some of wood. Each rank contains one pipe for each note of the keyboard. . Three manuals, or keyboards, on which the fingers play. Each manual has 36 white notes and 25 black notes, making a total of 183 notes in all. . 32 foot pedals—19 white notes and 13 black notes. . Five divisions—five separate, distinct organs that comprise one large instrument. Each division is housed in a chamber of its own behind the platform. . About 142 things an organist can move to alter the sound, not counting the keys and pedals that are played. Options include stops, couplers, thumb pistons, toe studs, and expression pedals. . A 10-horsepower motor and large fan, located in the basement below the baptistry, that pump air up into the pipes. The air pressure is controlled by two large baffles, each the size of a couple of bedsprings, that, in essence, help the organ “breathe.”
or seven generations of organs and still have an inferior product to the pipe model we have today. In other good news, the basic structure and pipes have held up soundly. “None of the pieces that we’ve had all these years have split or anything. They remain good and solid,” says Bennett. Twice a year, typically, the pipes are professionally tuned, Scott says. And he personally cleans the keyboards and console on a routine basis. Several years ago, the organ was in dire need of a thorough cleaning. “We live, as you know, in a dusty place,” Scott says. “If you didn’t clean or dust your house for 40 years in the Walla Walla Valley, think of what it would look like. The organ was unbelievably filthy.” Thus, each pipe—except for the very largest ones which were cleaned in place—was carefully removed, taken outside and either washed, bathed in a bath, or blown out with compressed air. “Every single pipe was individually cleaned and polished,” Scott says. It was no small feat, considering there are nearly 5,000 pipes. In addition to keeping the instrument clean, efforts have been made in recent years to boost the acoustics of the sanctuary for the music of the pipe organ, choir, and other instruments. Starting in 2000, over the course of four summers, the project involved, among other things, building a new ceiling above the platform, adding curved panels to the walls and ceiling, enlarging the platform area, and replacing carpet with slate tiles. “The panels make it so sound doesn’t just hit and bounce around, but rather curls and peels off like the skin off an orange,” Bennett explains. “The end result turned out better than I had hoped,” Scott says. “It is fabulous.” All of this thought and care continue to pay off: “Here we are in the desert of eastern Washington and we’ve got this glorious instrument—a hidden marvel. It’s one of the wonders of the region,” says Scott. “We owe Mel West and his vision of procuring this kind of instrument—so much. We’re very fortunate.” n
Kraig Scott, minister of music at the University Church, feels honored to play the pipe organ for Sabbath services and special events. Having taught music at Walla Walla University for 23 years, Scott says many of his organ students have gone on to earn advanced music degrees at notable institutions such as Yale, Julliard, and the Cleveland Conservatory.
Summer 2010 Westwind 17
Interview
Making Positive and Lasting Changes By Becky St. Clair
Sid Lloyd ’79 has a passion for being healthy. It’s an interest that has spilled over into his career, giving him opportunities to help others become healthy as well. As president and CEO of Lifestyle Center of America, Lloyd has seen transformations that seem nothing short of miraculous. LCA published the popular “Full Plate Diet” in early 2010, which made an appearance on several best-seller lists including The New York Times, where it stayed for three straight weeks.
How did you become interested in health?
Did you grow up in a family with a healthy lifestyle?
When I was in college in 1975, I went as a student missionary to Bangladesh and assisted with surgeries in a local hospital. During my time there I was convinced that what those people really needed was preventative health care; they honestly just needed health education. With that, they could be rid of most of their treatable problems, even if we just educated them on the basics of hygiene. I came back to college passionate about public health and health education. During this time I also taught missionary kids in a homeschool setting and decided to make my secondary focus education. I was a teacher for six years before I went into the business world. It all came full circle when I got into health for this job, which gives me the opportunity to run a business that thrives on educating people. It’s always amazing to watch how God leads and equips you for the next step in life.
My father was an Adventist medical technician, so we grew up with traditional Adventist health values. At various times in my childhood we were vegetarian, and we even tried being vegan once. Since I was young I can’t explain why we switched back and forth so often. That’s just the way it was. But I at least understood the Adventist health message and lived it as a child.
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What is the Lifestyle Center of America?
At its most basic, it’s an organization founded by a Seventh-day Adventist physician with the idea to create something similar to the sanitarium in Battle Creek, Mich. In the end, it became a sort of health resort. We opened the business in 1996, and over time began to focus on people suffering from diabetes. When they came to LCA, we changed their eating habits, their exercise habits, and
their rest habits all at once, and enforced these changes for 18 days. We saw dramatic results from this program. Folks would come to LCA hardly able to walk—in wheelchairs even—and by the end of the 18 days they would be walking several miles a day. Others would be on somewhere around 17 medications, and would leave taking only two or three. I understand your approach is different these days. What changed and why?
I eventually became concerned about the long-term benefits of the positive results we were seeing, so we started doing research on those who had previously participated in our 18-day program. We found that after two years only 10 percent were experiencing sustained change. We had spent $44 million helping 4,000 people, and only five to 10 percent were still living the changes we’d helped them make. This sobering realization
led us to investigate what the research says about how people change their behavior. It turns out that most people most of the time change their behavior one small step at a time. While Christians are used to epiphany-based change, in general the research shows that lasting behavior is incremental, not revolutionary. This was very tough for our organization to accept culturally, but the evidence was overwhelming. So we did away with the 18day program. We began five-day workshops on the Full Plate Diet instead, which encourages people to slowly add fiber-rich foods into their diet. All change is self-change. For instance, we don’t serve meat at LCA, so people were vegetarian while they were there. But once they left they went back to eating meat. But if you empower people to make good choices and help them through the stages of change, then they will make lasting changes over time. A great
Interview of human behavior, so we’ve used that fact to help people get healthy. We don’t shake our fingers in their face saying, “You’ve gotta be vegan!” We simply talk about losing weight with a highfiber diet, and everything falls into place. Fiber is only found in plant-based food. So really, a fiber-rich diet pushes people toward vegetarianism and veganism anyway. Have you been surprised at the book’s success?
Photo courtesy of Judith Storfjell
No. I knew we had a spectacular book, and I knew the amount of work and strategy that went into creating it. It was planned to succeed. The most common response to the FPD is, “Wow! I can do that!” Over 30 Adventist organizations, including Walla Walla University, have purchased copies of the FPD book for their employees. In May, we facilitated a pilot program for nonprofessional groups such as churches, to teach them how to run weight-loss programs using the FPD book. “Most people most of the time change their behavior one small step at a time,” says Sid Lloyd ’79, president and CEO of Lifestyle Center of America. “While Christians are used to epiphany-based change, in general the research shows that lasting behavior is incremental, not revolutionary.”
book on this topic is “Stages of Change” by Dr. James Prochaska. Tell me more about how the Full Plate Diet works.
The question we ask in the FPD program is, “Are you eating enough to lose weight?” Most people think they are overweight because they are eating too much. So they go on a diet that deprives them and makes them constantly hungry. Plus, diets can be expensive, depending on what kind you participate in. The FPD has people add highfiber foods slowly, and then start replacing low-fiber foods with high-fiber foods. Really, it’s the Adventist health message hidden in a weight-loss wrapper. Self-image is a huge motivator
What are the biggest challenges to a healthy lifestyle?
Culture. The American culture is aimed at short-term rewards and instant gratification. If we don’t see results almost immediately we give up and consider the method worthless. If it feels good, we’ll do it; if it tastes good, we’ll eat it. Our culture as Americans completely goes against a healthy lifestyle. As president of the company, you must travel quite a bit. How do you manage a healthy lifestyle on the road?
I practice what I preach. I purchased a video recorder and am continuing to build a library of videos at common on-the-go dining places. In these videos I show
people how to order items from their favorite restaurants and still eat high-fiber, tasty meals. I’ve done places like Taco Bell, Baja Fresh, and the Old Spaghetti Factory. For instance, in my Taco Bell video, I demonstrate how people can order a delicious, fiber-rich, filling meal for under $2. I’ve even done a video featuring a home barbecue, including grocery shopping. To order the videos or see other materials related to the Full Plate Diet, visit fullplatediet.org. n
Improve your eating habits, get a free book Would you like to prevent heart disease? Diabetes? Cancer? Weigh less and have more energy? Built on simple concepts and filled with more than 100 full-color photos, the book “The Full Plate Diet” will give you the information necessary for improving your health and your diet. Be part of a drawing to receive one of 10 free copies of this book. To enter, please send your name, phone number, e-mail and mailing address to westwind@ wallawalla.edu. Entry deadline is Aug. 31, 2010.
Summer 2010 Westwind 19
Making Their Mark Lyle Albrecht Class of 1970, Theology
Alden Thompson Class of 1965, Theology
Introducing people to Christ through evangelism has been the lifework of Lyle Albrecht. For 40 years, Lyle and his wife, Peggy, have brought God’s message to thousands of people in the United States and throughout the world. However, his path to the ministry began in a much different place. When Lyle was born, his parents owned and operated a nightclub and his father was an alcoholic. After a visit from a colporteur, his father began Bible studies, and the family became Seventh-day Adventists. As a young man Lyle was on track to work in the logging industry, but a serious logging accident and a visit by evangelist Glen Aufderhar changed his direction. Glen invited Lyle to sing for evangelistic meetings Glen was holding in Lyle’s hometown of Baker, Ore. After the meetings, Lyle and his wife, Peggy, decided to enter the ministry and headed to Walla Walla University. Lyle and Peggy began their ministry in the Idaho Conference where they held their first evangelistic meetings. Since then, Lyle has conducted
To the scores of students who have called Alden Thompson their professor, there is no doubt about his love of teaching. His 40-year career as a biblical studies professor has given Alden an avenue to demonstrate his love for and interest in students, his active and curious mind, and his intense loyalty to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Outside the classroom, Alden’s contribution to spiritual life on campus has been demonstrated by his commitment in leading campus devotional programs for students, faculty, and staff. Alden joined Walla Walla University in 1970, taking only two off-campus leaves during his almost 40-year tenure, once for doctoral studies at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and again to serve as an exchange teacher at Marienhöhe Seminary in Germany. He stepped into the role of academic vice president from 1986 to 1990, and has taught full-time in the School of Theology since then. Alden retired from full-time teaching in 2009, but continues to teach half-time. An ordained minister in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Alden is a 1965 graduate of Walla Walla University and a 1966 and 1967 graduate of Andrews
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nearly 200 evangelistic series and has seen more than 5,000 people baptized in the United States alone. Lyle became well-known to television audiences during his 15 years as a dynamic speaker for the Three Angels Broadcast Network. Even though Lyle and Peggy officially retired last November, Lyle continues to accept requests to speak for evangelistic meetings. “My motivation is to hasten the return of Jesus,” he says. Lyle and Peggy live in La Grande, Ore., where he enjoys singing and playing guitar in the Blue Mountain Band. They have three children, Tammy ’91, Troy att., and Terry, who died about two years ago at age 45 from a brain aneurysm.
University. He received his doctorate in Old Testament and Judaic Studies from the University of Edinburgh in 1975. Before beginning his service at Walla Walla University, Alden was a pastor in southeastern California. Alden is in frequent demand as a speaker and seminar presenter. His primary interests are the Old Testament, Ellen G. White studies, and Adventist history. He has written extensively for Adventist publications and has authored a number of books. Alden and his wife Wanda ’65, have two married daughters, Karin ’91, chair of the WWU Music Department, and Krista ’92.
Alumni of the Year Michael Cruz Class of 1980, Biology
Reginald Unterseher Class of 1980, Music
Michael W. Cruz, Lieutenant Governor of Guam, has dedicated his career to healing people and serving the island territory. As a surgeon, a colonel in the Army National Guard, a senator in the legislature and now in his present role, he has always eagerly answered the call to service. Michael received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Walla Walla University in 1980, and graduated from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 1984. Throughout his medical career, he has held various leadership positions, including medical director at the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority. Michael is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. As commander of the Guam Army National Guard Medical Command, he provided treatment to sick and wounded soldiers, and while on volunteer deployment to Iraq, he commanded the elite Rapid Advanced Medical Team. Michael has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal, and has received a Combat Medical Badge for service as a battalion surgeon while under enemy fire in Afghanistan. His service as an elected
A consummate musical artist, Reginald Unterseher is both an accomplished vocal performer and musical composer. Reginald, or Reg, as most people know him, also fosters future young musical artists through his involvement as a respected presenter at choral clinics and judge at musical competitions. Born in Walla Walla, Reg grew up in a musical family. From a young age, he took lessons in piano and violin. During his college years, Reg was well-known for his silky baritone voice and performed extensively with college groups and the Walla Walla Symphony. He also began his career as a musical composer during these years. After college, Reg and his wife, Sheila Dunlop ‘80, lived in Kansas City, where Reg earned a master’s degree from University of Missouri. He also expanded his performing skills, singing with many regional opera, music theater, and symphony groups, including the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Spokane Symphony, and Opera Theater of St. Louis. Leaving Missouri, Reg and his family moved to the Tri-Cities area, where Sheila joined her father’s medical practice, and Reg became a
leader began as a senator in the Guam Legislature. He also chaired the Committee on Health and Human Services. After serving his term as senator, the community elected him Lieutenant Governor in 2007. He co-founded and currently serves as president of the Ayuda Foundation, an organization catering to the health needs of Pacific Island residents. His efforts to improve the quality of life for the people of Guam garnered him a Distinguished Service Award from the National Governors Association. Michael is married to Jennifer Rosario Cruz and is the father of Shaunn, Mika’ele, Christine and Taylor Marie Cruz, and Christian Payumo.
stay-at-home dad. During that time, he became the music director for a community chorus and Composer-in-Residence at Shalom United Church of Christ. Reg was also one of the founders of Washington East Opera, and formed the Three Rivers Children’s Chorus. For the last decade, Reg’s composing began to take a larger role. His works are now published by Oxford University Press and Walton Music, and are performed in concert and on recordings by choirs in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Reg and Sheila have three children, Chance, Faith, and Joy.
Summer 2010 Westwind 21
Alumnotes
activities, such as backpacking, bicycling, and mountain climbing. John and Ardelle have three children, Celeste att., Heather att., and Brent.
1950s Dennis Parks ’58 and his wife, Geri (Fowler) att., live in Eagle, Idaho.
Keremeos, British Columbia, Canada. Wanda works as a registered nurse at M. H. Residential Home. From her time at WWU, Wanda remembers working at the “college fountain.” Wanda and Edward Dennis has pastored churches in Idaho, Washington, and California for the past 46 years. In his spare time, he enjoys mission work in India and Mexico. Dennis and Geri have four children, Randy att., Ronald, Donald, and Jennifer.
Vanguards
Beverly (Preston) Fletcher ’60 and her husband, Weldon att., live in Winchester, Ore. From her time at WWU, Beverly remembers Friday evening vespers with organ music and the patient teachers. She and Weldon have three children, Brenda att., Todd ’89, and Cory att.
cooking, and health ministry. From her time at WWU, she remembers the chapel services at Columbia Auditorium and graduating with her brothers and cousins.
Joan (Bauer) Gulbrandson ’65 and her husband, Larry, live in Vancouver, Wash.
Luther Harris ’60 and his wife, Waneta (Zehm) ’59, live in Roundup, Mont. The
1960s
Kay (Webb) Bowers ’60 lives in Milpitas, Calif. Kay has visited 49 states in her 36-foot motor home. In addition to her domestic travels, she has lived 12 years abroad, spending time in Korea, Japan, and the Philippines. She has three children, Dennis, Randall, and Debra. Esther (Brooks) Bunch ’65 and her husband, Luke ’50, live in Douglasville, Ga. In her spare time, Esther enjoys cooking, gardening, and hiking in the Smoky Mountains. Esther and Luke have two children, Sandy and Douglas. Wanda (Leaming) Chipeur ’60 and her husband, Edward ’58, live in 22 Westwind Summer 2010
Row 1 Roy A. Wesson, Ramona (Bates) Wesson, Wanda (Hellman) Petersen, Irmgard (Siemsen) Hoaper, Ruby (Sulzle) Griffin, Clyde Smith, Mary (Oliver) Pick Row 2 Eugene Bowman, Jean (Gildroy) Hassell, Vivian (Hassell) Black, Doyle B. Saxby, Lorelei (Pierce) Saxby, Dorothy (Kuhn) Holm, Verona (Montanye) Schnibbe, Fred Schnibbe Row 3 Nellie (Soule) Davis, Albert Will, Dale Visger, Helen (Ward) Thompson Zolber, Virginia (Miller) Mabley, Elwood Mabley, Pat (Saxby) Reynolds, Verna M. (Sackett) Travis, Gordon S. Travis Row 4 Catherine Chinn, Clarence Chinn, Darlene (Gerking) Prusia, Clayton Prusia, Lloyd Moody, Beverly (Woods) Moody, Roland Moody, Vera (Wolcott) Young, Robert Graham have three children, Gerald, Rebecca att., and Mark. John Enstrom ’60 and his wife, Ardelle (Johnson) att., live in Pasco, Wash. John spent his career contributing to various engineering projects for the U.S. Navy, oil industry, and nuclear industry. In his spare time, he enjoys pursuing outdoor
In her spare time, JoAn enjoys interior decorating, sewing and quilting, and volunteering at community centers and free clinics. JoAn and Larry have two children, Robb and Lisa Carr ’89. Patricia (Parks) Gomes ’60 and her husband, Leo att., live in Walla Walla. In her spare time, Patricia enjoys gardening,
couple enjoyed 36 years of teaching in elementary schools together. They have three children, Tom ’81, Jerry att., and Archie ’88. Marlyn Hoffman ’60 and his wife, Kathleen (Geppert) ’58, live in John Day, Ore. Marlyn has worked for the USDA Forest Service. Currently he owns and
All photos by Ruwan Randeniya and Adam Innocent
Ethel (Wallen) Acosta ’60 and her husband, Jose Sr., live in Renton, Wash. The couple travel to theme parks in Orlando, Fla., visit family in Puerto Rico, and recently attended their granddaughter’s high school graduation. They have five children, Jose Acosta Jr. ’90, Gabriel ’83, Douglas ’87, Karen att., and Richard.
Alumnotes Vanguards
Leah (James) Mix ’65 and her husband, Elvin, live in Sammamish, Wash. Leah taught swimming for 20 years for the Issaquah Swim Team. She enjoys working out daily at the YMCA Fitness Center. While at WWU, Leah remembers sailing on the Columbia River. David Parks ’60 and his wife, Reitha (Hutson) att., live in Corona, Calif. In his spare time, David enjoys playing tennis, hiking, and writing. He and Reitha have two children, Timothy att. and Heidi att. Sandra (Jenicke) Monette ’65 lives in Loma Linda, Calif. Sandra enjoys taking
Row 1 Gloria (Cox) Oakes, Maurine (Carrick) Parnaele, Lois (Coleman) Hall, June (Kyle) Iseminger, Bonny (Kyle) Eichner, Meribeth (Wagner) McFarlane Row 2 Robert Earl Bolton, Ann (Krakenberg) Erlandson, Betsy (Neufeld) Matthews, Paul L. Warden, Florence (Olson) Stewart, Syd Stewart, Glenda (Gimbel) Schafer, Violet Wentland, Bill McFarlane Row 3 Daniel Matthews, James Parmele, Nathan Merkel, Lars Surdal, Bill Oakes, W. Dale Peterson, Harold E. Harvey runs his own janitorial service. He and Kathleen have one son, John ’85.
Class of 1960
pictures, walking, and playing table games. From her college years, Sandra remembers
Duane Johnson ’65 and his wife, Tamara (Seibly) att., live in Hermiston, Ore. Duane works as a mortgage banker. The couple has two children, Libby and Tyrell ’81. Ken Ladd ’60 and his wife, Jackie (Esteb) ’57, live in Orange, Vermont. The couple has two children, Lisa ’87 and Mike ’87. Gloria (Thomas) Matthews ’60 and her husband, Thomas ’60, live in Lindsay, Calif. Gloria works as a choral accompanist for the Lindsay Unified School District. Gloria has three children, Karen, Kelli, and Kimberley. Gerry Miller ’65 and his wife, Nancy (Carpenter) ’76, live in Vancouver, Wash. Gerry works at Miller Advisory. Gerry and Nancy have three children, Kimberly ’90, Jodi att., and Natalie.
Row 1 Jim Zachrison, Hugh Gray, Carter Noland, Ken Ladd, Larry Magnussen, Dennis Parks, George Ulloa, Art Ward, Bob Bond Row 2 Pat (Parks) Gomes, Beverly (Baker) Thygeson, Beverly (Preston) Fletcher, Marion (Park) Smith, Viola (Smith) Peach, Rose (Dubyna) Hodgkin, Anita Isene, Audrey (Newman) Rice, Betty Jean (Anderson) Penner, Dolores (Adams) Lee, Wanda (Leaming) Chipeur, Ginger (Reel) Snarr, Mattie (Knight) Wren, Peggy (Henderson) Kaye, Judy (Elijah) Blackwood Row 3 Shirley A. (Brane) Thomas, Ethel Wallen-Acosta, Ruth (Deming) Roberts, Robert M. Sarve, C. Keith Gibbons, Aletha (Downs) Lawson, Milli (Faris) Schaber, Maxine (MdDow) Johnson, Carol Siaw, Michael Siaw, Thomas Siaw, Bernadine (Paulson) Russell, Joyce D. (Harchenko) Klocko Row 4 Duane Graham, Sam Carvajal, John Hodgkin, Harold Eslinger, Perry Parks, Marlyn Hoffman, Robert Wood, Bill Wagner, Ted Miller, Kenneth Kellru, Bob Tinineuko Row 5 Noel Bixel, Francis Sargeant, David Parks, Dale Clark, Raleigh Hardin, Daryl Wheeler, Norman Versteeg, Allan McDonald, John Engstrom, Delmner Fjarli, Marian (Lowe) Dawes Summer 2010 Westwind 23
Alumnotes eating Friday evening waffles with her village friends. Bob Myers ’60 and his wife, Betty (Ashley) ’58, live in Madison, Ala. Bob
Ore. Shirley works as a registered nurse at Tillamook County General Hospital. Her hobbies include oil painting, gardening, and short-term mission projects. Shirley and Griffith have five children, Marcene att., Delbe ’82, Lloyd ’89, Jill att., and Hugh ’94. Beverly (Baker) Thygeson ’60 and her husband, Lester ’62, live in Walla Walla. In her spare time, Beverly enjoys “RVing” and traveling in the U.S. and abroad. Beverly
works as the CEO for Myers Agency Services, leaving engineering to start his own financial planning business. He received the Master Pilot Award for 50 years of accident-free flying. He and Betty have two children, Serena and Darren.
Class of 1965
of Portland. From his college years, Bill remembers working in the College Store and the college owing him money at graduation. Bill and Janet have two children, Lauren and Nancy.
her husband, James ’59, live in Angwin, Calif. The couple has two children, Milton and Audry. Velma Vipond ’60 lives in Brewster, Wash. Velma enjoys volunteering at a
Virginia “Gini” (Northrop) Woodruff ’65 and her husband, Melvin “Mel” ’71, live in San Jose, Calif. Retirement has allowed Gini to travel within the 48 states, plus Hawaii. While at WWU, she remembers watching the construction of the cafeteria and attending a banquet in the basement of the girl’s dormitory. Gini and
Perry Parks ’60 and his wife, Gloria, live in Medford, Ore. From his time at
WWU, Perry remembers classes taught by Paul Heubach, Gordon Balharrie, and Harry Westermeyer. Perry and Gloria have three children, Daniel att., Donita, and Darlene att. Shirley (Witherspoon) Schoepflin ’65 and her husband, Gerald ’60, live in Portland, Ore. In her spare time, Shirley enjoys bird watching, wild flowers, and writing Bible and nature Sabbath School programs for children. From her college years, Shirley remembers Friday evening vespers. Shirley and Gerald have two children, Todd ’97 and Shelley ’98. Cecelia (Hall) St. Clair ’60 and her husband, Leo att., live in Yucca Valley, Calif. While at WWU, Cecelia remembers Columbia Auditorium and the cafeteria food that taught her the vegetarian lifestyle. Cecelia and Leo have three children, Shelley, Shaun, and Shane. Shirley (Brane) Thomas ’60 and her husband, Griffith ’57, live in Tillamook, 24 Westwind Summer 2010
Row 1 Myra (Wilson) Sanders, Beverly (Chappell) Holland, Lois (Holloway) Wilson, Virginia (Northrop) Woodruff, Dorothea (Renschler) Amey, Nancy (Johnson) Teale Row 2 Alden Thompson, Wanda (Hoffman) Thompson, LeRoy Rieley, Ruth (Helm) Hall, Jim Hall, Joan (Riter) Carman, Shirley (Norhton) Panasuk Row 3 Ron Riter, Lester Wright, Andy Dressler, Marolyn (Eiseman) Wagner, Joan (Bauer) Gulbrandson, Richard Worley, John Henriques and Lester have four children, Laura att., Hans ’90, Sonja ’92, and John ’95.
Mel have three children, Ben att., Brad, and Bonnie.
George Ulloa ’60 and his wife, Renate, live in Battle Ground, Wash. George has had the opportunity to work as a pastor, trust officer, the president of Whitecoat Foundation, and the CEO of Chamorro Equities, Inc. He and Renate have three children, Robert ’96, Joanne att., and Julie ’96.
Mattie (Knight) Wren ’60 and her husband, Oren att., live in Menifee, Calif. Her
Lassia (Radomsky) Van Hise ’60 and
local elementary school as a tutor. Her hobbies include reading, painting, and working on family geneology. Bill Wagner ’60 and his wife, Janet, live in Beaverton, Ore. Bill retired from working as a principal engineer for General Electric in 1994. In his spare time, he and Janet enjoy traveling and the cultural life
favorite WWU memories include the beautiful sunsets and Friday evening vespers by Helen Evans. Mattie and Oren have three children, Terri ’84, David, and Lori.
Alumnotes
1970s Gary LaCom ’70 and his wife, Margaret (Connell) ’71, live in Corinth, Miss. Gary
time, the Henderson family enjoys water and winter sports. Rick and Kay have two children, Matthew ’08 and Kristen curr. att. Mardelle (Kirklin) Jensen ’70 and her husband, Don, live in Bend, Ore. After
Class of 1970
working more than 30 years as a nurse, Mardelle is enjoying retirement. In her spare time, she enjoys running, skiing, and bird watching. Mardelle and Don have a son, Christian. Cheryl (Polishuk) Kay ’75 and her husband, Warren ’79, live in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. Cheryl works at Alberta
Health Services as the manager of continuing care. Cheryl and Warren have had the opportunity to travel to Israel, Jordan, and Egypt together. The couple has four children, Brad, Rachelle, Cristy, and Kyle att. Barbara Miller ’75 lives in Spokane Valley, Wash. She works as a registered
works as a dentist. In his spare time, he enjoys working with wood and metal. Gary and Margaret have two children, Christopher and Joseph. Len Harms ’70 and his wife, Ruth (Bettle) ’69, live in Pasco, Wash. Len works as a principal engineer at Harms Engineering, Inc. The couple have two children, Sherilyn ’96 and Renee ’00. Rick Henderson ’75 and his wife, Kay, live in Walla Walla. Rick works as an orthopedic surgeon at St. Mary Physician Group. Rick has had the opportunity to perform the first total joint replacements ever done in Yap, Micronesia, on a shortterm medical mission trip. In their spare
Class of 1975
Row 1 Del F. Griebel, Steve Dickerson, Jim Klein, Michael Walter, James Newell, Myren Severin, Gary LaCom Row 2 Shirley M. (Starkebaum) Peterson, Robin Lacey, Robert Stumph, Rita (Schaffner) Corbett, Jim Eiseman, Jim Nelson Row 3 Mary (Phillips) Coates, Rae (Depner) Hytinen, Mervin Kneller, Ron Woods, Jerry Meyer, Lester E. Riter Row 4 Don Quiring, Ann (Wilson) Atkins, John Lawson, Douglas Clark nurse for Holy Family Hospital. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and quilting. Caesar Nawalkowski ’70 and his wife, Linda (Lucas) ’62, live in Pnoka, Alberta, Canada. From his time at WWU, Caesar remembers working as a maintenance man at the women’s residence hall Conard Hall. Larry Proctor ’70 and his wife, Leonore, live in Sacramento, Calif. Larry works at the Elk Grove Unified School District as a part-time school administrator. While at WWU, Larry remembers attending classes taught by Dr. Malcolm Maxwell and Mrs. Knapp. Larry and Leonore have three children, Christian, Thomas, and Elisa.
Row 1 Daryl Gohl, Temesgen Wakwaya, Rick Henderson, Carol Ann (Albertsen) St. Clair, Dennis David Row 2 Stanley Huzen, Mickey Meyer, Aileen (Howard) Litchfield, Janine (Baker) Hudkins, Judy (Davidson) Fetroe, Maygene Wesslen, Challis (Casebolt) Fry Summer 2010 Westwind 25
Alumnotes Robert Stumph ’70 and his wife, Gail (Hubbard) ’68, live in College Place. The couple have three children, Johnathan ’04, Robert, and Kinley.
Class of 1980
1980s Martin Abbott ’85 and his wife, Sheryl, live in Walla Walla. Martin works as an anesthesiologist at Walla Walla General Hospital. In his spare time he enjoys skiing, backpacking, and mountain biking. From his time at WWU, Martin remembers playing soccer with friends on Friday afternoons. He and Sheryl have four children, Andrew att., Christoffer, Kaelin, and Allysa. Ron Bacon ’80 and his wife, Melody, live in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. Ron works as a relationship consultant. While at WWU, Ron remembers adding his name to those listed in the old administration building. Ron and Melody have two children, Justin and Mallory.
Class of 1985
Row 1 Greg Brothers, Leena (Laitinen) Haveri, Bernice (Cervantes) Hanan, Cheryl (Graham) Klym, Scott Gibson, Sheila Dunlop, Reginald Unterseher, Debra (Merritt) Russell Row 2 Jeff Kinne, Nancy Montgomery, Dorita (Perry) Tessier, Donna Chinn, David Smith, Jim Cain, Sid Rittenbach, Ron Hollenbeck, Nolin Stratton Michael Bishop ’80 lives in Clackamas, Ore. While at WWU, Michael spent a significant amount of time in the music department taking voice lessons, and singing with The Concert Choir and
Schola Cantorum. He released a CD in December 2002 called, “Rise Again.” His WWU memories include speeding on his 10-speed bicycle with three friends through the deserted streets of Walla Walla during a Fourth of July holiday weekend. Jeffrey Carr ’85 and his wife, Jennifer, live in Winter Garden, Fla. Jeffrey works as a
family physician for the Physician Associates of Florida. He and Jennifer have five children, Ashley, Alex, Julia, Liza, and Grace. Rick Casebier ’80 and his wife, Peggy (Casteel) ’80, live in Olympia, Wash. Rick works as a pastor for the Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. One life-changing experience was being a pastor on the Big Island of Hawaii for five years. In his spare time, Rick enjoys art, traveling, and snorkeling. Derrick Johnston ’85 and his wife, Janelle, live in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Derrick works as a supervisor in the microbiology lab at Kelowna General Hospital. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, mountain biking, and competing in triathlons. Derrick and Janelle have three children, Britney, Daven, and Alyssa.
Row 1 David Hutton, David Panossian, Betsy (Vixie) Caughie, Ginger Ketting-Weller, David Riley, Tammy (Lang) Stream Row 2 Karl Haffner, Brandon Beck, Sandra (Clay) Beddoe, Darrell Jones, Rick Behrens, Paul Stirling Row 3 David Young, Greg Robinson, Brett Robinson, Mark Ranzinger, Bart Beddoe, David Woodruff, Steven Rose, Derrick Johnston 26 Westwind Summer 2010
Cheryl (Graham) Klym ’80 and her husband, Art ’74, live in Kennewick, Wash. Cheryl works as an ESL instructor at Columbia Basin College. In her spare time, Cheryl enjoys genealogy and travel-
Alumnotes ing, especially to Great Britain and Ireland. She and Art have three children, Graham, Peter, and Jillian. Timothy May ’80 and his wife, Marilyn (Dinwiddie) ’76, live in Vancouver, Wash. Timothy works as an imaging specialist for Adventist Health. He and Marilyn have two children, Andrew ’91 and Carrie att. Robert (Bobby) McGhee, Jr. ’84 and his wife, Robin, live near Columbus, Ohio,
where he is a pastor at Worthington Adventist Church. “Our two boys are the joy of our lives,” Bobby reports proudly of sons Lucky Day, age 6, and Caspar Knight, age 4. “They’re living large and in charge, loving all of their aunts and uncles, and extended grandparents and cousins.” Bobby fondly recalls his WWU days, especially cruising Umapine in his ’66 Chevelle convertible sta-
tion wagon, programs at Village Hall, mud football, eating at the Pastime or Red Apple, and making lifetime friendships with people like Walt and Bonnie Meske. He enjoys music, sports, ethnic food, gardening, and keeping connected with family and friends. Jaime Rodriguez ’89 and his wife, Linda Abdel-Malek ’89, live in New York City where Jaime is an assistant professor of history at St. John’s University. Linda is a partner at the New York law firm of Moses & Singer and chairs the Healthcare and Privacy practice groups. Jaime and Linda have enjoyed living in Manhattan over the past nearly 20 years and are now happy to be experiencing the city through the eyes of their daughters, Lina and Selma. They remember their time at Walla Walla College with great fondness. Paul Stirling ’85 and his wife, Judith (Stilson) att., live in Port Orchard, Wash. Paul works as a mechanical engineer
for the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. He has traveled for the Navy as the project engineer for a sea water cooling system chemical flush team. From his time at WWU, Paul remembers driving around the rural roads of the Walla Walla Valley with his family on Sabbath afternoons. Paul and Judith have two children, Brynn ’92 and Joel ’95. Dorita (Perry) Tessier ’80 and her husband, Mark ’81, live in Walla Walla. Dorita works at Walla Walla University as the director of leadership giving and campaign. In her spare time, Dorita enjoys scrapbooking, traveling, and spending time with her daughters and grandson. Her favorite college memories include work for Dr. Eichner in public relations and roller skating in Columbia Auditorium. Dorita and Mark have two children, Melissa ’05 and Michelle att.
Lisa (Rodriguez) Villeneuve att. and her husband, Frédéric, live in Cernex, France. Lisa works in the logistic department of MSC, a Swiss cargo shipping company. Lisa was first introduced to living in France when she attended Séminaire Adventiste du Salève (France’s Adventist university) in 1984–85. The couple has two children, Vincent and Mia.
1990s Ed Ammon ’90 and his wife Julie (Padilla) att., live in Castle Rock, Colo., with their son, Jared. Ed is the executive director of the Porter Hospital Foundation at Porter Adventist Hospital. Among the many projects he raises funds for are Kids Alive, a program which assists children who are coping with a parent affected by cancer, and Operation Walk Denver, which assists patients in need of advanced orthopedic surgical treatments in Panama and Guatemala. Vicky (Radke) Duran ’92 and her husband, Michael, live in the Midwest. She is
Kommen Sie mit uns! [Come with us!] Alumni German Reformation Tour
March 2-9, 2011 Join hosts Don and Marti Schneider and fellow alumni for a tour of Germany. Sponsored by the Walla Walla University Alumni Association. $875 per person plus airfare. Includes all ground transportation, hotels, two meals per day, entry to more than 15 tourist sites and travel insurance.
For more information or to register, visit wallawalla.edu/alumni-tour or call 800-377-2586. Summer 2010 Westwind 27
Alumnotes a work-at-home, homeschooling mom who is active at church with children’s ministries. She supports her son Marc’s boys’ choir and is helping her daughter Charity learn violin and piano. During the school year, Vicky teaches other students in her home and tutors on the side. Vicky’s favorite memories are her close circle of friends at KGTS/Positive Life Radio and Dr. Dickinson’s prayers. Jolene (Boyatt) Roeske ’90 and her husband, Reiner, live in Westlake Village, Calif. Jolene works as a teacher at Oaks Christian School. One of her favorite college memories was cooking meals for her brother and his friends in her apartment off campus. Jolene and Reiner enjoy picnicking, mountain biking, and boogie boarding. Jolene and Reiner have two children, Victoria and Max. Lenden Webb ’97 is a managing partner in Webb & Walton, LLP, where he practices business law in San Diego and Fresno, Calif. He was recently sworn into the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. Lenden, his wife, Lorie, and son, Mitchell, enjoy biking, kayaking, surfing, and sailing. His favorite college memories include editing the MASK and late night talks with guys on his halls as an RA.
Class of 2000
Class of 1990
Row 1 Greg Yarlott, Scott von Bergen, Michael Devitt, Denise (Armstead) Colley, Curtis Broderick Row 2 Cheryl (Kronner) Wiley, Constance (Strahle) Corbett, Monty Buell, Felix Tan, Lance Irvine, Ken Busby
2000s Carol (Johnson) Edholm ’00 and her husband, Keith ’02, live in Moses Lake, Wash. In her spare time, Carol enjoys stamp collecting, cross-stitching, and making greeting cards. From her time at WWU, Carol fondly remembers School of Business dean Joanne Wiggins.
Damie (Elder) Hiscock ’09 and her husband, Jared ’10, live in Milton-Freewater, Ore., and are enjoying their busy new life as parents to daughter, Ryann, who was born in November of 2009. They are planning to enter graduate school next year. Damie currently works as the office manager at WWU’s library. Tammie (Hood) Knauff ’02 and her husband Kaleb ’00 live in Nampa, Idaho.
Tammie recently left Pacific Press, where she spent four years as a copy editor, to pursue working at home and spending more time with her girls, Kylie, 3, and Taylor, 1. Tammie plans to do contract copy editing at home and build her photography business, Silent K Photography. Kaleb continues to work in HVAC and general plant maintenance at Pacific Press, where he has worked for almost eight years. Tammie and Kaleb have been married for eight years and enjoy doing things with their girls such as camping, playing at area parks, and swimming. Christie (Medrano) Lang ’07 and Kuyler Lang ’02 were married June 20 in Walla Walla. Christie is the assistant women’s dean at Foreman Hall and Kuyler is a 1&2 grade teacher at Rogers Adventist School. They enjoy cooking and all things Disney. A typical day in their lives consists of teacher talk, art, music, and devotional time with Jesus.
Row 1 Jesse Chan, Tim Berthelsen, Sherah (Arthur) Berthelsen, Jacinthe (deChantal) Maw, Janella (McGhee) Riter, Benjamin Riter 28 Westwind Summer 2010
Carissa (Agena) Ness ’07 and her husband, Reuben ’07, live in Portland, Ore. Carissa works as a substitute teacher in the Vancouver School District. Reuben is finishing his engineering degree at Portland State University and will be starting an internship at Stanley Hydraulics. In her spare time, Carissa enjoys scrapbooking and playing with their Chow ChowGerman Shepherd, Dexter.
In Memory
Axford—Robert ’48 was born Jan. 2, 1923, in Silverton, Ore., and died Oct. 15, 2009, in Kennewick, Wash. Surviving: wife Beatrice (Oster) ’44 of Kennewick; son David ’82 of Yakima, Wash.; daughters Melody ’70 of Prosser, Wash., and Carolee of Kennewick. Beddoe—Stanley att., was born May 20, 1932, in Yakima, Wash., and died July 28, 2009, in Hanford, Calif. Surviving: sons Randy of Hanford, and Richard of Ukiah, Calif.; daughter Renee att. of Napa, Calif.; and brother Marvin ’57 of Escondido, Calif.
Courtesy of WWU Archives ©Walla Walla University
Bighaus—Vivian (Dietrich) ’66 was born Oct. 20, 1943, in Minot, N.D., and died Dec. 25, 2009, in Sandy, Ore. Surviving: husband Phillip att. of Sandy, Ore.; sons Michael of Oregon City, Ore., and Donald of Gresham, Ore.; and brothers Gerald ’62 of Port Orchard, Wash., and Bruce of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Legendary Engineering Professor
F
or 38 years, Glenn W. Masden was known as an academically rigorous professor who thought first of his students. His students valued his expertise and the enjoyment Glenn brought to his subject. Glenn, who served as an engineering professor from 1957 to 1995, passed away June 12, 2010. Glenn was born Jan. 17, 1933, and spent his childhood years on a wheat farm homestead near Adena, Colo. He grew up building his own radios and poring over the pages of Popular Science, which his mother carefully bound. After his high school graduation in 1951, Glenn
Coneff—Jean (Stafford) ’79 was born Oct. 10, 1959, in Memphis, Tenn., and died Oct. 24, 2009, in Caldwell, Idaho. Surviving: husband John of Nampa, Idaho; sons David of Pocatello, Idaho, and Daniel of Caldwell; and father Richard of Nampa. Cramer—Nolan W. ’56 was born Aug. 20, 1933, in Tukwila, Wash., and died Feb. 21, 2010, in Long Beach, Calif. Surviving: wife Anne of Long Beach, Calif.; daughters Sylvia Cramer-Rolla att., of Redlands, Calif., and Linda Sloop att. of Yakima, Wash.; brothers William Cramer att. of Lawai, Hawaii; and sister Ruth att. of Chewelah, Wash. Egolf—George ’66 was born Sept. 30, 1919, in Canora, Saskatchewan, Canada, and died Aug. 25, 2009, in Trail, British Columbia, Canada. Surviving: wife Joyce of Trail; sons Daniel ’89 of Trail, Richard of Abbotsford, British Columbia, and Chris att. of Armstrong, British Columbia; daughter Joy ’79 of Sidney, British Columbia; brothers John of Wilacoochie,
Ga., Fred of Kamloops, British Columbia, and Chris of Pritchard, British Columbia; and sisters Dorothy of Tacoma, Wash., and Lil att. of Somerset, Calif. Flaiz—Phyllis (Cox) ’46 was born Dec. 28, 1921, in Camrose, Alberta, Canada, and died Feb. 25, 2009, in Hermiston, Ore. Surviving: husband Theodore Flaiz of Hermiston; sons Theodore ’68 of Hermiston, and Richard ’74 of Hermiston, Ore.; and daughter Glenda att., of Enterprise, Ore.
received recognition as one of 300 semi-finalists in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search. With a four-year scholarship he attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he received bachelor and master of science degrees in electrical engineering in 1955 and 1958, respectively. In 1984, he earned a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Arizona State University. In the early 1960s, Glenn reworked a government-surplus World War II–era transmitter the college had acquired for its proposed radio station, KGTS. The college used that first transmitter from 1963 to 1970. He was also instrumental in bringing the first academic computer to Walla Walla College in 1972, a PDP 1120 he nursed through multiple daily crashes. In 1993, he was recognized with the Zapara Award for Excellence in Teaching. Glenn is survived by his wife, Martha (Zimmerman) ’60, daughter Linda Vixie ’85 of Colorado Springs, Colo., and son Larry ’86 of Kent, Wash.
Glovatsky—Brandon att., was born April 12, 1985, of Williston, N.D., and died June 9, 2010, in Fairview, Ore. Surviving: wife Bethany (Langston) att., of Fairview; daughter Adriana of Troutdale, Ore.; mother Dianne of Dickinson, N.D.; brother Bryce of Fairview; Marlan att. of Beaverton, Ore.; and sisters Heather of Fairview, and Priscilla of Orlando, Fla. Harrigan—Dorothy ’63 was born Aug. 4, 1919, in Seattle, Wash., and died March 26, 2010, in College Place. Surviving: husband Jerome of Walla Walla, sons Sean of
Corona, Calif., Brian of Star, Idaho, Patrick of Seattle, Wash., and Craig of MiltonFreewater, Ore.; brother John of Seattle; and sister Mildred of New Orleans, La. Hayes—Lana (Agnew) att. was born Feb. 7, 1941, in Olympia, Wash., and died Feb. 11, 2009, in Olympia. Surviving: husband Fred att., of Olympia; sons Carl ’07 of Portland, Ore., and Allen, Shawn, and David, all in Olympia; daughters Biana att., and Danette of Olympia; and sister Shirley att. of Olympia. Hein—Clifford att., was born March 8, 1922, in Enid, Okla., and died April 26, 2010, in Winchester, Ore. Suriviving: wife Alma of Roseburg, Ore.; sons James att., of Roseburg, and George ’78 of Enguera, Spain. Hendrickson—Roy ’51 was born Sept. 8, 1913, in Chicago, Ill., and died March 18, 2010, in Florence, Ore. Surviving: daughters Heather ’62 of Walla Walla and Virginia of Gresham, Ore. Hixson—Kathleen (Kemph)’41 was born July 3, 1919, in Absarokee, Mont., and died Nov. 16, 2009, in Redding, Calif. Surviving: daughters Marilea of Redding, Calif., and Cathy of San Bernandino, Calif.; and brother Floyd of McLeod, Mont. Hoe—Raymond ’60 was born Oct. 9, 1923, in Maui, Hawaii, and died April 1, 2010, in Lihue, Hawaii. Surviving: wife Katherine of Lawai, Hawaii; sons Raymond ’68 of Lihue, David att. of Lawai, and Allen of Honolulu, Hawaii. Klein—Gordon att., was born Dec. 17, 1939, in Arlington, S.D., and died Dec. 28, 2009, in Yucaipa, Calif. Surviving: wife Dona of Loma Linda, Calif.; son Michael of Yucaipa; daughter Karla of Las Vegas, Nev.; brothers Jim ’70 of College Place, and Ed ’66 of Milton-Freewater, Ore.; and sister Wilma att. of Rathdrum, Idaho.
Summer 2010 Westwind 29
In Memory
Lamberton—Ilah Bernice (Wall) att., was born Sept. 29, 1918, in Macrorie, Saskatchewan, Canada, and died April 3, 2010, in Walla Walla. Surviving: sons Dan Lamberton ’71 of Walla Walla, Ronald att. of Charlotte, N.C. , and Henry ’71 of Loma Linda, Calif.; daughters Lynda ’67 of Walla Walla, Bunny ’73 of College Place, and Katie Crane att. of Republic, Wash.; and brother Clifford of Pine Grove, Calif.
Brilliant Medical Educator
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aised on a peach orchard farm on the Columbia River, Thais Thrasher Sadoyama set her sights on medical school, a goal she reached after graduating from Walla Walla University in 1952 with a chemistry major. Thais, also known as “Tish,” received her medical degree in 1957 from Loma Linda University, where she taught pathology from 1971 to 1986. During these years she earned the respect and affection of her students for her excellent training and her personal interest in them. Thais was brilliant in the classroom. She was a very organized pathology lecturer who talked rapidly and wrote notes on the black-
Lofthouse—Eleanor (Roberts) ’49 was born Dec. 30, 1918, in Seattle, Wash., and died Feb. 24, 2010, in Gresham, Ore. Surviving: son Gerald ’74 of Hinsdale, Ill. Martin—Joan Shannon att., was born March 17, 1934, in Republican City, Neb., and died Aug. 5, 2008, in Gresham, Ore. Surviving: husband Ralph ’55 of Gresham, Ore., sons Charles Sr. ’83 of Beaverton, Ore. and Paul att. of Pittsburgh, Calif; and daughter Diana of Pittsburgh, Calif. McConaughey—Mary ’41 was born July 16, 1916, in Galt, Miss., and died May 28, 2010, in Boise, Idaho. Paulson— Bernard ’65 was born Jan. 7, 1942, in White Salmon, Wash., and died Nov. 2, 2009, in Portland, Ore. Surviving: wife Carol (Cobb) att. of Portland; brother Burnell ’59 of Oregon City, Ore.; and sister Bernadine ’60 of Washougal, Wash. Petersen—Clyde Earl ’51 was born Oct. 4, 1925, in Hawarden, Iowa, and died July 6, 2009, in Walla Walla. Surviving: wife Wanda (Hellman) att., of College Place; son Gary ’85 of Walla Walla; and daughter Gail ’86 of Battle Ground, Wash.
30 Westwind Summer 2010
Peterson—Eileen (Lester) ’61 was born April 23, 1937, in Rochester, N.Y., and died July 21, 2008, in Lanham, Md. Surviving: son Glenn “Pete” of Baltimore, Md.; daughter Heather of Greenbelt, Md.; brothers Dean of Long Beach, Calif., and Robert of Loma Linda, Calif.; and sister Llona of Exeter, Calif. Pihl—Kai Harold att., was born Sept. 27, 1916, in Omaha, Neb., and died Sept. 12, 2009, in Lincoln, Calif. Surviving: wife Joyce of Auburn, Calif.; son Thomas of Sacramento, Calif., daughters Aprille att. of San Francisco, Calif., and Sue Ann of Albuquerque, N.M.
board as she lectured. Students recall her exceptional kindness not only during their medical school years but after they left school. Thais and her husband, James Sadoyama, who was also her classmate at Walla Walla University and Loma Linda Medical School, shared their medical careers. They were noted in Loma Linda for their hospitality for students and friends, often having parties for groups of 50. Following another of her medical interests, she became board certified in psychiatry and worked as chief of an outpatient psychiatry clinic from 1990 until retirement in 1997. She and her husband lived most of their retirement years in Walla Walla, where she was a member of the Walla Walla Symphony Board and an active member of the University Church. She and her husband were loyal supporters of various community and church projects. Thais was born on July 25, 1930, and died April 22, 2010, in Walla Walla. She is survived by her husband, Jimmy, and several nieces and nephews.
Pyke—Ted ’62 was born Feb. 2, 1937, in Vancouver, Wash., and died Oct. 10, 2008, in Bryant, Ala. Surviving: daughters Emily of Chattanooga, Tenn. and Nytta Norton att. of Bryant; and brother Dick of College Place. Ringering—Dale ’50 was born Dec. 1, 1927, in Brainerd, Minn., and died Dec. 1, 2009, in Canby, Ore. Surviving: wife Lillian (Koehler) att., of Hubbard, Ore.; daughters Dalene ’73 of College Place, and Candice ’74 of Vancouver, Wash.; brothers Floyd of Oral, S.D., Elmer of Pendleton, Ore., and Don of Graniteville, Vermont; and sisters Elma of College Place, Viola of Long Creek, Ore., and Irene of Beavercreek, Ore.
Shreaves—Edward ’55 was born Oct. 31, 1919, in Metompkin, Va., and died Oct. 22, 2009, in Loma Linda, Calif. Surviving: wife Carmen of Glendale, Calif. Smith—Edith (Leno) ’69 was born Jan. 3, 1923, in Tacoma, Wash., and died Sept. 23, 2009, in College Place. Surviving: husband Delmer ’61 of Milton-Freewater, Ore.; son Lowell of LaCenter, Wash.; daughters Judith ’71 of Milton-Freewater, and Connie ’67 of Portland, Ore.; brothers Aaron of College Place, Arlie of Tacoma, Les of College Place; and sisters Elaine of Maui, Hawaii, and Lorraine of Toledo, Ohio. Spady—Louis ’47 was born June 29, 1923, in Midvale, Idaho, and died Aug. 7, 2009, in Prosser, Wash. Surviving: wife LaRene (Warren) ’46 of Prosser; son Jay ’75 of Port Orchard, Wash.; and daughter Billie Knight ’71 of Grandview, Wash. Sweezey—Robert ’80 was born Sept. 13, 1957, in Upper Lake, Calif., and died Oct. 16, 2009, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Surviving: wife Karen Piper ’83 of Ellicott City, Md., sons Herbert of College Place and Benjamin of Ellicott City; daughter Kathrin of College Place; brother Ed ’79 of Tulsa, Okla.; and sister Rebecca ’95 of Escondido, Calif. Tall—Myrtle (Egelhoff) ’39 was born Dec. 19, 1919, in Denver, Colo., and died March 13, 2009, in Moscow, Idaho. Surviving: daughter Joyce Jordan ’74 of Fairview, Ore. Tall—David “Jim” att. was born Aug. 29, 1950, in Pendleton, Ore., and died Sept. 1, 2009, in Kooskia, Idaho. Surviving: sister Joyce Jordan ’74 of Fairview, Ore. Webster—James L. ’46 was born Jan. 18, 1923, in Chico, Calif., and died April 30, 2010, in Redlands, Calif. Surviving: wife Betty (Knowlton) att., of Redlands; and sons John of Scottsdale, Ariz., and James of Redlands.
Courtesy Loma Linda University Alumni Office
Kyle—Robert ’52 was born April 2, 1923, in Darby, Mont., and died June 5, 2010, in Dayton, Wash. Surviving: son Kendall ’83 of Dixie, Wash.; daughters Kari att., of Bailey, Colo., Kami ’87 of Port Orchard, Wash., Kathi ’90 of College Place, Wash., and Karleen att., of Dayton; brothers Jim of Hamilton, Mont., and Bill of Darby; and sisters Bonny Eichner of College Place, and June Iseminger of Damascus, Ore.
From My Point of View
Why Wait? Autism Ambassadors By Helen Heavirland
Pete Stone
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W
hy wait?” a volunteer asked. After two days in airplanes and airports, 20 volunteers with Maranatha Volunteers International had been introduced to our circle of tents near Beira, Mozambique. We delivered suitcases to assigned tents, were shown bottled water, and enjoyed a hot meal. A few meters away, metal beams stood like a skeleton. The school’s foundation lay ready. Tidy stacks of sun-dried bricks waited. “There’s a couple hours yet this afternoon,” another volunteer added. Suitcases released hard hats, trowels, measuring tapes. Walls began to grow. By supper, we were getting the hang of our work—there was a good start on a long block wall and several sections of brick wall had grown to waist-height. A previously constructed block wall surrounded the compound, which included the building site, tent village, kitchen (of sorts), eating area, six-stall shower and laundry building, and four-stall block outhouse. A guard was stationed by the locked gate. Lying on a comfortable cot that first night, I could have forgotten where I was, but, out the tent’s screened window, Orion hung to the north and upside down from what I was used to. Then a sound—from a distance, the soft beating of African drums. The whisper rolled across the night … the music both peaceful and haunting.
I wondered what the drummers communicated. To me, God spoke: “You’re in Africa—just where I’ve called you for this little time.” Morning had its unique alarm—guinea fowl scratching and squawking. Then other birds. Later, our next-tent neighbor humming, “Oh, victory in Jesus …” Volunteers from 19 to 70-plus years braved the tropical sun day after humid day. A dozen Maranatha employees completed the team—working on roof beams, welding steel bars at appropriate levels in brick walls, cutting bricks and blocks to precise measurements. The builders included a physician, three nurses, and others who’d planned medical clinics as well. We sorted supplies we’d brought—medications, vitamins, eyeglasses—and headed to a church. When we stepped into the sanctuary, the heat was stifling. When our eyes adjusted, we saw people crowding pews and standing in aisles. Only a few years have passed since Mozambique suffered 20 years of civil war. The country, only beginning to rebuild its infrastructure and develop businesses again, defined poverty as a family living on less than the equivalent of $1.00 U.S. per day. With 98 percent of the population meeting that criterion, it’s no wonder many flock to a free clinic. A few patients had problems so severe we could only urge them to go to a hospital. Some patients
couldn’t see clearly—appropriate eyeglasses spread delight across their faces. Others had infections—they received antibiotics and instructions. The majority had malnutrition, aches, pains, or other complaints that could be relieved with sufficient nutritious food and clean water. They received vitamins and instructions. We received grateful smiles and heartfelt thanks. Maranatha is helping meet the desperate need for water by drilling wells beside churches in hundreds of sites around Mozambique. One patient’s husband had been murdered five months previously. For food, this mother depended on neighbors who sometimes brought their leftovers. She came to the clinic with her five malnourished children. The vitamins will help, but they need so much more. That night, many from our group pooled resources. When the mother received a bag of clothing, she cried. Later when we delivered 50-pound bags each of rice, beans, and maize, she sat down and wept. A homeless 11-year-old boy with open sores on both feet hobbled into another clinic. For several days he received baths, antibiotics, bandage changes, and instructions. Now he has hope of not losing his limbs or his life to raging infection. Volunteers also offered to sponsor him at the soon-to-open school. Will this boy get to know Jesus? How will He change his world?
Helen Heavirland, 1969 nursing graduate, served as a student missionary in college and has volunteered on trips to El Salvador, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, and the Solomon Islands. Heavirland has written three books and numerous articles.
What about the other students in this school built to accommodate 400? What about adults who will attend health or literacy classes? What about those who will worship in this multi-use building? The trip changed volunteers as well. A 19-year-old came praying God would use him. A 23-yearold came praying for new life. They became tent-mates and, with the other’s influence, both their prayers were answered. As volunteers, we learned new definitions for the word need. We were reminded that attitude is not dependent upon circumstance. We learned to care about people we’d never known—both nationals halfway around the world we came to serve and volunteers we came to serve with. We saw clearly that we can’t meet all the needs, but we can meet some. We watched joy grace both the served and the server. So … whether the need you see is halfway around the world or next door … why wait? n Summer 2010 Westwind 31
Westwind
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College Avenue Crossings
Adam Innocent
I
t’s like a dream. After weeks of practice, preparation, and five performances, the more than 60 members of the cast and crew were elated when they learned that their spring drama performance of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” had received six awards. The awards were from The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, a national theater education program. They were for direction, stage management, makeup design, sound design, lighting design, and ensemble performance. In addition, two actors were nominated to compete in a KCACTF regional festival in February. Directed by Shane Wood, senior Walla Walla University psychology major, this version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was set in a postapocalyptic world where the line between reality and fantasy is blurred. The show was performed in Village Hall with a larger-than-life set, including a fairy bower stretching 20-plus feet above the stage floor. The show also featured original music written and produced by Ryan Sturges att. The university’s drama program began in 1961, and has expanded to include at least two fully staged plays each year, in addition to the annual Festival of One-Acts and Festival of the Actors. n