Westwind, Summer 2012

Musical Composition

Faculty in First Person

Alumnus of Note

Digital Music Lab p.5

Carl Cosaert p.10

Tony Branson p.30

Westwind The Journal of Walla Walla University Summer 2012

It’s not just a mission statement p.12

ar e Y e h f t p.20 o ni 012 m u 2 Al

Feature: excellence in thought

“I chose to study interactions between humans and horses...

I believed that horses could communicate in meaningful, intentional ways with humans.”

Rachel Scribner, Communications Read about other student research projects.

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Westwind The Journal of Walla Walla University

About the Cover

Jonathan Schreven and two classmates created an automated stator winder. Photography by Bryan Aulick Westwind Summer 2012, Volume 31, Number 2 / Westwind is published three times a year for alumni and friends of Walla Walla University, a Seventh-day Adventist institution. It is produced by Marketing and Enrollment Services/ University Relations. This issue was printed in August 2012. Third-class postage is paid at College Place, Wash. © 2012 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

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From the President

McVay 2.0

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College Avenue

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From the Archives

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Brown Bag

Not just a mission statement

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Alumni Gazette

The latest from across campus

Home Economics, 1928

Faculty research, Carl Cosaert

Excellence in Thought

2012 Alumni of the Year, 22 Homecoming Class Photos, 26 AlumNotes, 28 In Memory, 30 Alumnus of Note, 31 Back to You

College Avenue

From the President

The latest from across campus

McVay 2.0

The Art of Making Music

A Renewed Call

My wife Pam and I started the hike rather late in the afternoon—4:30 to be exact. And I didn’t imagine we would complete the full five-hour trek to Maxwell Lake and back.

Pam, though, decided we were going to make it. There were a lot of twists and turns on the trail. There were moments of grandeur and beauty, inspiring worship and reflection. There was a final, grueling section before we stood on the shores of a stunningly beautiful lake nestled in the Eagle Cap Wilderness near Walla Walla University. On the return hike, the headlamp I had taken along became essential. Pam wore it and I tried to pick my way along in its warm glow! We arrived back safely at 9:10 p.m., blessed and challenged by the trip.

on

brought so many good things to WWU over the past few years, has agreed to serve as a part-time adviser for strategy, mission and vision. Dr. Bryan will help us vision a transforming and robust future for WWU that brings our Seventh-day Adventist commitments into creative engagement with the wider culture.

We turn to you, one of our alumni or university friends, to help guide and support our efforts and plans for the future. There are few institutions that experience the level of alumni loyalty that WWU enjoys. Clearly, one of WWU’s greatest strengths is its alumni. I look forward to visiting with you, and hearing your stories, at our campus events or at alumni events in your region Walla Walla University is at an amazing moment of opportunity, by far the most exciting moment that we have experienced in the last few years. There will be some significant changes in the way we do things and the emergence of new faces leading WWU. Just the sorts of things you would expect when a new president comes to town…or an old one returns with fresh energy and focus!

Cordially, John McVay President Elect

Bryan aulick

We at WWU have been on a journey, a trek with its own twists and turns. We’re not at the same place we were back in December when I went to our Board Chair and requested reassignment to teach in our School of Theology. And I am not at the same place either. I’ve had months to mull and pray. And, inevitably, part of those reflections have centered on “What would I do different if I had the opportunity to tackle the assignment again?”

As Pam and I have pondered the invitation to again serve as president, we have felt a fresh call to a new journey. While I would have been happy—thrilled, even—to remain in the School of Theology, there is an undeniable draw to return to the presidency. I look forward to serving WWU for some time. And I hope to take this new trek with energy and verve.

These days I’m often asked a question like this, “Given your time to reflect and your sense of a ‘fresh call to the challenge,’ how will your second term be different?”

It is my intention that it be much more focused on four priorities that I believe are crucial for the next stage in our institutional journey: 1. Vision, mission and strategic planning.

2. Building philanthropy.

3. Working closely with the vice presidents.

4. Communing and communicating with faculty, staff and students on all our campuses. I know that I will hear many great stories, like the ones you will read in this edition of Westwind. And I look forward to sharing them with you.

And I look forward to some excellent help to accomplish this redeployment of my efforts. I look forward to naming a parttime assistant with executive experience who can share some of the workload. I am pleased as well that Dr. Alex Bryan, who has

Students compose complex pieces with composition software

the second floor of the Melvin K. West Fine Arts Center in a 21 x 13 foot room, students are creating compositions for a full orchestra and listening to simulated performances of their creations without leaving their chairs. Over the past several years, the Department of Music has quietly been building a state-of-the-art digital music lab.

The lab was started six years ago with the help of Steve Moor, then a religion major with a love for music. “This was his brainchild,” says Gary Rittenbach, director of academic computing and Moor’s work supervisor at the time. Moor proposed that Information Services provide the computing hardware and the Department of Music purchase the computer software, digital music libraries, and hardware upgrades.

“My thought was that our music department at that time was only equipped to give students a career in music education, or in performance, both of which are competitive fields, and both of which have shrinking job markets,” says Moor, who now teaches at Tualatin Valley Academy in Hillsboro, Ore. “I believed that the music department could reinvent itself, by creating a whole new program for original music creation, not just replication.”

Now, the digital music lab consists of eight computers with matching full 88-key electronic keyboards. The computers are equipped with three topnotch composition programs: Sibelius, Finale, and Pro Tools.

Karin Thompson, chair of the Department of Music, sees the lab as an integral part of music students’ education. “Being able to keep up with technology is both a necessity and an advantage,” says Thompson. “Our students should be able to use the technological tools that will assist them not only in

their immediate academic work, but provide a foundation for skills that will make them competitive in the future.”

Lyn Ritz, professor of music, worked with Moor and Rittenbach to make the lab a reality. Her students use the programs for music theory, counterpoint, and orchestration classes. Students can write a piece in professional sheet music format in Sibelius, and then take the piece to Pro Tools where they can experiment with other sounds and tweak the instrumentation. Pro Tools uses digital music libraries to reproduce the sounds of every symphonic instrument.

“Fifty years ago, you needed lots of instruments in a soundproof room to record an orchestra piece,” says Jeremy Irland, adjunct voice professor.

“Now you can do it in a basement with a keyboard.”

In the digital music lab, students have the opportunity to experiment with the same programs used by professional composers. Films can even be imported into Pro Tools so that the score can be composed to sync with a movie.

Composers also use the program to create demos before recording pieces live.

Orchestrated pieces can be reduced to a piece for piano, and vice versa.

Kelsey Zuppan, a junior music and nursing major, uses the programs for both classwork and recreation.

“The programs are imperative to finishing assignments and composing for various classes,” says Zuppan. “I have also found them useful if I feel inspired to try and write something random down that I hear in my head and don’t want to forget.”

Because of their complexity, the programs come with a learning curve.

“It took a few projects to really get a good sense of how to set up everything and make all the little adjustments to the music for it to fit exactly what you have in your head,” says Zuppan.

On August 1, the Walla Walla University Board of Trustees invited John McVay to reassume his role as university president. He will officially step into this role, January 1, 2013.

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listen to a composition: Westwind.wallawalla.edu

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College Avenue The latest from across campus

New Vice President Named Scientist Bob Cushman leads university’s academic program What does a paleobiologist do? Ask Bob Cushman. He is one, and beginning in August, Cushman is also Walla Walla University’s new vice president for academic administration.

Before his appointment, Cushman was chair of the university’s Department of Biological Sciences, where he also taught biology classes. In addition, he has taught classes in the School of Education and for the General Studies Honors program at WWU. As chair, he says he cherished the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of both students and faculty.

“I believe that faculty and students are our most valuable resource,” Cushman says. “I derive great satisfaction from giving faculty the opportunities and tools they need to meet their professional goals and dreams. They in turn mentor the students as they pursue their life dreams.”

Cushman’s enthusiasm for leading academic endeavors is matched by his passion for his professional area of expertise.

Paleobiology blends the methods of contemporary biology and the historical methods of earth science and paleontology. His research interests include reconstructing ancient lake ecosystems by integrating data from both rocks and fossils to better understand the history and interactions of the plants and animals that comprised that ecosystem.

“I love doing science and studying the world around us in a systematic way. It is fascinating to look beneath the surface and understand more com-

Clocking In For most students, clocking in to a job is just part of the collegiate experience. And for some students who learn professional job skills at the same time, the experience can be one of the highlights of their college years.

Walla Walla University offers one of the most active work-study programs in the state of Washington. The program has three components: the federal work-study program, the state employment program, and campus employment.

The federal and state employment programs are designed to encourage businesses and community service organizations to hire students for existing positions or create new ones.

Businesses can receive state assistance

Proof in the Numbers Number of female

mathematics majors double the number of men

pletely how nature works,” says Cushman.

Cushman is looking forward to bringing the same passion to his role as the university’s chief academic officer responsible for all the academic programs WWU offers.

Cushman is a 1975 WWU biology graduate. His dedication for lifelong learning and academics was ignited by faculty and mentors during his time as a student at WWU. He holds a doctoral degree in geology from the Colorado School of Mines and a master’s degree in geology from Loma Linda University.

Cushman began his professional career as an exploration and operations geologist in the private sector. He moved into academics as an assistant professor of geology in the Department of Earth and Biological Sciences at Loma Linda University. He later began honing his leadership skills first as associate chair, and then chair, of the LLU Department of Earth and Biological Sciences.

for student wages. In Walla Walla, organizations such as Baker Boyer Bank, Washington Division of Children and Family Services, and Campfire USA have hired WWU students.

Twyla Kruger, student employment manager, also says businesses often use the program as a screening tool for future employees. “We’re proud that outside entities have recognized our students as outstanding employees,” Kruger says.

While these off-campus work positions are attractive, sometimes the convenience and opportunities a campus job offers just can’t be overlooked. WWU hired 1,000 to 1,100 student employees during the 2011–12 year, according to the most recent official records. Doug Taylor, associate director of student financial services, stated that in comparison to other universities and states, WWU has the highest starting wage. The average total wages earned by

a student last year was $3,064.32.

Student employment not only helps cover college costs, but the experience helps students enhance college grade point averages and gives them job skills such as time management.

Devon Hunt, senior music major, works as the enrollment assistant supervisor for Marketing and Enrollment Services. He says his job allows him to develop professional skills while working in a nurturing environment. “I receive a lot of support from supervisors who helped me succeed.” he says.

During WWU’s annual National Student Employment Week, the university honors student employees and also names a Student Employee of the Year. As this year’s honoree, Jason Uren, industrial design major, received a $750 scholarship for his work as head of the floor care crew in the Custodial Department.

Are men better at mathematics than women? Although research studies have determined the gender gap is a myth, enduring biases may keep some females from pursuing mathematics studies.

Not the women studying mathematics at Walla Walla University. In the last five years, the number of women in the department has grown steadily, reaching 18 spring quarter this year, twice the number of men enrolled in the program. Five years ago, program enrollment numbered 18 men and nine women.

“Not only did the women catch up to the men, but surpassed them,” says Ken Wiggins, chair of the Mathematics Department.

He can’t quantify the primary reason for this trend, but he assumes they are hearing more about the reputation of the department. “Our department is extremely strong because we provide for the best and brightest,” he says. “Most freshmen entering the program have nearly perfect GPAs. When these students take the standard Major Field Test as seniors, they consistently score in the 95th percentile,” Wiggins says.

“We are very proud of our students.”

In recent years, one campus venue has provided a stage to see female mathematics and sciences students in action. Lindsay Kelstrom, a 2011 bioengineering graduate who also earned a mathematics minor, is the current record holder of the Randy Yaw Pi Contest held annually during Alumni Homecoming Weekend. In 2011, Kelstrom recited 1,769 digits in her fourth consecutive win. Kelstrom broke the record of 1,051 digits set in 2000 by Hui En Pham, 2002 engineering graduate. This year’s contest winner is also a female student. Freshman Rebekah Platner recited 571 digits.

As one of 13 nursing students, Alicia Trtez vaccinated children at Riverside Adventist Academy.

Destination India

To innoculate children against life-threatening diseases, nursing students and sponsors are taking immunizations trips After summer jobs and vacations, 13 students will travel to eastern India in September for the Walla Walla University School of Nursing’s third immunizations trip to the region. The team will be returning to Riverside Adventist Academy, a sister school to the university, to administer the last vaccines to students.

According to Rosemarie Buck Khng, professor of nursing, three visits were necessary to provide the major vaccinations. Khng is one of four nursing faculty and five other additional team members.

After finishing the vaccines at Riverside Adventist Academy, the group will travel to Irvine School in the state of Assam to begin immunizations there.

The benefits of the immunizations are already evident. “We were told of one boy this year at Riverside who had an open injury to his foot and did not receive treatment until it was a seriously infected wound,” says Khng. “Had he not received vaccines from us the previous year, he

likely would have contracted tetanus, which is life-threatening.”

Despite roadblocks on previous trips, Khng says it has been evident that God was in control. During the team’s second visit in March, a suspension foot bridge near the school collapsed when more than 70 people were trying to go across.

Thirty-nine schoolchildren and two WWU team members fell into the Didram River. Miraculously, despite some serious injuries, everyone survived. “Many of the nursing students who go on these trips have never been on a mission trip before,” says Khng. “It is exciting to see the spark for public service lit by these trips. The bonds that are created between nursing students and the children there is a beautiful thing.”

As long as there is interest and willing donors can be found, the School of Nursing has decided to continue the project at other Seventh-day Adventist academies throughout India. “By the time we are ready to go on each trip, I am saying this will be the last one, as the preparation process is so arduous,” says Khng. “But by the time we return, I am excited to start planning the next one.”

For more information, visit facebook.com/india.immunizations Creating bonds with children was just one of the trip’s rewards.

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Hear from employers: Westwind.wallawalla.edu

Westwind Summer 2012

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College Avenue The latest from across campus

&

Books Sites Reading and browsing recommendations from our experts

Outliers: The Story of Success

By Malcolm Gladwell (Little, Brown and Company, 2008)

What makes a person successful? For one, practice, practice, practice—at least 10,000 hours, according to author Malcolm Gladwell. Through stories about successful achievers, from the Beatles and Mozart, to Bill Gates and junior hockey players, Gladwell unravels all the elements that contribute to personal achievement. —Tamara Randolph, Associate Professor of Education

Then Everything Changed: Stunning Alternate Histories of American Politics

WEC Makeover

Students returning fall quarter will be pleasantly surprised by the renovation of the Winter Educational Center’s main floor restroom and locker facilties.

The $800,000 renovation project includes finishing touches such as motionactivated sinks, soap dispensers, and toilets. Expansive and private locker room areas will include new lockers and even swimsuit spinners that dry swimsuits almost instantaneously.

People First

It may be a cliché, but Walla Walla University is about people. Every year the university honors just a few of the faculty, staff, and students who are especially deserving of recognition for their contributions to the campus.

blogger. Ross says he asked Microsoft for the opportunity. “I told them I would be blogging from a student perspective and show the possibilities that the Microsoft Imagine Cup holds,” Ross says.

Honduras Partners

They may not be the ones drawing the plans or digging the foundations, but through their financial support, more people are joining in the Hope for Honduras project sponsored by the WWU chapter of Engineers Without Borders. Through a spring fundraiser, event organizers, including at left, auctioneer Gale Crosby, raised $10,000.

Blogging From Down Under Engineering student Rory Ross covered Microsoft’s Imagine Cup in Sydney, Australia, as the sole student

Introducing the Class of 2012 Yes, there are always a few graduates who marry within days of receiving their diploma. But having a baby?

Ambra and Christopher Bryant missed commencement as Ambra was released from the hospital that morning, along with the couple’s new baby. The new mom and dad were two of more than 400 students in the Class of 2012.

Find these stories online at westwind.wallawalla.edu

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By Jeff Greenfield (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2012)

What if Robert Kennedy had not been killed at the hotel in California in 1968? How would Lyndon B. Johnson have handled the Cuban missile crisis? Author Jeff Greenfield explores these and other American political history scenarios in this novel. It’s a fascinating read delving into how much history could have changed through different outcomes. —David Bullock, Professor of Communication

Baseball: The People’s Game

By Harold and Dorothy Seymour (Oxford University Press, 1990)

Using a metaphorical “House of Baseball,” Harold and Dorothy Seymour examine the non-professional aspects of baseball in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The authors describe the game as a house where boys provide the foundation; prison baseball players and Native Americans occupy the basement; and softball players, military baseball players, industrial players, collegians, and town teams occupy the “ground” floor. Women players are relegated to the annex, and AfricanAmericans occupy an outbuilding. The authors have produced a thoroughly researched, poetically written, and informative social history of baseball. —Terry Gottschall, Professor of History

Freerice.com

Answer a few questions at this site, and you’ll improve your knowledge and also help provide rice to hungry people.

Take quizzes on subjects ranging from geography, chemistry, and sciences, and for each correct answer, the organization donates 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. —Melodie Selby, Assistant Professor of Engineering

the

From the Archives / If memory serves

Home Economics

1928

Courtesy wwu archives

In 1928, the Home Economics Department was still in its infancy as an academic discipline, and a campus cottage served as a practice laboratory for the department’s first students.

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Brown Bag / Faculty in first person

Carl P. Cosaert professor, biblical studies

S

hortly after I published my recent book on Paul’s letter to the Galatians, I was asked to participate with a group of international Adventist scholars authorized to publish a new Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary. I assumed, at first, that they wanted me to write on Galatians. To my surprise, I was asked to prepare a commentary on First and Second Timothy. To be honest, I was completely taken off guard.

First Timothy is a book full of controversial issues, particularly with the relationship of the role of women and the issue of adornment. Additionally, critical scholars do not believe Paul actually wrote the letter; they claim it is a later forgery. So, no matter what a person says about First Timothy, someone is bound to strongly disagree with you.

Since I had researched and wrote about Paul’s other letters in the past, I had managed to avoid tackling the theological mine fields associated with First Timothy. Knowing all the challenges associated with First Timothy, I was hesitant to accept the opportunity at first. I knew it would be a difficult project. After praying about the opportunity, I accepted the invitation. And now nearly two years later, I’m glad I did. Although this assignment has not been easy, my time with Timothy has been extremely rewarding. In the process, I’ve reached several conclusions.

After systematically evaluating the evidence, there is no question in my mind that Paul, along with the help of a scribe, is the author of First and Second Timothy. The more difficult issue was trying to understand Paul’s comments about women in chapter two. What really helped me with that issue was a better understanding of the historical circumstances that prompted Paul’s letter in the first place. Paul’s letters were not written in a historical vacuum. They were written in response to real-life situations that Paul, under the guidance of the Spirit, was trying to provide solutions to. In the case of First Timothy, Paul was dealing with a group of erring church elders in Ephesus, elders who had gone astray spiritually, just had Paul has foreseen several years earlier (Acts 20:29-30).

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In any case, Paul was certainly not prohibiting all women everywhere from teaching men. That could hardly be the case because Paul often talks positively in his other letters about women who were engaged in ministry along with him. In Acts 18, Paul writes of Priscilla and her husband Aquila who instruct Apollos in the truth. He writes about the four daughters of Phillip who prophesy.

And in 1 Corinthians 11:5, Paul talks of women who pray and prophesy in the church.

Paul’s letters were not written in a historical vacuum.

They were written in response to reallife situations.

Paul’s notorious passage about women in the church is best understood in this context. Instead of prohibiting all women everywhere from any kind of teaching role within the church over men, Paul was correcting a heretical situation associated with the false teachers in Ephesus. It appears that a number of the believing women in Ephesus had become not only devotees of the false teachings plaguing the believers in Ephesus, but advocates of it as well. This false teaching was discounting aspects of creation by forbidding marriage and the eating of food created

by God for human consumption (1 Timothy 4:3), as well as claiming that the resurrection had already occurred (2 Timothy 2:18). These views were encouraging some women in Ephesus to advocate for radical forms of equality, or even female domina-

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tion, that not only threatened gender relations, but even challenged the foundational teachings of the apostolic church. Paul’s reference to the creation account serves as a corrective to such false teachings and calls for women to show respect to men since Eve was taken from the man Adam. These women were certainly not qualified to do any teaching in the church.

While I’m sure I won’t avoid having a bull’s eye placed on me for some of the positions I have taken in my commentary, I’m hopeful that my work on First and Second Timothy will become a helpful reference for individuals trying to better understand Paul’s comments and to apply them to life today.

Note: The Seventh-day Adventist International Bible Commentary will be published in five languages (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian) with the first few volumes available in 2015 at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Other WWU faculty writing for this project include John McVay, professor of biblical studies, and Pedrito Maynard-Reid, professor of biblical studies and missology.

Bryan aulick

Paul’s words find historical context— with a practical application.

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Frances Leaf, Biology

How Do Proteins Regulate a Cell’s Transition From Growth to Development?

“My project involves a soil-growing amoeba called Dictyostelium discoideum, or dicty. This slime mold usually lives as a single-cell amoeba, crawling around the forest floor by itself. However, when it starves, it aggregates with other dicty cells, and they differentiate into stalk and spore cells.

These dicty aggregations creatively stick to animals passing by to help them get from a place with no food to another that is plentiful with bacteria to eat. The growth-to-development transition is what we’re interested in… how it goes from a single cell to forming this fruiting body.

Dicty is a good model organism to understand stem cells in humans because they both have similar mechanisms in their growth-to-development transition. Replicating stem cells result in a large pool of undifferentiated cells, but when they encounter a particular stimulus they turn into the type of cell that is needed in the body. For dicty, the stimulus is starvation. Dicty uses an ubiquitin-proteasome pathway to help degrade certain proteins at this transition stage.

By experimentation we now know what these proteins are and are currently trying to do experimentation to find out what they do in the cell and why the cell wants to get rid of them.”

It’s not just a mission statement— student research gains well-deserved recognition.

by Amy Wilkinson / photography by Bryan Aulick

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It

consumes them for weeks, months.

A notion. A question. A puzzle.

Theorizing. Experimenting. Collecting.

Quantifying. And then, one day, under the harsh glare of halogen, or in a pristine petri dish, or on a smudged MacBook Pro screen, it is born, often with too little fanfare, revelry, or recognition beyond that of its creator. ¶ Such is the oftendesolate lifecycle of research. ¶ To most Walla Walla University students and alumni, hands-on experience is nothing new. Supervised research has long been a key component of the university’s academic program, though until recently, it operated largely within a departmental vacuum.

(The business student knows not what the biology student is doing.) ¶ That’s so last decade.

Daniel Biesenthal, Nathan Reeves, and Jonathon Schreven, Engineering

Automated Stator Winder “Our senior project was a computer-controlled stator winder for a company out of Utah called Jet. A stator is the center part of an electric motor where the copper wire is wrapped. They approached us because they are a small upstart company, and the cost of a commercial machine was far too great of an investment to put their money into. It would take 16 hours to wrap the stator by hand. So they wanted a simpler solution. They came to us with this idea, and we divided it into three parts: Jon developed the wire-wrapping mechanism, Nathan developed all the control systems and programming finishing, and I handled the locking mechanism and the table to move the stator back and forth and position it. We created this machine, and we currently have a working prototype that’s theoretically able to do it. There’s still some finishing that needs to be done.”

The 2011–12 school year witnessed the first-ever University Academic Symposium, a program which gave a select group of students the opportunity to present their findings to an audience of peers and university academics.

Participating in the symposium was a privilege—not a right. Interested students (many of them seniors) were required to submit project proposals to their department chairs, who then sent the strongest scholars’ onto the symposium committee, which made the final selections.

But this fleeting moment of public recognition wasn’t the only motivating factor for participating, according to Cheris Current, program organizer and associate professor of social work.

“Students were motivated to participate because it allowed them to acquire some experience in presenting at an academic conference,” she says.

“Being selected was an honor as it confirmed that the work that they did was exceptional.”

Add to that the mostly solitary nature

of research, and students were keen to show and tell. “Completing a major research project is isolating, and you generally feel like no one cares about this topic that you have spent months on,” Current says. “I think this conference allowed students to see that people were interested in the projects that consumed them for so long.”

Ultimately, 21 students presented their projects at the University Academic Symposium. Here, once again, they explain their work in their own words.

Nathan Reeves, Math

A Ranking and Prediction System for College Football “I began with statistics that are commonly available on the NCAA website, and current ranking systems that are available by newspapers. I combined them all together to make a new ranking system. What it’s supposed to do is more accurately reflect which team is better than another team and what that allows me to do is predict the outcome of Bowl games at the end of the season.

Most of the popular rankings are done by people—coaches or media peo-

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ple—and then there’s also the BCS [Bowl Championship Series] ranking, which is done by computer system. It’s the ranking that’s actually used to determine who goes to what Bowl game. So what my ranking does is combine those two: the human element, where people are able to look at film and see which team has certain things they like better, as well as a more statistical approach where we use things that are quantifiable so that we can tell based on actual performance what’s happening. Theoretically, those combined with the right proportion should give us a ranking system that actually reflects what team is better.

It works pretty well. It’s not perfect, but it does work better than any of the current major systems at telling what team will actually beat another team.”

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Kevin Villarreal, Music

Three Dances “My project was called ‘Three Dances.’ It was three-movement character pieces that were supposed to be varied, like a fast movement, a slow movement, and then different time signatures. One of the things that I wanted to try to do was incorporate different cultures into mine, so I based it on my heritage.

My dad is Mexican, and my mom is German and French, so I used those three different dances from those three different cultures. I play saxophone—that’s my major instrument—so I wanted to do something for sax and piano. The piece I wrote was part of a composition class I took at Whitman College.”

Kathryn Currier and Roland Hill, Engineering

Bottles to Buildings: Community Center in Honduras “We designed a community center on the island of Roatan, Honduras.

Although we were primarily focused on the structural aspect of the design, we also created a floor plan and other architectural aspects of the building. Our building design was unique in that it incorporated the use of plastic bottles, which had been left as litter on the local beaches.

Because the bottles do not have any real structural value, we basically had to design a frame that could hold up sections of bottle walls and withstand both hurricane-force winds and earthquakes.

The original idea for the project came from Dr. Steve Dunbar, the founder of Protector, which is an organization that is trying to clean up beaches in Honduras where sea turtles nest. Dunbar saw some examples of other buildings in South America that were built out of bottles, and he thought this would be a good use for the bottles he was removing from the beaches in Honduras. He approached our engineering school because he thought it would make a good project.

The design we came up with incorporated alternating masonry block walls and bottle wall sections.

The masonry blocks provide structural strength and the bottles help to reduce the cost of the building and provide a use for the former trash.”

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Heidi Reich, History

Cutting the Ability to Worry Out of the Brain: The Lobotomy and Dr. Walter Freeman in the American Press

Joe Hughes, Physics

Stephanie Smith, Technology

Conic Sections in the Double-Slit Experiment

Walla Walla Foodie

“My research was a different derivation of the equations that cover constructive interference in Young’s Double-Slit Experiment. The bullet point is there is a standard deviation that makes approximations. Those approximations get you close to the right answer, but you can solve the equations exactly using conics—which are actually equations that most of us learned in high school geometry—you find something that’s a little bit more nuanced than the standard deviation in textbooks.

If you take the asymptotes, which are like approximations of my equations, you get the result that Young did when he originally published back in the 19th century, so my equations are a little bit more accurate than his.”

“I created an interactive spin-wheel map and tablet app as a restaurant guide to Walla Walla. Basically, I looked at what restaurants we had and what other websites, maps, and applications looked at restaurants, such as Urbanspoon, Yelp, and the Chamber of Commerce.

For the spin-wheel map, I sat down and sketched a lot of images that weren’t just plain square posters. I wanted it to be more complex than that, be something of intrigue that people actually wanted to come up and touch and experience. Once I did that, I sat down with the program InDesign and laid out 90-plus pages for a tablet app. Then I used a plug-in called Adobe Solution and linked in between pages in the application and other websites, and so on the tablet app you can look at the vertical orientation of the tablet, and you can see information about the restaurant, and the horizontal orientation is a map color-coordinated between the five sections: breakfast, lunch, fine dining, coffee, and dessert.”

The Rest of the Best Read more about other research projects at westwind.wallawalla.edu

Erica Allison, Social Work / Young Adults’ View of Marital Roles: Traditionalism Versus Egalitarianism

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Kelvin Bidwell & Michael Noel, Engineering / Completely Embedded Software Defined Radio Joanna Cowles, Biology / Is the Isopod Pentidotea Resecata Photosynthetic?

Kati Greer, History / Picketing Instead of Purchasing: Seattle CORE’s Fight for Employment Equality and the DEED Campaign

Chelsea Hardesty, Psychology / The Influence of Personality Traits on Creativity and Creative Expression Nathaniel Johnson, Art / Drawing and Painting Digitally: Fundamentals Do Apply

Shanoah Maine, Psychology / The Relationship Between Positive Media and Implicit Attitudes Toward Homosexuality Jessica McCluskey, Business / Market Research: WWU Church and the Youth of WWU

“My project was analyzing the development of the lobotomy and how Walter Freeman played a role in developing it in combination with the media. So I was looking at his promotion of the lobotomy procedure to the media and then how the media took that and promoted it to the general public. Without his role, the lobotomy wouldn’t have reached the success it did. During the first 15 years between 1936 [and 1951], more than 18,500 lobotomies were performed in the U.S. alone. After that, it just fell off dramatically, and it had to do with how the media changed its perspective and its presentation to the public… [Freeman] wrote prolifically about the lobotomy, but his writings never would have affected the general public in the way that newspapers [did].

The publications I looked at specifically were The New York Times and Time magazine. They were using language that implied positive attributes even if they weren’t directly speaking in support of the lobotomy. I was looking at the correlations between the Freeman-media connection and the corresponding number of lobotomies performed during those years.”

Rachel Scribner, Communications / Horses as Healers: An Interactionist Look at Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy Danielle Shull, English / Living in the Late Frontier: A Daughter of Alaskan Refugees

Westwind Summer 2012

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Alumni Gazette

1982 Graduate

Pam Rasmussen

Staying in touch with our family of graduates

2 1 20 ni m u l A he of t r Yea es, raduat fy g g n i tand mpli of outs ew who exe y c a g f e ct nt ts l From i onors a sele y achieveme h r a U WW extraordin pact. and im

by Nancy

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1992 Graduate

Gina Jervey-Mohr When a person grows up in the Walla Walla area—attending Rogers Elementary, Walla Walla Valley Academy, and Walla Walla University—she can truly call this valley home.

After graduating in 1992 with an English major, Gina moved from Walla Walla to earn her medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine. There she married Lance Mohr, a 1991 WWU graduate and a fellow classmate, and completed her residency in Family Medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center, and then became a professor.

During her medical training, Gina saw a real need that stirred her compassion for others.

There seemed to be a lack of adequate pain and symptom management for seriously ill and dying patients. Determined to improve end-of-life care for these patients and their families, Gina became interested in palliative medicine, and eventu-

ally developed the Palliative Care Program at Loma Linda University Medical Center. In addition to focusing on the physical pain these patients endure, the program also takes into consideration their emotional, social, and spiritual suffering. The center’s palliative care program was one of the first of its kind in the region. It currently treats more than 1,000 patients annually, and is growing.

In the classroom, Gina is a brilliant lecturer and a valued mentor to her students. And in the community, residents may know her from a radio broadcast she has hosted, called “Ask Your Doctor.”

In 2003, Gina received the Award of Excellence from the Southern California Cancer Pain Initiative. The award states: “She is a role model to all of those familiar with her work. She is very dedicated to caring for the whole person and focuses on physical as well as emotional needs of the patient and the caregiver.” She was further honored as the first recipient of Loma Linda University Medical Center’s Whole Person Care Award, which is given annually to the physician who most exemplifies caring for the complex needs of his or her patients.

In 2009, Gina was appointed director of clinical ethics at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Gerald Winslow, a former WWU faculty member who has known Gina since her childhood, says, “Dr. Mohr is the kind of physician most people would wish to have in their service, and she is a leader in educating the next generations of physicians.”

watch video: Westwind.wallawalla.edu

1952 Graduate

Don Kirkman When a graduate leaves Walla Walla University, the world is full of possibilities. While some may dream big, their beginnings are often humble.

Such was the case for graduate Don Kirkman.

After completing a degree in architectural engineering, his first job was working for Professor Edward F. Cross. His salary? One dollar per hour. When he and his wife, Alice (Phillips), had their first child, he paid Dr. Potts’ delivery fee by moonlighting, plastering the doctor’s milking barn. But things began to change when Don moved his family to Denver, Colo., and began his own design and construction business.

His firm has since designed and supervised the construction of more than 300 projects valued at over $435 million. These include houses, apartment buildings, churches, hospitals, schools, dormitories, gymnasiums, office buildings, and medical and dental facilities. He has also developed, built, owned, and operated several assisted living, nursing, and retirement homes. Don is licensed to practice architecture in 38 states and has provided services in countries such as Canada, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Guam, Central America, and the Caribbean.

In 1982, he began designing and developing projects for Wedgwood.

But it’s not all about business. Don is also an active volunteer. He has served as president of International Children’s Care, Inc. based in Vancouver, Wash. He has built, owned, and operated orphanages in Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Mexico. He has served as a board member of the Weimar Institute, and as a director for Maranatha Volunteers. Don has also supplied hundreds of plans for small church congregations in the United States at little or no cost.

Now living in Auburn, Wash., Don and Alice enjoy their five children (all of whom attended WWU) and their nine grandchildren. They also sponsored a girl, Alice Marie, who lived in one of the five large orphanages built by Maranatha.

She has now graduated from high school and will attend medical school.

Don believes that WWU prepared him well for all he has accomplished. He says, “The joy and fulfillment of being part of the spreading of the gospel by using the training and skills I received at Walla Walla has pretty much been the story of my career.”

She is a prominent ornithologist, an expert on Asian birds, an author, and a former research associate at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Pam Rasmussen now lives in Michigan and is assistant curator at the Michigan State University Museum, a natural science and culture museum. She also serves as assistant professor in the Department of Zoology, and has had the opportunity to lead Study Abroad programs to Uganda, Madagascar, Antarctica, Costa Rica, and Borneo. Her husband, Mike, is an associate professor of geology at MSU. Pam received both a bachelor’s of science and master’s of science degree in biology from Walla Walla University. Then, from the University of Kansas, she received a second master’s degree as well as a doctorate in systematics and ecology.

Pam says, “Walla Walla University provided a lot of great opportunities, like the student missionary position I took to Kenya, where I taught English and biology. That was my first experience in the tropics and Africa and cemented my passion for ornithology in the tropics.” When she returned from Kenya, she became a teaching assistant in the biology department— a job she says gave her good experience for the teaching she is doing now.

Pam was given the honor of assisting S. Dillion Ripley, former secretary of the Smithsonian, on a book project. When he became ill, Pam took over and is the main author of “Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide,” a two-volume bird guide. During her research, she examined tens of thousands of bird specimens. The book is known as a landmark publication due to its expansive geographical and species coverage.

Pam finds it hard to separate her job from her hobbies. “I’ve been birding since I was a kid,” she says, “but only started sound-recording in a serious way a few years ago.” This summer she’ll be doing field work in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

1962 Graduate

Wendell White In the summer of 1943, 5-year-old Wendell White took a trip with his grandparents. In his words, “We had no idea that this trip would change our lives and be the start of a 60-year adventure.”

They traveled to look at a six-bed nursing home for sale in Grants Pass, Ore. After they purchased it, Wendell lived

in the back of the home with his grandparents, mother, brother, and sister. Grandma cared for the six patients while Grandpa added on more rooms. Wendell’s job was mowing the lawn. But he also developed friendships with the patients, and some of them even helped him with his homework. They also shared meals together, like one big family.

By the time Wendell graduated from Walla Walla University in 1962, his Grandpa had built a new 102-bed facility, and they asked Wendell to be the administrator. Three years later, Wendell returned to the Walla Walla Valley to start his own nursing home in Milton-Freewater, Ore. Almost 10 years later, he purchased the House of Care in Portland, Ore., and served as its administrator. Then in 1984, he and his partner, Gary Clark, started their own construction company and built The Terrace at Town Center Village. More construction followed: The Fountains, The Gables, The Towers, and The Clubhouse.

After his partner’s unexpected death, Wendell’s children bought Gary’s half of TownCenter Village. A new family partnership eventually developed, called appropriately Generations—in honor of the four generations involved in senior care, and of the many generations of people they have served.

Wendell’s wife, Betsy, is an active participant.

Now recognized as a leader in the senior housing industry in the Northwest, Generations operates two skilled-nursing homes, three Alzheimer care facilities, 11 congregate and independent apartment buildings, 11 assisted-living facilities, and a Home Care company.

And one of Generations facilities, Wheatland Village, is located in Walla Walla.

Just as Wendell worked in that first six-bed nursing home, he says, “My kids have always worked around our facilities doing all the little jobs that need to be done. Having my children involved in our business has been the key to our growth and success.”

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Alumni Gazette

S Class of 1957

Staying in touch with our family of graduates

Homecoming Class Photos

Row 1: Carl Crawford, Helen (Lund) Willhelm, Evelyn (Domke) Riegert, Row 2: Muriel (Walker) Brenneise, Carolyn (Schutt) Roberts, Bernece (Olson) New, Dorothy (Gerling) Blodgett, Ruth Christensen, Marilynn (Miller) Ochsner, Jackie (Esteb) Ladd, Lois (Haraden) Hellie, Row 3: Nathan Brenneise, Louis A. Johnson, Don Bohlman, Richard Tompkins, Ralph Roberts, Rich Roberts, Robert Ochsner, Don M. Gibson, Michael Pestes, Melvin Johnson, Row 4: Veryl Drury, C. Elwyn Platner, Dan Matthews, Robert Sproed, Franklin Godfrey, Griffith Thomas, Vic Fitch, and William “Bill” Smith.

Each year at Alumni Weekend, the years melt away as members of honor classes reconnect— and pose for posterity.

R Vanguards

Row 1: Olen Nations, 1952; Mary (Spenst) Nations, 1953; Elaine (Skinner) Derby, 1947; Frances McRae (Moorman), 1955; Jean (Klokeid) Barnes, 1955; Ralph Garner att.; Vivian Hassell-Black, 1950; Fern (Johanson) Piper, 1955; Dorothy (Kuhn) Holm, 1955; Elaine (Saxby) Emerson, 1951; and Leland Quinn, 1953, Row 2: Ann Krakenberg-Erlandson, 1950; Lois Coleman-Hall, 1949; Elwood Mabley, 1948; Virginia Mabley, 1948; Robert Graham, 1953; Vera (Wolcott) Young, 1953; Helen Thompson Zolber, 1949; Taffy Johnson, 1955; Pamona Sturgill, 1955; Sydney Stewart, 1953; Florence Stewart, att.; Pat Reynolds, 1949; and Harold Ochs, 1950, Row 3: Shirley Hartnell, 1949; Calvin Hartnell, 1949; Eldon Stratton, 1948; Harold Harvey, 1958; Roger Dorner, 1955; June (Brooks) Dorner, 1954; Doyle B. Saxby, 1949; Lorelei (Pierce) Saxby, 1949; Verona (Montanye) Schnibbe, 1948; Fred C. Schnibbe, 1950; Bill Oakes, 1958; Gloria (Cox) Oakes, 1958; Louisa Bowman, att.; Gene Bowman, att.; Orletta Wilson-Dealy, 1968; Donald Dealy, 1948; Clarence Chinn, 1951; and C. Keith Gibbons, 1960.

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Class of 1962

T

Row 1: Jean (Turansky) Aleka, Diane WagnerLampson, Charlotte (Kopfer) Brody, Ronna (Scott) Witzel, Mariam Fedak, Eva Lou (Carlson) Diebel, Lois (Anderson) Cornell, Lillian (Konzelman) Machlan, Carol (Stewart) Thomsen, Gerald Ellison, George Davis, Gloria (Myers) Nelson, Gloria (Schindler) Sanders , and Elsie E. McLellan, Row 2: Carol (Huether) Schafer, Vivan Louise MacPhee-Dobbin, Al Hayko, Marie (Logan) Stratton, Ethel (Stringer) Wilson, Charleta (Montgomery) Handly, Judy (Williams) deChantal, Barbara (Steinlicht) McDow, Lynette (Nelson) Bramlett, Deanne (Bish) Ellison, Carol (Basaraba) Kegebein, Row 3: Herb Schafer, Fran (Williams) Kilmer, Heather (Henrickson) Perry, Virginia (Loop) Young, Elizabeth (Holman) Davis, Barry Kellogg, Duane Thomsen, Don Rogers, Ramon Gonzalez, Henry S. Gerber, Row 4: John R. Jones, Dale R. Beaulieu, Donna (McDow) Carr, Reuben Tataryn, Robert L. Cunningham Jr., Gerald Wade, Jim Grindley, Larry Canaday, Lester Scott Thygeson, and Kenneth Fox.

S Class of 1952

Q Class of 1967

Row 1: Dwight Johnson, Helen (Stratton) Kramer, Margery (Burton) Watts, Richard Guthrie, Row 2: Olen Nations, Richard Gingrich, George Brock, James A. Sadoyama, Robert D. Benfield, and Don R. Kirkman.

Row 1: Nora (O’Brien) Bleth, Dianne (Swetnam) Gibbons, Carol (Stafford) Maher, Row 2: Marilyn (Stream) Galusha, Betty (Coleman) Cox, Virginia (Robinson) Oliver, Row 3: Manford E. Anliker, John K. Mohr, Jim Forsyth, and Richard Ford.

Westwind Summer 2012 23

Alumni Gazette

Staying in touch with our family of graduates

S Class of 1987

T Class of 1972

Row 1: Diane (Huenergardt) Fogarty, Shellie (Stiltz) Daniel, Heidi (Anliker) Brenes, Patti (Wysong) Titus, Tim Swensen, Row 2: Yolanda (Lang) Hall, Michaelynn Bazzy Paul, Rhonda (Harding) Appleby, Tresa Betts-Kimball, Diane Opp, Ronald Clendenon, Row 3: Jerry Clifton, Rhett Unger, Karen Lamberton, Sharon (Fish) Thiel, and Curt Dewees.

Row 1: Connie (Tillotson) Dahlke, Trudy (Carpenter) Klein, Verlene (Fischer) Meyer, Sue Dornbush, Yvonne Stratton, Emily (Wyman) Canwell, Eugenia “Jeanie” Hixson, Marjorie (Leiubaum) Fellows, Row 2: Bob Stuart, George L. Carpenter, David Noel, Jacquie (Jenkins) Biloff, Neil Biloff, Janice (Melenchuk) Bell, Karen (Brown) Baumgartner, Row 3: Richard L. Kruger, Phillip T. Thornton, Marvin Boyd, Edward Jensen, Jim Eklund, Fred Biesenthal, Dan Meidinger, and Dale Messenger.

T Class of 1992 S Class of 1977 Row 1: Stephen Lacey, Linda (Bakke) Joice, Jean (Ocheltree) Edstrom, Ken Edstrom, Les Wheeler, Bruce Dixson, Margaret (Matheson) Ham, Row 2: Thomas (Tim) H. Gray, Lester W. Atkins, Florence (Hall) Lacey, Betsy (Saunders) Claridge, Paul Christensen, Gene Jacobson, and Fred Lenz.

R Class of 1982 Row 1: Robin (Soule) Brown, Helen (Whitehead) Teske, Lavonne (Mussatto) Boray, Tricia (McDow) Berdan, Karen (Matthews) Maas, Gayle Norton, Dave Ross, Row 2: Brenda (Whatley) Clifton, Kathy (Wyman) Tatro, Carol Craig, Delbe Thomas Meelhuysen, Darlene (Meelhuysen) Gaskill, David Meyer, Row 3: Paul Novak, Bruce Holm, Scott Weston Davis, Ed Meelhuysen, Dick Wysong, and Norman Thiel.

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Row 1: Jodi (Larson) Wagner, Richard Kimitsuke, Brian Schaffner, Susan Bebee, and Kristyn (Jones) Dybdahl, Row 2: Bobbie Jo (Robinson) Srikureja, Cindy (Nicholson) Ulloa, Judy (Gren) Weber, Dwayne Kidwell, Tony Lloyd, David Forsyth, and Paul Dybdahl.

S Class of 2002 Row 1: Arlys M. Lee, John I. Heyden, Warren Carver, Mark Danner, Michael Vercio, Row 2: Greg Brooks, Hui En Gilpin, Raechel Stuart, Cynthia Briggs, Aric Cooksley, and David J. Kegebein.

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Alumni Gazette

Staying in touch with our family of graduates

AlumNotes

helping with the building and organizing of a surgical hospital and spending 11 years providing services for the deaf. Don and Mona have three sons, Eric, Gregg, and Brad. Don’s favorite memories are attending Friday night vespers and church services in the College Church, pitching softball for Sittner third floor, and finally graduating after a tour in Vietnam.

Get up-to-date with just a few of our alumni. Send AlumNote information to alumni@wallawalla.edu

1950s Floyd Mohr ’56 and his wife, Marilyn, live in Corona, Calif., and enjoy going on short-term mission trips to Hong Kong, Thailand, and Kenya. They have two sons, Craig and Brett, who are both teachers at Glendale Adventist Academy. His favorite memory of WWU is Prof. Cross’s “free-body diagrams.”

Gerald Francis Clifford ’57 and his wife, Pamela, live in Australia. Before retiring, he served the church in Africa and Australia. Gerald and Pamela have three children, Carol Ann, Colleen, and Dennis.

Lois (Thorn) Dietrich ’62 lives in Sedro Woolley, Wash., and is a retired oncology nurse of 15 years. She was a nurse throughout her career, working at a number of posts in Oregon, Montana, and California, as well as working at a mission hospital in Africa, and also working with her late husband, Dean ’61 in his family practice. She recently returned from a six-week mission trip to Africa. She has three children, Tami Erwin, Greg att., and Susan Mayhew ’83.

Elizabeth (Canaday) Dunlop ’57 lives in Kent, Wash., and is retired from a nursing career which included 15 years at Los Angeles County Hospital and 10 years at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital. She has four children, Robert Palmer ’87, Brenda Palmer, Sheila Dunlop ’80, and Michael Dunlop ’74.

Charleta (Montgomery) Handley ’62 lives in Vancouver, Wash., and retired in 2004 from a 30-year career in public health nursing. She is active in the Vancouver Seventh-day Adventist Church and loves to read and travel.

Her best memory of WWU was living in the dorm as a nursing student at the old Portland Sanitarium. She has two sons, Patrick and Brian.

Don Hogarty ’57 and his wife, Rosalie (Oakes) att., live in Underwood, Wash., where he is an environmental health specialist with Southwest Washington Health District. They enjoy spending winters in the Southwest in their motorhome. They have two children, Shawn and Kimberly DeLay.

Edward W. Ruckle ’62 and his wife, Anna Lea (Calvin) att., live in Ventura, Calif. He is a retired engineer and enjoys golf and photography. He and Anna have two children, Herbert ’82 and Linda Soloniuk att.

Betty (Hamren) Scott ’57 and her husband, Bob att., live in Lebanon, Ore., where they recently retired from their cabinet manufacturing business.

While her husband had a 30-year career in hospital administration, Betty worked in medical labs, earned a master’s in public health from Loma Linda University and raised their four sons, William att., Benge ’89, Barry, and Robert. Her best memory of WWU was meeting her husband.

Edward James Wyman ’57 and his wife, Lois Gay att., live in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada, where he is a pastor and teacher for the Adventist church. They have two children, David ’78 and Kathleen Tatro ’82.

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Westwind Summer 2012

Gerald Wade ’62 and his wife, Susan, live in Yreka, Calif., where they both work at Fairchild Medical Center.

Loren Fenton ’67 and his wife, Ruth (Christensen) ’66, live in Riddle, Ore., but plan to move to the Walla Walla area soon. Loren is a retired Adventist pastor of 40 years. In his spare time, he sings Southern/country gospel with “The 4 Ol’ Guys Quartet” and does various home improvement projects. He and Ruth have two children, Benjamin att. and Kimberly.

Carol Maher ’67 and her husband, Tom att., live in Hermiston, Ore. She is retired after 36 years of teaching. She and Tom have two sons, Patrick att. and Marty.

Jack Wendell ’67 lives in Victor, Calif., and is retired from his position as sports program director for the City of Galt Parks and Recreation Department. His hobbies include golf, refereeing high school basketball, and being a softball umpire. He has two children, Barbara and Brian.

Charles Zacharias ’67 and his wife, Beverly (Lemon) att., live in Calhoun, Ga. He retired in 2008 after teaching keyboard and instrumental music in four different academies for 35 years. He plays the organ at two area churches. His favorite memory of WWU is Evensongs with Melvin West at the organ.

1970s Emily (Wyman) Canwell ’72 lives in Walla Walla with her husband, Lee ’73.

Her favorite memories are enjoying a Yogi and a milkshake from the dairy with friends, trying to study in the spring on the Conard Lawn, and meeting her husband during her freshmen year in choir. She and Lee have three children, Aaron ’01, Chelane Fackenthall ’02, and Carl ’08.

They are both pilots and enjoy camping, and visiting their children and grandchildren. They also enjoy the mission trips they have taken to China and Thailand.

Don Griffith ’72 and his wife, Mona, live in Shelton, Wash., where he is a health care manager for the Washington State Department of Corrections.

The highlights of his career have been

William Harmon ’77 and his wife, Tina, live in Portland, Ore., where he works for the Azumano Travel American Express. They have one daughter, Devon. A favorite memory is the many bike rides they shared together around the countryside of College Place.

Harold John Kriegelstein ’77 and his wife, Jenienne (Quaile) ’77, live in Lincoln, Neb., where he is the director of education for the Mid-America Union Conference. They have three children, J. Kellsie att., Jeffrey att., and Jason ’09.

Emma (Shively) Long ’77 and her husband, Lyle att., live in Pierceton, Ind., where she is a family practitioner.

Her nursing degree from WWU led to medical school in Loma Linda, where she graduated in 1994. She and Lyle have one son, Lyle Jr. Eunice (Kabanuk) Stern ’77 and her husband, Cliff, live in Hailey, Idaho, where they have been since 2006.

Eunice is a full-time homemaker after working for more than 30 years in the property/casualty insurance business.

She enjoys cross stitch and sewing. She and Cliff have two children, Joshua and Nicole. Her favorite memory is biking to Whitman Mission with friends.

Beckie Jean (Nelson) Versteeg ’77 and her husband, Douglas, live in Milton-Freewater, Ore. She is the director of the medical-surgical unit at Walla Walla General Hospital and has worked in acute care for all of her nursing career. Her daughter Shelli is currently attending WWU.

1980s Carol Craig ’82 lives in Auburn, Wash., and is an administrative assistant with the Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. A favorite memory of WWU is hanging out with friends at Canaday Technology Center, taking photography and graphic arts classes. She has two daughters, Jillian and Jana.

Daniel Koopman ’82 lives in Union, Ore., where he is the associate vice president of instruction at Blue Mountain Community College. One of his hobbies is riding performance horses.

His favorite memory of WWU was leading hymns in the College Church with H.M.S. Richards singing in the background.

Thomas Lopez ’82 and his wife, Elena (Gaona) att., live in Huntsville, Ala., where he is a senior systems engineer for Sparta, Inc. He currently works in the areas of rocket propulsion and missile structures. He remembers classes in Kretschmar Hall and Sabbath afternoon bike rides to Whitman Mission. He and Elena have two children, Andrew att., and Tatiana.

Paul Novak ’82 and his wife, Kari (Kravig) ’83, live in Yakima, Wash., where Paul works for Physician Anesthesia Associates. As a hobby, they raise blueberries and apples. His favorite memory is working on the college farm. They have one daughter, Melinda att.

Lori Ann (Geppert) White ’82 and her husband, David, live in Mt. HoodParkdale, Ore., where she has been a nursing supervisor since 1989 at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital. For the last nine years, she has also worked with patients who have been victims of sexual assault. From her days at WWU, she remembers weekend trips to Whitman Mission and the many friends she made.

Ron Clendenon ’87 and his wife, Janelle (Smith) ’89, live in West Richland, Wash., where he works for the U.S. Department of Energy at the Hanford site as a project control officer. His wife Janelle is the director of the Small World Learning Center daycare, affiliated with Tri-City Junior Academy. They have two children, Cedric, who is attending WWU, and Carissa. Some of his favorite memories are Friday evening vespers and bike rides to Whitman Mission.

Annette Cole ’87 and her husband live in Portland, Ore., where she is a nurse anesthetist at the Veterans Administration Medical Center. She also works in obstetrics/gynecology in the Providence Health System in Portland.

She has enjoyed trips to Cuba, where her husband is from, as well as a recent mission trip to the Dominican Republic. She has three children, Diony, Alianna, and Alexander.

Lisa (Ladd) Comeau ’87 and her husband, Kenneth, live in Williston, Vt.,

where she is a medical transcriptionist. Lisa and Ken have two children, Jonathan, who is currently attending WWU, and Jenna, who is attending Upper Columbia Academy.

likes mountain biking and running and is currently training for a body building competition. She also loves to help out with children’s programs at her church along with her husband.

Elmer Eubanks ’87 and his wife, Divina, live in Las Vegas, Nev., where he is a vice president for Citibank. They have two children, Ulric and Julie.

Richard Kimitsuka ’92 and his wife, Julie Dawn (Martinsen) att., live in Vancouver, Wash., where he is a senior field service engineer for Siemens. They have two children, Sarah and Daniel. Richard’s favorite memory of WWU is listening to Professor Glen Masden’s descriptions of class labs.

Aser Heye ’87 and his wife, Kimberly, are working for the Wycliffe Association in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, building a new Bible translation center. They will complete their work and return to Portland, Ore., in July 2012. They have five children, Nehemiah, Lydia, Anna, Rebekah, and Malachi.

Gregg Roberts ’87 and his wife, Gail (Petersen) ’86, live in Battle Ground, Wash., where Gregg is the captain of the Vancouver Fire Department. His memories of WWU include amazing Christian teachers, dorm life, and spending hours at the gym.

Rhett Unger ’87 and his wife, Rochelle “Shelly” (Paulson) ’88, live in Battle Ground, Wash., where he is

the manager of Wingfoot Commercial Tire Systems. Shelly works for Datasphere as an office manager and also manages Center Point, which is affiliated with the Meadow Glade Seventh-day Adventist Church. They have two boys, Hayden and Harrison.

1990s Crysta (Lovin) Fletcher ’92 and her husband, Tracy, live in Port Deposit, Md. She is a full-time mom and is homeschooling her youngest child in kindergarten. Her memories of WWU include attending vespers and playing volleyball.

Elise (Daniel) Holcombe ’92 and her husband, Delton ’93, live in Happy Valley, Ore., where she is a project leader for PAREXEL International. She

Scott Rowe ’92 and his wife, Tami (Schroeder) ’93, live in Sedro Woolley, Wash., where he is a CPA at Larson Gross. He is also active in his church and is the current youth leader. His favorite memory of WWU is going on a late night run for doughnuts or IceBurg milkshakes. He and Tami have two sons, Brett and Matt.

David Toppenberg ’92 and his wife, Margit, live in Ypsilanti, Mich., where he is a vehicle engineering supervisor for Ford Motor Company. David has supervised the set-up of the vehicle architecture for the first Ford Territory, Edge, Flex, and Lincoln MKX and MKS. He and Margit have two sons, Daniel and Markus.

Judith (Gren) Weber ’92 and her husband, Matt ’91, live in McMinnville, Ore., where she is a billing and reimbursement specialist for the Office of Integrative Medicine. She and Matt are active in their church, helping with praise time and Sabbath school programs for children. She has enjoyed mission trips to Norway, India, and Africa. Her favorite memory of WWU is the afterglow service on Fridays evenings after vespers.

Michael Koenig ’94 is a mental health recreation coordinator for Alberta Health Services in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, where he has worked for almost 15 years. He says, “I love my work and have many fond memories of going through the social work program at WWU.” He says he found his calling after doing a practicum at the Walla Walla Mental Health Center and the Clubhouse program.

One of his favorite memories at WWU is springtime, especially the smell of the trees when they were in bloom.

Matthew Walter ’98 and his wife, Hanne, live in Monterey, Calif., where Matthew is a foreign area officer with the U.S. Army. His favorite memory of WWU is Roland Blaich’s history classes and spending evenings at the Blaich’s home.

Kristina (Roos) Reitz ’99 and her husband, Daniel ’99, live in Centennial, Colo., where she is a physician with Colorado Permanente Medical Group. She has been practicing in the Denver area since 2006 after completing medical school at Loma Linda University and a residency at University of Colorado. Dan is an electrical engineer with Northrop Grumman. They have two boys, Avery and Connor. Her favorite memory is meeting her husband at the Welcome Back Bash as incoming freshmen.

2000s Lisa (Graham) Ferguson ’01 and her husband, Christopher att., live in Mill Creek, Wash., where she is an accountant for Seattle Biomedical Research Institute. Lisa and Chris have two sons, Christopher II and John.

Ryan Hayton ’01 and his wife, Sharlene, are in Malawi working at Malamulo Mission Hospital. Ryan is a surgeon in Malawi after completing medical school at Loma Linda University in 2006 and a residency in Detroit in 2010. They have two boys, Benson and Hudson.

Evert Fitzroy Gillon ’02 is an applications engineer for Baltimore Aircoil Company in Reisterstown, Md. He says what he remembers most is the one-on-one attention of his professors.

Allison (Carey) Klein ’02 and her husband, Walter, live in Grand Terrace, Calif. She is a physician with Kaiser Permanente. Her favorite memory of WWU is Solange Henderson’s Spanish literature classes.

Dora Erika (Mansell) Lloyd ’04 and her husband, Michael ’04, live in Salinas, Calif., and have one one son, Micha, who turns two in August. Her favorite memory of WWU was meeting her husband.

Christie (Medrano) Lang ’07 and her husband, Kuyler ’02, live in College Place. She is the associate dean of women at WWU and Kuyler teaches first and second grade at Rogers Adventist School. They have one daughter, Charlotte. She remembers Spanish classes with Solange Henderson and considers her one of the best teachers she had at WWU.

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Alumni Gazette

Staying in touch with our family of graduates

In Memory Baum – Lloyd att. was born May 11, 1923, in Ashton, Idaho, and died July 25, 2011, in Loma Linda, Calif. Surviving: wife Alma (Meilicke) att. of Loma Linda; son Bradley of Riverside, Calif.; and daughter Marti Hardesty of Redlands, Calif.

Benson – Harold ’50 was born Dec. 29, 1923, in Muskegon Heights, Mich., and died March 22, 2012, in Edmore, Mich. Surviving: wife Betty (Smith) ’57, of Edmore; and sons Mark ’83 of Annapolis, Md., Bob ’85 of Edmore, and Paul ’90 of Long Beach, Calif.

Benson worked at Walla Walla University during the 1960s when he served as the construction superintendent during the university’s most significant building boom. He supervised the construction of the College Church (1962), Kretschmar Hall (1963), Smith Hall (1965), Life Sciences Complex (1965), Fine Arts Center (1966), and a library renovation.

Brusett – Dale C. ’60 was born Oct. 30, 1930, in Brusett, Mont., and died April 8, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nev. Surviving: sons Brent att. of Lodi, Calif., and Brad of Anderson, Calif.; daughters Brenda ’86 of Redding, Calif., and Gayle Dohrman att. of Post Falls, Idaho; brothers Morris ’59 of Helena, Mont., and Harold of Jordon, Mont.; and sister Marilyn Shultz att. of Pendleton, Ore. Buckley – John W. ’64 was born Aug. 18, 1934, in Lepi, Angola Africa, and died Jan. 22, 2012, in Santa Monica, Calif. Surviving: wife Margaret Grace of Santa Monica.

Bunch – Lake ’50 was born Dec. 30, 1915, in Eminence, Mo., and died April 3, 2011, in Douglasville, Ga. Surviving: wife Esther (Brooks) ’65 of Douglasville; son Douglas of Buford, Ga.; and daughters Sandy Lewandowski of Tujungo, Calif., and Kathy Bakke of Gresham, Ore.

Burman – Robert att. was born June 12, 1926, in Tacoma, Wash., and died Oct. 14, 2011, in Glendale, Calif. Surviving: wife Marilyn (Scott) att. of Glendale; and sons Robert of Glendale, and Erik of McKinleyville, Calif.

Casebolt – Kathryn “Sunnie” (Smith) att. was born June 22, 1924, in Girard, Kan., and died March 24, 2012, in College Place. Surviving: husband Donald ’49 of College Place; sons Douglas of La Mesa, Calif., and Keith ’83 of Medford, Ore.; daughter Constance ’78 of Spartanburg, S.C.; and sister Ruth Burgener of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Chrisman – Robert C. ’68 was born June 26, 1938, in Enterprise, Ore., and died Dec. 4, 2011, in Enterprise.

Surviving: wife Linda of Wallowa, Ore.; sons Anthony and Douglas, also of Wallowa; and sister Susan Chase of Grass Valley, Ore.

Beloved Dean, Musician Although his formal name was Maynard Eugene Loewen, everyone at Walla Walla University knew him as “Dean Loewen” or “Mike.” He was born on July 15, 1925, in LaCrosse, Kan., where he was raised. He attended high school at Sheyenne River Academy in Harvey, N.D., and earned his bachelor’s degree from Union College in Lincoln, Neb. Mike spent 40 years of his life as a men’s residence hall dean and served as dean and recruitment officer for 21 years at WWU, until his retirement in 1987. Mike loved his work, and his winning smile and commanding presence were just two of the qualities that students remember and loved.

He organized, directed, and toured with the WWU chorus known as the Messengers, whose name was inspired by a mission boat in Alaska. In 1996, the group began performing throughout the nation and overseas, until Loewen’s retirement.

Mike Loewen passed away on May 18, 2012. Mike was preceded in death on Oct. 14, 2011, by his loving wife of 64 years, Lee (Davidson) Loewen ‘68. He is survived by his son Greg att.; his brother Willard; and sister Loretta.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Loewen Messenger Scholarship Fund at WWU.

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Christensen – John ’68 was born Feb. 18, 1926, in Kelso, Wash., and died Feb. 12, 2012, in Walla Walla.

Surviving: son Stanley ’77 of Walla Walla; daughters Shirley Heisey ’70 of Walla Walla and Cheri Armstrong ’73 of Athena, Ore. Coffin – Galen H. ’43 was born July 28, 1920, in Lafayette, Ind., and died Feb. 3, 2012, in Gresham, Ore. Surviving: wife Beth (Armstrong) ’44 of Gresham; son David ’77 of San Bernardino, Calif.; daughter Carol “Kathy” Phillips Marshall ’70 of Salem, Ore.; and brother Harold G. ’49 of Calhoun, Ga. Dietrich – Edith (Pifer) ’64 was born Feb. 23, 1939, in Miami, Fla., and died June 13, 2011, in Glide, Ore. Surviving: husband Frank of Roseburg, Ore.; son Scott ’90 of Roseburg; daughters Vanessa Finch ’88 of La Conner, Wash., Jeri Collver of McMinnville, Ore., and Jackie Fjarli of Medford, Ore.; and brothers Eugene Pifer of Battleground, Wash., and George Pifer ’64 of Tall River Mill, Calif.

Dougherty –Cecil ’58 was born May 22, 1928, at Tillamook, Ore., and died Feb. 9, 2012, in Pendleton, Ore. Surviving: wife Eldores of Pendleton; sons Louis of Pendleton and Richard of Tacoma, Wash.; and daughter Kathie Smith of Creswell, Ore. Forsyth – Laurita Diane (Dunlap) ’74 was born Oct. 3, 1941, in Walla Walla, and died Nov. 7, 2011, in Pasco, Wash. Surviving: husband Robert ’64 of Pasco; and brother Kenneth of Battleground, Wash.

Greenway – Anne (Roosma) Clark ’47 was born Jan. 22, 1922, in Camas, Mont., and died Dec. 27, 2011, in College Place. Surviving: husband Glen ’51 of College Place; daughters Candace Schrader att. of Anaheim, Calif., Sharon Beth Clark att. of Merced, Calif., and Gretta Johnson att. of Milton-Freewater, Ore.; brother Minne Roosma ’49 of Hot Springs, Mont.; and sister Nona Ludeman att. of Berrien Springs, Mich.

Hirabayashi – Toshiuki ’43 was born Feb. 9, 1915, in Fremont, Calif., and died Jan. 1, 2012, in Burlingame, Calif. Surviving: wife Midori of Burlingame; sons Glen of Oak Hill, Va., Dean of Burlingame Calif., and Mark of Torrence, Calif.; daughter Joan Reichard of Rapidan, Va.; and sister Mary Sakai of Kaneohe, Hawaii.

Kaytor – Anthony ’42 was born Aug. 16, 1914, in Punnichy, Saskatchewan, Canada, and died Nov. 3, 2011, in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada.

Surviving: wife Evelyn of Abbotsford.

Devoted Librarian, Friend

The firstborn child of pioneer parents, Mary Ellen (Murray) Schwab grew up on the Cary Ranch in northwestern Colorado, where she learned the value of hard work and the satisfaction that follows doing it.

In the fall of 1947 with a small cardboard suitcase and a quilt tucked into a box, she boarded a bus bound for Southwestern Junior College in Keene, Texas.

Two years later after earning an associate degree, she married Ernest Schwab. They had three sons, Ernest, Michael, and Jon. Over the next 20-plus years, Ernest pastored in a number of Seventh-day Adventist conferences.

They came to College Place in 1979, where Mary worked in the Peterson Memorial Library at Walla Walla University as the circulation supervisor for 16 years.

She loved the students who worked for her and remained friends with many of them long after they left college. She also considered many of her colleagues friends, like her own sons and daughters.

“She was an invaluable colleague and friend, and even after she retired in 1995, she continued to brighten holidays by treating me as family and was always there for me when I needed help. She had a heart of love for her Savior and for others,” says Carolyn Gaskel, director of libraries at WWU. Another passion for Mary was working with children, writing programs for the kindergarten and cradle roll divisions. She also directed the children’s programs at four General Conference sessions. Her written work is archived in the historical section at the WWU library.

Mary Ellen Schwab was born July 13, 1929, and passed away May 14, 2012, in Rialto, Calif., after a long struggle with cancer. She is survived by her husband Ernest of College Place, and her sons Ernest of Redlands, Calif., Michael of Carthage, Ill., and Jon att. of Rialto.

Kelly – Eula “Lucille” (Sturgill) ’60 was born Oct. 7, 1920, in Union, Ore., and died May 14, 2012, in College Place. Surviving: son Raymond of Olympia, Wash.; and daughter Murieljean Duncan of Walla Walla.

Klam – Norman W. ’68 was born Jan. 20, 1945, in Outlook, Saskatchewan, Canada, and died Jan. 1, 2012, in Battleground, Wash. Surviving: wife Marlene (Skula) att. of La Center, Wash.; son Jeffrey ’01 of Concord, Calif., and daughter Cheri Oellrich ’99 of Portland, Ore. Lang – Donna Jean (Albertsen) att. was born Jan. 17, 1960, in Watervliet, Mich., and died Dec. 27, 2011, in Caldwell, Idaho. Surviving: husband Robert ’80 of Caldwell; sons Benjamin att. of Bremerton, Wash., Matthew of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Tyler of Boise, Idaho; daughter Bethany of Pullman, Wash.; mother Elsie Prohaska of Eagle, Idaho; brother Ken of Loveland, Colo.; and sisters Mary Jane Zollbrecht of Oregon City, Ore., Linda Gault ’90 of Eagle, Idaho, and Carol Ann St. Clair ’75 of La Grande, Ore.

Larson – Jerry att. was born Oct. 27, 1927, in Scottsbluff, Neb., and died Nov. 5, 2011, in Milton-Freewater, Ore. Surviving: wife Louise (Johnson) att. of Milton-Freewater; son Scott of Walla Walla; and sons Tracy and James, and daughters Laura att., and Linda Krueger, all of Milton-Freewater.

Lee – Earl T. ’46 was born April 14, 1922, in Ashland, Ohio, and died Feb. 11, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nev. Surviving: son Larry of Olympia, Wash.; and daughter Linda Huggins of San Antonio, Texas.

Liu – David James ’53 was born May 29, 1930, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and died Dec. 11, 2011, in Olney, Md., Surviving: wife Carol “Snookie” ’53 of Olney; sons Jeremy of Ridgefield, Wash., and Jason of Irvine, Calif.; and sisters Mabel Wong ’45 and Beautrice Bortner ’45 of Sunbury, Ohio.

Loewen – E. Lee (Davidson) ’68 was born June 4, 1926, in Harrison, Ariz., and died Oct. 14, 2011, in Spokane, Wash. Surviving: son Greg att. of Spokane.

Nelson – Alice (Emick) ’63 was born July 5, 1917, in Brush, Colo., and died

Nov. 19, 2011, in Walla Walla. Surviving: sons Ellsworth att. of Moscow, Idaho, and Jimmie ’70 of College Place.

Parmenter – Roy att. was born April 16, 1931, in Tacoma, Wash., and died Nov. 3, 2011, in Medford, Ore. Surviving: wife Mari Leta (Bratcher) att. of Medford; sons Gary att. of Joseph, Ore., Ray att. of Phoenix, Ariz., and Darrell att. and Bradley att., both of Medford; brother Norman att. of Eugene, Ore.; and sisters Elmerla Colburn att. of Eugene, and Marilyn Greenley of Walla Walla.

Sayler – Doris (Roth) ’49 was born June 26, 1926, in Rockyford, Alberta, Canada, and died Jan. 21, 2012, in Newburg, Ore. Surviving: husband Norman of Sherwood, Ore.; sons Ron ’77 of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Allen of Hillsboro, Ore.; daughter Shelia Moreno ’78 of Sherwood; and sisters Verda Teale ’53 of Spokane, Wash., Adline Lynn of Langley, British Columbia, Canada, and Lorena Pajon of Ronhert Park, Calif.

Sparks – Arnold ’52 was born Oct. 16, 1923, in Rochester, N.Y., and died April 2, 2011, in Crystal River, Fla. Sur-

viving: wife Ruth (Collins) of Crystal River; sons Edward of Ghana, Africa, and Brent of W. Va.; daughter Kathy of New York; and sister Violet Perry of California.

Specht – Edward ’39 was born July 29, 1915, in Loveland, Colo., and died Nov. 9, 2011, in Freedom, Ind. Surviving: son Frederick of Unionville, Ind.; and daughter Lahna of Pittsboro, N.C. Tupper – Elsie (Baxter) ’48 was born Nov. 12, 1921, in Fort Thomas, Ky., and died Nov. 10, 2011, in Goldendale, Wash. Surviving: husband Clarence att. of Goldendale; sons Bruce att. of The Dalles, Ore., Clarence ’82, David att., and Paul, all of Toppenish, Wash.

Turpel – Thomas ’94 was born Dec. 30, 1959, in San Jose, Calif., and died July 22, 2011, in Gig Harbor, Wash.

Surviving: father W. Paul ’55 and mother Lois Ann ’55 of Moses Lake; and sister Lori Ann Diaz, also of Moses Lake.

Vannix – Evelyn (Gerling) att. was born Aug. 6, 1926, in Portland, Ore., and died Dec. 29, 2010, in Glendale, Calif. Surviving: husband Robert att. of Glendale; and daughter Kelley Shaffer of Los Angeles, Calif.; and sister Dorothy Blodgett ’57 of Salem, Ore. Wallace – Charles Neil ’77 was born Dec. 23, 1952, in McMinnville, Ore., and died Sept. 12, 2011, in Seattle, Wash. Surviving: wife Cindee (Bailey) ’94 of Milton-Freewater, Ore.; sons J. Christian and J. Carsten of MiltonFreewater; father Fred of Salem, Ore.; and brothers Frederick of San Diego, Calif., Doyle of Las Vegas, Nev., and James Darren of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and sister Melody Shoebe of Salem.

Wimer – Gordon ’56 was born Feb. 3, 1933, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and died Oct. 14, 2011, in Borrego Springs, Calif. Surviving: son Russ of Leslie, Ark.; and daughter Lisa Newman of Tucson, Ariz.

Winslett – Stephen ’79 was born April 6, 1949, in San Jose, Calif., and died Oct. 1, 2011, in Salem, Ore. Surviving: brother Jeffery of Portland, Ore.; and sister Christine Clough of Folsom, Calif.

Westwind Summer 2012 29

AG

Alumni Gazette

Staying in touch with our family of graduates

BY

Back to You

A view from the field

IMMIGRANT VISA/IMMIGRANT VISA/IMMIGRANT VISA/IMMIGRANT VISA/IMMIGRANT VISA/ I M M I G R A N T V I S A / I M M I G R A N T V I S A /

Tony Branson Alumnus of note Attorney, Tacoma, Wash.

Recipient of Terry M. Baker Memorial Award for Big Brother of the Year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound

1 0 3 9 4 8 5 7 2

att. 1988

A Citizen of the World (Wide Web)

It all began with a Collegian story.

Writer and social media expert Amy Wilkinson launches her online life.

IV CASE NUMBER

103948572

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERNET /// 1=FN // GLOBAL USAGE // ALL ZONES

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It

was the most difficult assignment I received as a newswriter for The Collegian: Pen a 350-word piece on Kretschmar Hall’s new wireless network.

Sure, it sounds straightforward enough, but this was the early aughts, when the idea of connecting to the Internet without a cord sounded like an Orwellian fever dream. In short, I was out of my depth. I talked to several tech types who patiently explained the concept over and over and over again, yet I’m not entirely sure I understood even as I put the finishing touches on the story and submitted it to my editor.

I have been Easton Mickali’s big brother for 10 years and we recently graduated the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. We still get together regularly. a restaurant the night before and he thought he was feeling a little under the weather from the food that he ate. The truly good sport that he is, Easton stuck out our day at the fair as long has he could. After I dropped him off at his home, his mother took him to the doctor. As it turned out Easton was suffering from appendicitis. I ended up spending the evening at the hospital helping him deal with his fear of needles so that he could get ready for surgery.

You just never know what the day is going to hold. Easton and I spent time at the Puyallup Fair a few years ago. He had been with friends at

Honest living and being true to your beliefs are qualities that I try to accomplish in small ways. Life is very busy for most of

us, and being part of the Big Brother program with Easton provided me with the opportunity to work on that goal for myself. I can’t say that I was successful because I wasn’t in this to get somewhere or to win an award.

For me, mentoring and being a big brother was about the journey. It was also about the effort to return some of what I had been blessed with to someone else. There are so many others who share their blessings in the same or other ways and should also be recognized for their efforts as well.

stephanie thiel boeshar

Easton taught me that mentoring is a twoway street. The more you give the more you see returned. It’s amazing to see the difference between the 8-year-old Easton I met almost 11 years ago and the high school graduate who is now figuring out how to enroll in college and live life on his own terms. I learned that unconditional listening and support go further than instruction and correction, and that those basic principles build lasting relationships.

Fast-forward a decade—when it would be nothing for me to log on to eBay and bid on a pair of mint-condition bicentennial quarters while flying at a cruising altitude of 30,000 feet—and my naivete seems downright precious. See how rapidly technology and our understanding of it have progressed over the past 10 years!

Each of my jobs since graduating in 2004 has been web-based—from content management to blog editing—and, like many of you, my online life isn’t restricted to a 9-to-5 day. I find out which of my high school and college friends are pregnant (and there are a lot of you!) via Facebook. I keep tabs on my grad school classmates through LinkedIn. I network with fellow journalists on Twitter. I even still have a MySpace account (somewhere?) in case that becomes a thing again. But with so many social networks at our disposal, are we truly using them to our benefit (and to their full potential)?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a set of universally

accepted guidelines for cultivating an online identity, but through years of managing personal and brand accounts, a few best practices have emerged:

2. Brief is best.

It can be tempting to use Facebook as a home for a 500-word rant on the poor customer service at Store XYZ, but social media isn’t the place to be long-winded. Twitter has a 140-word character cap for a reason. If you have a lot to say and not a lot of room to say it in, why not start a blog where you can let your thoughts run wild? Then, use Twitter and Facebook to succinctly promote and link to your latest musings.

3. Have fun and don’t over-think it.

Even if your sole social media aim (remember item No. 1 above?) is professional, there’s no reason your feed should read like a thesis. Find imaginative ways to share information beyond the staid, “Article HIJ was very interesting. You should read it too” approach. You likely have an opinion on the story, so share it. Make a value judgment and insert a bit of personality and wit while you’re at it. Also don’t spend too long crafting your post. If it takes more than a minute or two, you’re over-thinking it (and it will show).

1. Let your goals inform your message.

Ideally, each social network should fulfill a different purpose, with your content following suit. For instance, my Twitter account is largely (though not exclusively) for Editor: professional-related matters, so Rosa Jimenez that’s where I share samples of my writing and thoughts about issues Alumni Editor: on my beat. Conversely, Facebook Lisa Krueger is all about communicating with my Writers: friends and family, so that’s where I Emily Forshee post photos of myself holding a $70 Sarah Radelfinger tub of Nutella. In the words of every Martin Surridge marketing professor I’ve ever had: Camlynne Waring Know your audience.

Jenae Williams

Westwind

These basics will certainly get you started, but each social network— be it Facebook, Twitter, tumblr, or Instagram—has its own intricacies.

The more you use each and remain observant of others’ feeds, the more you’ll learn along the way. And don’t be afraid to pose questions to your fellow social media mavens, like @ amymwilk (that’s me!). Just don’t expect me to explain how Wi-Fi works.

Amy Wilkinson lives in New York where she works as an editor at MTV Networks.

Art Director:

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meet tony and easton: Westwind.wallawalla.edu

Dennis Huynh

Westwind Summer 2012

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nonprofit org US Postage

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Walla Walla University 204 S. College Avenue College Place, WA 99342-1198

College Place, Wash.

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See you there!

Upcoming events to note on your calendar

December 7, 2012

The University Church resounds in melodies as the Department of Music presents two performances of its annual Christmas concert. As students share their musical talents through song, join us in celebrating the Christmas season.

Concert times begin at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

October 6, 2012

Pulitzer Prize-winning

journalist Isabel Wilkerson speaks about her book,

“The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration.” The book chronicles the journeys of three people who took part in the African-American migration of more than

6 million from the South to other parts of the United States. Wilkerson presents at 8 a.m. in the Winter Educational Center.

November 11

Karen Tetz, Professor of Nursing, presents the

2012 Distinguished Faculty Lecture.

Tetz addresses the issues of family caregiving for older adults with physical and/or cognitive illnesses.

January 26, 2013

This year, WWU presents the Honor Band Concert, a performance of academy students under the direction of Professor Brandon Beck. The concert comes as a rewarding conclusion to the students’ three-day band clinic on campus, a clinic full of extensive rehearsal and musical training. Hear the ensemble perform at 4 p.m. in the University Church.

February 2

In celebration of Black History Sabbath, choirs and groups from churches across the Northwest come together to present an uplifting performance in

Total Praise: A Festival of Choirs.

Participate with the choir in worship at 4 p.m. in the University Church.

February 23-March 3 Enter into wwudrama’s

The Festival of One Acts, a festival of studentdirected shorts that are the culmination of the directing classes in the drama minor.

Plus, vote for your favorite show—the student director who wins the audience’s popular vote will receive an award at the festival’s end. The stories come alive on February 23, 24, and 28, and March 2 and 3 at 8 p.m.

Reserve tickets at www. drama.wallawalla.edu.

For a full calendar of events visit: wallawalla.edu/calendar Follow us on: flickr, Facebook, and tumblr