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Homecoming Weekend 2024

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Class of 2024

Class of 2024

A joyful sojourn at the old stomping grounds

Walla Walla University alumni have a reputation for thinking deeply, creating with passion, delighting in God, and serving their communities and the world with a sense of mission and abundance. Practicing generosity and kindness has long been a tradition at WWU. This year around 1,000 alumni gathered on campus in April for homecoming weekend to celebrate that same mission and spirit of friendliness, reconnecting with old classmates and creating memories with new friends.

Look through honor class photos from Saturday.

Excellence in thought

The yearly campus Awards Celebration took place Friday morning and provided an opportunity to recognize faculty, staff, and student accomplishments from the academic year.

Find a full list of faculty and staff awards at wallawalla.edu/awards.
Students shared insights into their research, including Rylie Roger's discussion of HAB effects on eelgrass isopods.

Seminars

Alumni also enjoyed a variety of seminars on Friday afternoon including a presentation of archival research on Adventist theologian and naval intelligence translator B.P. Hoffman by Hilary Dickerson ’02. Other seminar topics included “What Makes a Five-star Student” by Tammi Thomas ’83, “Shame Shields and Our Shame-based Culture” by WWU professor Pamela Bing Perry, and a film screening of The Color of Threads, written by Josie Henderson ’18, ’20.

Hilary Dickerson presented her archival research on Adventist theologian and naval intelligence translator B.P. Hoffman.

BOWERS HALL CELEBRATES 100 YEARS

Initial Bowers Hall construction was completed in 1924 and the building became home to the university’s science programs. In 1955 it was named in honor of George Bowers, chair of the chemistry department and later the 13th president of WWU.

While most widely remembered as the chemistry building, Bowers Hall has also housed the Department of History and Philosophy, an archeology laboratory, and the School of Theology over the years.

The basement of Bowers Hall once housed an archeology lab.

The WWU School of Business relocated to Bowers in 2009. The Bowers Hall renovation project began in 2017 and a ribbon cutting ceremony took place in December of that year to celebrate the transformed and expanded facility which honored the building’s history while providing updated, tech savvy spaces for students.

In 1994 the chemistry department moved out of Bowers to Rigby Hall.

Saturday night fun

The Class of 1984 held a special Saturday night program celebrating "the way we were" through songs, fun, and reconnecting with former and beloved professors like Loren Dickinson and Hollibert Phillips.

Fun across the valley

Sunday closed with the annual car show, a golf tournament held this year at Wine Valley Golf Course, and the Richard J. Kegley Memorial Fun Run/Walk. Early morning risers joined to tackle the 5k with smiles all around. The proceeds from the event went to support the WWU worthy student fund.

Open houses

On Sabbath afternoon, the engineering and nursing departments held open houses where alumni toured recently updated state-of-the-art laboratories. The Office of Student Missions also welcomed guests.

Janice McKenzie, professor of bioengineering, shared insights into the new bioeningeering lab and student's unique learning opportunities there.

Car show

The 24th annual Homecoming Car Show was the grand finale to homecoming weekend. The show is attended by several car clubs in the Walla Walla Valley and includes prizes, a food booth, and more.

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