WHITTIER CoLLEGE
Whittier ScholarS Program FAll 2013
Dear Alumni: Warmest greetings from the Whittier Scholars Program (WSP)! As I begin my third year as Director, I am happy to report that the WSP is as vibrant as ever, attracting some of the best students on campus (close to one fourth of the Spring 2013 Dean’s List students were Scholars) and drawing interest from numerous incoming freshmen and transfer students. Energetic and enthusiastic, our current WSP students have won prestigious fellowships and grants (Keck, Fletcher Jones, Mellon Mays, to name a few), have studied abroad across the globe, and have secured internships in noteworthy organizations and companies throughout the U.S.A. Keep your eye on our new website for fabulous stories about the achievements of our Scholars. Also, Kelissa McDonald ’11 will be featured in the upcoming edition of The Rock! As I mentioned in last year’s newsletter, what Dr. Paul Jay referred to at our 2012 retreat has been deemed highly valuable by employers today, as documented in the most recent publication of the AACU (99.2, Spring 2013). Dr. Jay emphasized the intangible skills one develops majoring in the liberal arts that will last a lifetime, skills that are even more important than the more utilitarian ones: the inner life; the intellectual life; becoming a responsible, informed, critically aware citizen. Dr. Jay pointed our that more and more, employers are looking for what are often referred to as transferable skills – expertise in close reading, the analysis and evaluation of arguments, the ability to develop a reasoned, persuasive, facts-based argument of your own, and to do so in writing that is clear, effective, and sophisticated, geared to specific audiences and with a particular goal in mind. It is no wonder that the recent WASC report highlighted the Scholars Program as one of the greatest strengths of Whittier College! At time of writing, I am also happy to report that almost all of our most recent graduates are employed full time, attending graduate school or pursuing career experience in internships. The 2013-2014 year ahead presents many opportunities for you to get to know and to support our current Scholars. Please mark your calendars for our Fall 2013 retreat: October 26th. Renowned authors Isabel Allende and William Gordon will speak on the creative art of storytelling at a fund raiser at Whittier High School (which seats close to 2400!). All proceeds from your sponsorship will enable future scholars to pursue research, study abroad, and internship interests. The event at the high school will begin at 6:30pm, but we invite you to join us for a special cocktail and appetizer social at Dezember House at 4:00pm so you can mingle with fellow alumni and current students.To purchase your tickets, register for the reception, or to make a donation visit www.poetalumni.net. As always, we want to welcome you back to campus at every opportunity. We look forward to seeing you in Wardman Hall or at many of our exciting upcoming events. Please stay in touch! Best regards,
Doreen O’Connor-Gomez Director of the Whittier Scholars Program
Stay connected! Send us all your updates: jobs, marriages, births, new emails, changes of address, and other good news you want to share with us! Marilyn Chavez,WSP Administrative Assistant mchavez@whittier.edu or Whittier College Whittier Scholars Program 13406 Philadelphia Street Whittier, CA 90608
Join our Facebook group: “Whittier Scholars Program (official)”
Whittier ScholarS program Senior SympoSia
“WordS cannot exPreSS my gratitude, but i Would like the Whittier ScholarS Progam to knoW i am So haPPy With the outcome oF my education” -- emily baeza ’13
Emily Baeza ’13
iSabelle allende and William gordon in converSation Josh Carter ’13
Brianne Kamaladin ’13
Joe larrea ’13
Robbie llewellyn ’13
Celebrated authors Isabel Allende L.H.D. ’07 and William C. Gordon L.H.D. ’07 will be discussing their latest literary works on Saturday, october 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the Vic Lopez Whittier High School Auditorium, (located on the corner of Whittier Avenue and Bailey Street). This is a fundraising event for Whittier College’s Whittier Scholars Program and Whittier High School. In addition, the purchase of any reserved seat will sponsor a high school or college student’s ticket fee. Allende is one of the most prolific and lauded Latin American writers of her time. Her books, all written in her native Spanish, have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold more than 57 million copies. Two of her novels—The House of Spirits and Of Love and Shadows—were made into major motion pictures. Her latest novel, Maya’s Notebook, about a troubled young Chilean-American woman, has already received good reviews form both critics and readers. In 2004 she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Born in Peru and raised in Chile, she lives in California. During Willie Gordon’s tough childhood, he found refuge in the local library. Determined to excel in both academics and extra-curricular activities, he was elected student body president at Whittier High School. He later earned degrees from U.C. Berkeley and Hastings College of Law.
As an attorney, Gordon practiced civil litigation and became a community activist for Spanish-speaking men and women injured on the job, finding innovative solutions for cases with difficult liability. As an author, he has completed a series of noir mysteries about San Francisco in the 1960’s. The novels have been well received in several languages and are now available in English. In addition to their literary work, Allende and Gordon founded the Isabel Allende Foundation in honor of her daughter, Paula Frías, in 1996. The foundation is guided by a vision of a world in which women have achieved social and economic justice. This vision includes empowerment of women and girls and protection of women and children.
ticketS inFormation Premier Reserved Seating - $50 Select Reserved Seating - $35 Reserved Seating - $20 General Admission - $5 Purchase tickets online: www. poetalumni.net/allendegordon.
A VIP Dessert Reception and book-signing will follow the talk at 8:00 p.m. for Premier and Select tickets holders.
Whittier Scholars Program Senior Dinner attendees.
Chelsea Pomfret ’13 and Ashley Medina ’13
Katie Reynolds ’13 and Professor Ria o’Foghludha.
alumni neWS and uPdateS Lisa Ayre-Smith ’01 wrote to let us know she has a new position at CSU Channel Islands. She is the new Coordinator for Academic Senate & Instructionally Related Activities. Congrats Lisa!! Daniel Smith ’12 has finished his first year at Charlotte School of Law in Charlotte, North Carolina in May. He is working as a summer associate for a criminal defense firm and began his second year in law school at the end of August. Brandon Epstein ’12 emailed, “Within the past year I have started my own self improvement app company, Turnt Apps. I would love to share a couple of free apps that we have recently introduced to the market; ‘Better You’ and ‘VisionBox’. These apps are intended to boost overall performance in life, be it through sports, business, or just living an overall happier life.” He let us know how truly passionate he is about this entrepreneurial venture.
Sharing stories and smiles at Datillo’s Restaurant in Uptown Whittier.
Marissa King ’12 is working as an international student recruiter for the University of New orleans. She let us know that she will be starting her Masters in Urban Planning at the University of New orleans in August. Brianne O’Doherty ’12 has been a Business Consultant at oracle in Austin, Texas since last June and got her first promotion a month ago. Good job Brianne!! Charlie Fisher ’12 is currently working for Arizona Chamber Foundation, a non-profit research arm of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “My responsibilities are basically to research and analyze the economic impacts of different policy initiatives and pieces of legislation being implemented across the country and try to determine how they would potentially effect the business climate in Arizona”. Jessica Underwood ’12 is currently attending the University of San Diego School of Law. She worked for a judge this summer and began her second year of law school this fall. Melissa Davidson ’12 started graduage school in August at Arizona Statue University for a Master’s degree in sustainability with a focus on water conservation. Kaitlin Cassidy ’12 is working as a development assistant for a reality TV company, Leftfield Pictures. “They are behind shows like Pawn Stars and American Restoration.” Natalie Smythe ’13 emailed that she got hired with UNITE HERE Local 11, “the union that organized our campus cafeteria workers”, she says. “I am currently conducting research with them for a campaign in orange County, in addition to prepping to take my LSAT’s in october”. Katie Reynolds ’13 will be attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte this fall to get an MS in Economics. Peter van Lier ’13 emailed he will be starting graduate school through the University of San Francisco on September 2nd. “The program is split up into three semesters. The first in Barcelona, the second in Taipei, and the last in San Francisco.
Jeanette Wong ‘81, Marielle Askew ‘12, and Dennis McGonagle ‘93 spoke at our 2012 Alumni Panel.
many thanks and appreciation for your gift to the Whittier Scholars Program! July 2012-June 2013 Gerard Foster ’87 Kevin Osborn ’87 Catherine Stover-Winter ’96 Deborah Rodarte-Carrasco ’99 Adam Arzate ’00 Molly Berger ’07 Adrian Gonzalez ’12
Whittier College Whittier Scholars Program 13406 E. Philadelphia Street Whittier, CA 90608-0634
Whittier ScholarS program Upcoming eventS October 18-20 Whittier Weekend 2013. October 26 WSP retreat and fundraiser featuring Isabel Allende and William C. Gordon. (see more info on page 2) November 7 Alumni Panel, Wardman Hall 7 p.m. November 11 Senior Project Grant Apllications due by 5 p.m. February 11 Study Abroad Pizza Dinner, Wardman Hall 5 p.m. February 17 Senior Project first draft due to sponsor
February 20, 27, & March 6 WSP Senior Symposia, Wardman Hall, 4:30pm March 24 Spring WSP applications due and Senior Project second draft due to sponsor March 27, April 3 & April 10 WSP Senior Symposia Wardman Hall 4:30pm April 21 Signed & completed Senior Project due by 5pm May 6 WSP Senior Dinner (time and dinner TBA) May 16 Whittier College Commencement Ceremony
For more info visit www.whittier.edu/academics/whittierscholars