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
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