Garrett-Sherwood Scholars
About the Scholarship
Whitman College awards Garrett-Sherwood Scholarships to exceptional applicants who exhibit outstanding achievement in academics and leadership.
Garrett-Sherwood Scholars have unique opportunities throughout their time at Whitman.
Get to know each other. Garrett-Sherwood Scholars meet regularly for social gatherings, networking, and unique growth opportunities.
Gain skills for an amazing future. Garrett-Sherwood Scholars further cultivate their leadership skills through career workshops, guest lectures, and opportunities to affect change in the greater Walla Walla community. Our expert staff also provides individualized career advising.
Travel together to New York City. During spring break of their junior or senior year, Garrett-Sherwood Scholars explore the city—and have the opportunity to network with alumni who are leaders in their fields.
Garrett-Sherwood Scholars are also invited to visit campus at Whitman’s expense.
Meet Garrett-Sherwood Scholars
“When I visited the campus, I was greeted by like minded people that I felt had the same search for knowledge I did. That was the moment I knew Whitman was a perfect fit for me.”
- Interned at Microsoft, contributing to the development of a GUI (Graphical User Interface) tailored for internal use by Microsoft employees.
- Founded and operated a business specializing in building and selling custom computers, while also gaining valuable insights into running a successful enterprise.
“Made Whitman more affordable for my family, gave me confidence in my abilities entering Whitman.”
- Economics and Chinese double major.
- Works as a Community Engagement Student Leader For Nonprofit and Community Partnerships.
- Serves as a program assistant for the Land, Water, Justice Field course at Whitman College.
- Works as a Food Justice Project Program Leader, planning and facilitating local food-access-related volunteer opportunities for students.
- Student Office Assistant at Dean of Students Office.
“The generous Garret-Sherwood Scholarship has completely changed my college experience, relieving so much of the stress around loans and debt.”
- Prospective Biology/Philosophy Major
- Part of the track dedicated to cross country and distance running at Whitman.
- Interned for Fisheries Habitat Management with ICC, during the summer of 2023.
- Economics and Computer Science double major with a Religion minor.
- Serving as an Inclusion Fellow, playing a pivotal role in cultivating an inclusive environment, with an emphasis on empowering first-generation and/or working-class individuals.
- Leading the charge as the Market Manager of Whitman African Student Association, spreading enthusiasm through vibrant celebrations of African Culture.
- Was actively involved as an off-campus studies intern guiding students in their study abroad decisions, offering valuable support and insight.
“Attending Whitman was influenced by an early connection with my admission officer via the GS scholarship. Conversations with current students confirmed Whitman's strong support for first-gen working-class students, reinforcing my decision to choose a student-centric institution.”
- Politics Major with a History Minor and a Global Studies Concentration.
- Engaged as a leader in the college's Summer Fly-In Program and active member of Affinity groups Latine Unidos and First-Generation/Working-Class Club.
- Serving as an Inclusion Fellow, playing a pivotal role in cultivating an inclusive environment, with an emphasis on empowering first-generation and/or working-class individuals.
Who’s Garrett? Who’s Sherwood?
Paul Garrett, Class of 1913
After graduating from Whitman College in 1913 and Columbia University in 1914, Paul Garrett’s career included working for the New York Evening Post, and he eventually became the director of public relations for General Motors.
Garrett established a trust for scholarships and fellowships, in his words, “… for the purpose of extending the preeminence of Whitman College in the development of future leaders of business and society.”
Claire Sherwood
(Daughter of Donald Sherwood, Class of 1922)
Claire Sherwood was the daughter of a renowned Whitman alumni—business leader Donald Sherwood. The Sherwood family had a lifelong history of supporting the college, which lives on in generous trust donations, including one in their daughter’s name.
In 1972, when Sherwood was asked “Why Whitman?” for a newspaper article, this was his reply: “An investment in education is more rewarding than anything we have discovered. A college is something vital. Things are moving. It is constructive and forward looking.”