WhitMail Project

Help welcome seniors to the Whitman alumni community

We all remember what it was like as our last semester at Whitman drew to a close. Whether you were anxious about entering the “real world” or excited about starting the next chapter, stressed about finding a job or looking forward to moving to a new city, we were all too aware that before us lay one of the largest transitions of our lives. In the crazy rush of capstones, finals, travel arrangements and saying goodbye to friends and mentors, it’s easy for seniors to forget that they are part of a wider Whitman community that will always be a resource for them.

You can make a difference in the life of a graduating Whitman senior in just a few minutes with WhitMail!
From now until May 3, 2024, the Alumni Office will be collecting postcards from alumni across the world with words of encouragement for a graduating senior. When the Class of 2024 enters their last round of finals, we will send each senior a postcard from alumni. It’s a simple but powerful way to connect with the next generation of alumni and make a difference for a stressed-out senior.

Send from your hometown! Send from your vacation!

FAQs

Should I include my contact information in case the student wants to get in touch?
Please do not include any contact information on your WhitMail, including email, phone number, Twitter, etc. Writing your name legibly and including your class year will make it easy for the student who receives your WhitMail to find you in Whitman Connect, should they wish to be in contact.

Can I submit more than one postcard?
Absolutely!

What if I can't send a postcard?
If you are in a location where a postcard is not feasible please send an email to alumni@whitman.edu and we will make sure a student gets it. Be sure to include a photo of your location!

How about postcards from my vacations?
You bet! Live in L.A.? Work in D.C.? Vacation in China? Send from all three!

Will Whitman provide postcards?
No, we would love for you to send a postcard from your city/area/country, rather than a Whitman postcard. The hope is that seniors will get a sense that alumni live and travel all over the world, and that no matter where they go, they will be able to access the alumni network.

Should I stamp and address the postcard to the Alumni Office, or put it in an envelope and mail that?
Either way will work fine! If you would like to send a longer message, it may make sense to send the postcard in an envelope. If you have a cool stamp you’d like to show off, you might want to send the postcard in by itself.

When should I send my postcards?
You can send postcards year-round and we’ll hold them until finals. After May 3, 2024 please address your postcard to the NEXT graduating year.

Can I pick which senior will receive my postcard?
To make sure that every senior receives a postcard, we are not assigning recipients ahead of time. You may want to start your message with “Dear graduating senior” or “Hello, new alum!”