Longtime Supporters Amy Ly ’06 & Steven Ly ’07 Found Their Match in Whitman

Before they ever met, Amy Ly ’06 and Steven Ly ’07 were on the same page about what they wanted in a college: a top-notch education and the opportunity to play college sports. They found what they were looking for—and each other—at Whitman College.

Amy majored in Biology and played soccer for two years and tennis for one at Whitman. Steven, also a Biology major, played on the men’s tennis team all four years. The couple, who met as students, developed deep connections with fellow students and faculty that remain strong to this day. They have expressed their gratitude for their Whitman experience by making annual gifts to the college for more than two decades.

“I worked for the Development Office for a year after graduating, and I came to understand the importance of alumni giving,” says Amy, who notes that she would not have been able to attend Whitman without the generous scholarships and aid she received. “We primarily give to support programs that we really enjoyed, such as the tennis teams and the Whitman in China program, as well as general scholarships through The Whitman Fund. It’s our way of paying it forward.”

Serving Up Success

In addition to playing two sports, Amy was involved with several organizations on campus. She was a Student Engagement Volunteer (now called Community Engagement Volunteers), a member of Delta Gamma, and President of the Associated Students of Whitman College. She also held part-time jobs both on and off campus, including serving as a Resident Advisor at Jewett Hall.

Steven spent much of his time outside the classroom on the tennis courts. He competed in the NCAA Division III singles championships as a junior and received the R.V. Borleske Trophy, which is presented annually to the college’s top male athlete, as a senior.  

Both Amy and Steven believe Whitman prepared them well for their future professional success.

“I really learned how to digest material and think critically,” Steven says. “The standard and the expectations were already very, very high at Whitman, so when it was time to go to a graduate-level program, I was ready for that level of academic rigor.”

Advantage Walla Walla

After completing law school and pharmacy school, respectively, Amy and Steven spent several years establishing their careers in Seattle—but Walla Walla was never far from their hearts. In 2021, they decided to move back with their son Francis, 7, and daughter Florence, 5. Today, Amy serves as Director of Postsecondary Access at United Way of the Blue Mountains in Walla Walla, and Steven is a Pharmacy Manager at the Safeway near Whitman’s campus. 

“It has been so wonderful,” Amy says. “Walla Walla is such a great place to raise kids.”

The couple remain active with Whitman’s tennis program and have maintained close relationships with Head Men’s Tennis Coach Jeff Northam ’88 and Head Women’s Tennis Coach John Hein. In addition to supporting the teams financially and working with student-athletes, Amy and Steven volunteer extensively each summer with the Whitman Tennis and Wine Camps, which combine tennis instruction and wine tastings. 

“Tennis really shaped who we are, and it’s still a big part of our daily life,” Steven says. “I give credit to the coaches for their leadership and their vision. The closeness that these teams have been able to foster over the years is really remarkable. It has impacted both of us so much.”