Whitman Stories

Whitman College's campus may be closed, but it is still a buzz of activity. The Physical Plant, Campus Security, Bon Appetit and Residence Life are among those teams continuing to work in-person to make sure the campus — and the students who are still living on it — are safe and cared for.

A model developed by Alan Turing helps explain the spots on the flowers—and many other natural patterns. Cooley and fellow biologists describe the intriguing species in-depth.

President Murray writes about how Whitman is adjusting to this strange new reality and thanks the Walla Walla community for its generosity of spirit.

Miller shares how admitted students are taking advantage of the enrollment flexibility Whitman has offered. When weighing the options for next year, starting their college education on time may make the most sense, especially considering gap year possibilities are likely to be curtailed due to COVID-19.

As graduating high school seniors ponder their next move in a time of unprecedented change, students like Rose Sosa and her family look to how helpful colleges have been during the crisis. With that in mind, Sosa chose Whitman despite not having the chance to visit campus this spring due to the virus.

The classes of 2008 and 2009 faced one of the most challenging job markets in decades, as the U.S. reeled from the impacts of the Great Recession. The Class of 2020 faces an equally uncertain job market, with hiring slowing and the unemployment rate rising in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead of their annual weeklong training camp, which hosted between 50-75 children ages 4-11 from across the Walla Walla Valley, this spring each player on the Blues Baseball team created their own video demonstrating techniques and teaching drills for children to practice at home.

This spring, Evangelos Sarantinos ’20 was awarded a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship to study rare disease and caregivers around the world.

Cameron Conner ’20 believes strongly in the power of communities. He demonstrates that it in his actions, whether that’s volunteering as a wrestling coach at a Spokane, Washington, high school, becoming certified as an EMT, co-founding a nonprofit or helping the city of Walla Walla create a neighborhood-building program. Moving forward, he’ll dig deeper into what makes communities work as a recipient of the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship.

Entrepreneur Matt Dittrich ’12 is passionate about giving back to Whitman and its students in gratitude for the scholarship that made his education possible.

The earliest records of the Senior Fund date to 1986, and it raised nearly $200,000 to support different aspects of the college. The Class of 2013 holds the record for donations, with 65% of the class contributing for a total of over $15,000.

Sarah Murphy ‘21 knows that being a role model for kids can make a big difference, that is why she decided to give back to the Walla Walla community through the Friends of Walla Walla program where she helps mentor elementary school students.