Alumni News

Whittier College Receives National Recognition for Community Service (5/16/11)
As colleges across the country honor their graduates this commencement season, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) honored Whittier College as a leader among institutions of higher education for their support of volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement. Whittier was admitted to the 2010 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with distinction for its strong institutional commitment to service and compelling campus-community partnerships that produce measurable results for the community.

"This is a wonderful recognition of Whittier College's proud history of partnering with communities—those surrounding the College and beyond," said President Sharon Herzberger. "Every year, with the guidance of a faculty devoted the service learning, our students carry out innovative and meaningful projects that make a real and substantial impact in the greater community—from teaching PE to elementary school children to creating a marketing plan for a local non-profit to creating sustainable gardens that help to feed the homeless." More »

History Professor Comments on Significance of Margarita Machine (5/16/11)
History professor Jose Orozco was recently cited in the Dallas Morning News in an article on the anniversary of the Margarita machine.

"It's really important because for Mexican manufacturers, the margarita becomes the drink that introduces Americans to tequila in a way they weren't able to before," said Orozco. An expert in modern Mexican, Latin American, and Chicano history, Orozco is currently conducting research on the history of tequila in Mexico. More »

Whittier College Celebrates 108th Commencement (5/13/11)
Seated under a brilliantly sunny sky in Whittier College's Memorial Stadium, the nearly 300 members of the class of 2011 listened attentively as award-winning journalist Bill Moyers urged them to "take one more walk around the campus" before leaving.

"Take it all in one more time, remember why you came, who you were, what you wanted and why. One day, those memories will come back to ground you when everything that is tied down is coming loose."

Speaking about the many challenges these new graduates will face in very complicated world, Moyers told the student that they chose well in coming to Whittier College. "With a student body the color and texture of the future. With a faculty that believes in service teaching and with trustees and an administration committed to your needs for personal growth and the worlds need for social justice. This was the best choice you made early in your life."

Click here for full coverage of the 2011 Commencement Ceremony.

Moyers shared the stage with his spouse and professional partner Judith Davidson Moyers, a television producer and long-time education advocate. The Moyers became honorary Poets, as they were conferred with a doctorate of humane letters (L.H.D.) by President Sharon Herzberger. Read more in the Whittier Daily News.

Whittier College Honors Latino Graduates (5/10/11)
Professor Rafael Chabran was the keynote speaker at the 10th Annual Latino Graduate Celebration.

"Neither you, nor I are finished," Chabran told the graduates on stage. "Tell each other. I am not finished. I will pass the light, "pasar la luz," and not just any ol' light or candle but a huge burning torch that will remind us and others of how much light we need to brighten up the darkness of the world's problems."

Chabran, who is retiring this year after devoting 25 years to Whittier College, received a standing ovation. During the ceremony 50 Whittier students donned the traditional cap-and-gown and were formally recognized by President Sharon Herzberger. In addition, half-a-dozen students took to the podium to give words of congratulations to fellow graduates and to thank friends and family who supported their educational goals. The event ended with a Mariachi performance featuring a chemistry major Vanessa Parada '11 on the violin. More »

1000 Cranes for Japan (5/10/11)
After an earthquake and tsunami ravished Japan, international business major Madison Stern '11 was so moved by the destruction she witnessed on television that she decided to make a difference. Combining her ceramics final project with a fundraiser, Stern set out to raise $1000 for the people of Japan and to create 1000 ceramic and paper cranes to represent each dollar raised. Most of her fundraising was done in the Campus Inn—one of the busiest spots on campus— where she was permitted to display her nearly 300 white and brown ceramic and brilliantly colorful paper birds.

One dollar and one crane at time she has raised nearly $250. While the school year is almost over her efforts continue. “I haven't put an end date yet to the project,” she said, confident that her goal will be met. “My true heart’s passion is being able to collaborate with other individuals in order to achieve something for a greater cause,” she added.

Click here to donate online. All proceeds go directly to the people of Japan. More »

Outstanding Student-Athletes Honored at Annual Purple & Gold Banquet (5/10/11)
Whittier College student-athletes were recognized for their achievements on and off the field at the Annual All-Sports Awards Banquet hosted by the Whittier College Athletics Department and Purple & Gold Club.

The night was highlighted by the presentation of the four major awards: Male and Female Freshman Athlete of the Year: Mickala Gonzalez and Erick Gonzalez; Male and Female Team Sport Athlete of the Year: Carolyn Mukai '13 and Adolfo Santos '12; Male and Female Individual Athlete of the Year: Michele Callaway '12, Erin Bartholomew '13, and Julian Seneviratne '13; and Presidential Scholar Athletes: Conny Joel '13 and DJ Covarrubias '11. In addition, all the conference, regional and national award winners were recognized as well as those students who have maintained a minimum grade-point-average of 3.7. More »

Whittier Alumna Working with Geriatric Baby Boomers (5/5/11)
As the baby boomer generation approaches its senior years, this unique and abundant population will have a great impact on health care and aging issues across the nation. In fact, it's reported by 2030, one out of five Americans will be over the age of 65. With this comes a great need for social workers specializing in geriatrics.

Whittier graduate Yesica Sanchez '09 is answering the call. While earning a master's degree in social welfare at Dominican University in Chicago, Sanchez has carried out a year-long internship at Oak Park Arms retirement community. Not only does Sanchez interact with the senior residents during the day, sometimes running activities, she is in the unique position of living at Oak Park Arms as well.

"My interest started during my senior year of undergraduate at Whittier College," says Sanchez. "I had worked with kids and decided to challenge myself and work with a different population in case management for seniors. I was surprised to find out I loved working with seniors. When it came to graduate school I knew I wanted to continue that path."

Read more in the Chicago Tribune. More »

Blog: A Poet Teaches in Hong Kong (4/27/11)
This spring chemistry professor Devin Iimoto has been serving as a visiting professor at Lingnan University in Hong Kong. His semester-long tenure is part of a developing partnership between Lingnan and Whittier College.

Iimoto is teaching a course on AIDS that emphasizes both the biological basis of the disease with its societal impact around the world. Iimoto has been blogging about his experiences teaching in Hong Kong and traveling to other Asian countries. Click here to read his blog.

Follow President Herzberger's blog: www.whittierpresident.wordpress.com