Meet another new member of the alumni family!
Taylor Faranda
Major: Cross-Cultural Studies (Political Science Emphasis) and Spanish
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo.
A top highlight during your time at Whitworth: When I think back on my time at Whitworth, two highlights come immediately to mind. The first was my experience as a Resident Assistant in East Hall, Whitworth’s newest dorm. Serving on the first leadership team in the dorm meant taking part in setting the tone of the community as well as establishing new traditions. I lived on two great halls of inspiring women, and I made many lasting friendships with my leadership team and residents. The second experience was my semester on the Central America Study Program. This life-defining journey consisted of many unique cross-cultural interactions including a one-month rural Honduran homestay, an epic trek through the Costa Rican jungle to learn at a sustainable permaculture farm, and a celebration of Semana Santa (Holy Week) in the beautiful country of El Salvador. The trip deeply shaped my perspective of the world and my understanding of my vocation.
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Continuing in our Class of ’12 meet-and-greet – read the others here.
Patrick Yoho
Major:Computer Science, Engineering Physics (Mechanical Track) and French triple major
Minor: Mathematics
Hometown: Beaverton, Ore.
A top highlight during your time at Whitworth: Traditiation week still reigns as one of the highlights from my time at Whitworth. The energy that was there and the relationships I started that week remain as one of my fondest and most lasting memories.
One thing you’ll miss about being a Whitworth student: I will miss being around all of the great people that make Whitworth what it is and I will miss being as integrated into an organization as I have been with Whitworth. Not only have I been a student here, but I have taken advantage of as many options that Whitworth has offered including things like studying abroad, participating in student government, interacting with members of the Board of Trustees, doing research, and more. This has made me truly care about Whitworth both now and in the future and I’ll miss being an immediate part of it.
What’s next: Next stop on this roller coaster called life is Teach for America. I will be joining the Mississippi Delta Corps, hopefully teaching high school physics; training starts June 5th, so it’s a pretty quick turn around. I have also been selected as one of 100 incoming TFA members named as Amgen Fellows, which is pretty cool because they provide a signing bonus, and more importantly, promised funding for classroom and/or professional development. I’m very honored and excited to have been selected for Teach for America and as an Amgen Fellow and am looking forward to being able to provide my future students with the best education I can possibly give them.
Professors who were influential: Bendi Benson-Schrambach, Kamesh Sankaran, Susan Mabry, Kent Jones, Ed Walker, Peter Tucker
Friends: your gifts support real Whitworth students. This past year, Jack Dunbar was the recipient of the Daniel H. Burtness Leadership Memorial Award, a scholarship that is given each year to a student leader at Whitworth. Last spring, before graduation, the Class of ’11 joined together in contributing to this scholarship to help those following in their footsteps and to honor the life of their friend, Dan.
Take 30 seconds to hear Jack thank those who supported him through the award this year.
Thank you for all the ways you continue to support the Whitworth community beyond your years on campus. You are exemplary Whitworthians for Life!
Want to help more grateful students? Make a gift and feel great all weekend.
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As you know, we have followed these five alums throughout this past academic year, and this is our final time checking in with them for this series. (View the other posts here.) A big thanks to Katelyn, Ben, Devin, Kimmy, and Michael for letting us follow you through your first year of grad school. We are proud of you! And, please take a long nap.
KATELYN (ERICKSON) BIVIN, ’08: Masters of Family Studies with Fuller Seminary in Pasadena
You’re done with your first year of grad school. What’s the best thing about that? Well, I’m not quite done yet since the quarter schedule drags out into June, but I think that the best thing about being done with this first year will be having some of my more basic/required classes behind me and being able to look ahead to taking some really interesting elective courses.
What do you know now that you wish you had known before starting your program? Looking back, I wish that I had known how intensive the quarter schedule was and how very different it is from the semester system - it’s been a bigger adjustment than I ever anticipated.
What does this summer hold for you? For me, this summer holds…more classes! No rest for the weary! I’ll be taking two classes during the summer quarter, but I’m also getting to take two fun trips- one to the east coast to visit one of my best friends and one back home to Colorado for quality time with family!
Five words to describe your first year of grad school: studying. alot. growth. challenged. changed.
Five words to describe how you were prepared for your program through your experience at Whitworth: Learning to engage in dialogue!
BEN MORESCO, ’09: University of Washington WWAMI Medical School (Satellite Campus WSU/UI)
You’re done with your first year of grad school. What’s the best thing about that? It will be so nice to have weekends off again when I am done. Plus I can return to a regular showing at the gym and work up towards the crazy Tough Mudder race in Seattle in September 2012! Wooo!
What do you know now that you wish you had known before starting your program? I wish I had known earlier who best to study with. Study partners that you work well with are hard to find. Once I figured out who they were, I latched on to them so quickly! Nothing better than a well-oiled machine of a team.
What does this summer hold for you? A lot. First I am starting and finishing a research project in the Palouse on Human Cytomegalovirus. Then in July I am doing a rural externship in Twin Falls, Ida. And finally in August I move to Seattle, go sky diving with some awesome friends, and acclimate to city living before starting up 2nd year at the end of August.
Five words to describe your first year of grad school: stressful, exciting, interesting, challenging, fun.
Five words to describe how you were prepared for your program through your experience at Whitworth: Balance (in progress), driven, challenged, presence, professional.
DEVIN ROURKE, ’10: Vanderbilt University School of Law
You’re done with your first year of grad school. What’s the best thing about that? Right now, I’d say just being done. I have a couple of weeks ”off” (we have to do the write-on competition for law review) and I get to visit my family. Law school exams are pretty brutal and I’ve been working non-stop for about a month now. Supposedly law school gets better (or at least different) during 2L and 3L years. I’m excited to pick my own classes and get involved with extracurriculars that aren’t available for 1Ls.
What do you know now that you wish you had known before starting your program? To apply for summer internships as early as possible. I could have saved myself a lot of stress! Also, just remember that no matter how hard things are, you will get through it.
What does this summer hold for you? I’m really excited about my summer! I will be working (with a real case-load under supervision, of course!) in the Civil Legal Clinic at Vanderbilt. The work will primarily be representing students and families requesting special education programs at their school, social security appeals, and disability law. Basically doing what I’ve wanted to do: Use the legal system to help people.
Five words to describe your first year of grad school: exhausting, exhilarating, persevering, vocation-defining and terrifying
Five words to describe how you were prepared for your program through your experience at Whitworth: This isn’t a five word thing, but I don’t know if I can sum up how Whitworth prepared me in only five words. Whitworth taught me the beauty of perseverance, how to deal with stress in a healthy way, a wonderful RD taught about the joys of self-care, and most importantly, Whitworth taught me the types of friendships I need to hold on to. At one point this semester I found myself sort of adrift. I felt stressed, confused and my life just wasn’t how I had hoped it would be in law school. I remembered what it felt like to be in community with people at Whitworth and contacted the person here I had felt similarly with. We set up a standing breakfast date and it has been incredibly life-giving to me. Relationships can be superficial at first and one thing that Whitworth taught me to value are the people who aren’t afraid to go deep.
KIMMY STOKESBARY, ’10: Master of Divinity, Princeton Theological Seminary
You’re done with your first year of grad school. What’s the best thing about that? Today, I’m confident that I’m where I’m supposed to be and I’m excited about what the future holds. While this year has been challenging, it has made me surer of what I am being called to and left me excited about not only continuing my studies, but also pursuing my vocation.
What do you know now that you wish you had known before starting your program? I wish I’d appreciated, trusted, and embraced the number of people who are 100% behind me in this journey. This year, I’ve come to more fully understand that I desperately need to be surrounded by people who will love, support, and encourage me. I’ve learned that I can’t do everything on my own, that it is a lot more fun to be on this journey with other people, and that it’s okay to admit weakness and lean on the people surrounding me. I am incredibly grateful for the people who have stood beside me unconditionally, constantly cheered me on, and helped me to become a better person. As I look to the future I know I cannot this alone, but I also know that there are many people who believe in me and will continue with me on this journey.
What does this summer hold for you? I will be living in Seattle, WA working as a chaplain at Harborview Medical Center. I’ve been told that the summer will be a challenging and crazy adventure, but I’m excited for what I’ll learn, for the ways that I’ll grow, and for how I’ll be prepared for my future.
Five words to describe your first year of grad school: transitions, adventure, challenging, growth, calling and vocation
Five words to describe how you were prepared for your program through your experience at Whitworth: Grace and truth, academic rigor, critical thinking, authentic community, worldview
MICHAEL KIMBALL-BRYANT, ’09: M.Ed. in Higher Education, Loyola University Chicago
You’re done with your first year of grad school. What’s the best thing about that? Summer. Seriously. I have four months off and I’m looking forward to reading books that are not as rigorous or demanding. Spending more time with my partner, Julie, will be great as well.
What do you know now that you wish you had known before starting your program? Buy a calendar. Write everything in it. Life will be so much easier.
What does this summer hold for you? I’m going to keep working part-time at the University of Chicago. I am also going to try to work as a pedal cab driver too. Probably going to go see the lovable loser Cubs play a couple of times and buy an air conditioner because it gets humid here.
Five words to describe your first year of grad school: Eye-opening, stressful, explorative, challenging, engaging.
Five words to describe how you were prepared for your program through your experience at Whitworth. This is not five, but I believe that Whitworth does a great job engaging you with wherever you are in life. Professors, staff and even administrators partner with you in your journey. Having that support system helped me search for that at Loyola and I am thankful for those who have come along side me in my journey during grad school.
Another great person to get to know from the Class of ’12 as we head toward Commencement this Sunday, May 13. Join us in welcoming these new graduates into the alumni family!
Lauren Major
Lauren received top recognition for his trumpet performance at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival this February
Major:Music Performance – Jazz
Minor: Spanish
Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico
A top highlight during your time at Whitworth: Playing a solo and trading fours with Arturo Sandoval for the Jazz Band Guest Artist Concert. It was a once in a lifetime experience and one I wouldn’t trade for anything!
One thing you’ll miss about being a Whitworth student: I’ll miss all the great events and opportunities that come through Whitworth (music, guest speakers, etc.) and bumping into familiar faces over campus.
What’s next for you? Hopefully get a TA position at a grad school and eventually get into the music scene wherever I end up (Europe would be awesome!) and make a living performing, writing, and recording music.
Professors who were influential: Dan Keberle and Brent Edstrom with their guidance in performing music. Also, Joe Vigil for helping me get over my fear of speaking and performing in front of large groups of people.
Over the next few weeks, The 10 will introduce you to a few faces from the Class of ’12. They graduate from Whitworth on May 13, and we are excited to welcome them as alumni!
Laura Reardon
Major: Sociology and Spanish
Minor: Certificate for Ministry and Theology
Hometown: Lynden, Wash. (“and believe it or not, I’m not Dutch!”)
A top highlight during your time at Whitworth: My junior year at Whitworth, I had the amazing opportunity to be a part of the first group of students to study at Whitworth’s Costa Rica Center and then participate in the Central America Study Program (CASP). These nine months spent in Central America were extremely formative for me as I was made aware of the complexity of poverty and development and the extent to which injustice and oppression are so pervasive in all of life around the world. Standing in the middle of a dump in Managua where people struggle to find food in the trash and teaching English to a smiling ten-year old girl in Honduras who does not have the opportunity to go to school, I was challenged to see how God was present and at work. But throughout my time there, the people’s generosity, love, joy, and perseverance showed my that in every seemingly desperate situation, God gives hope. And that hope permeates all of life, motivating me to work for justice in a way that mobilizes and empowers people. Read more…
If you remember when Allen Stone, Horse Feathers and Wye Oak played at Whitworth, then you probably also remember Vi Nguyen, ’09, the woman who helped bring these acts to campus during her junior year when she served as campus activities coordinator. While these performers have gone on to establish sizable fan bases in the last couple years, Vi has continued to seek out, research and bookmark new music to share.
Vi in Hollywood at a show at Bardot, featuring VV Brown, Grace Woodroofe, and Adanowsky, plus DJ sets from Rondo Brothers and Keep Shelly in Athens
Her latest project, Broke Beats, is a blog about “sharing music so good that it would be an injustice not to promote it.” (The name “Broke Beats” was inspired by being broke from going to so many shows.) From disco house to dub-step, electronica to indie, Vi and her friend and fellow music-lover Kris have been curating their favorite discoveries since this past February. Their readership is growing, they’re lining up more contributors, and they’re even starting to reap some of the rewards that come with being an expert on the scene.
Of course, Vi has a day job, too – and it has nothing to do with music.
I asked Vi to share a bit about what she’s been up to since her Whitworth days, and what’s next for Broke Beats. Here’s a slice. Read more…
Have you checked out Whitworth’s new alumni page yet?
We here in the alumni office are pretty excited about it, mostly because it celebrates who we are as Whitworth alumni. (Recognize any familiar faces in the profile line-up? Thanks, Julie, Cheryl and Blake!)
We also like it because it highlights important ways to stay engaged as Whitworthians for Life. From career networking opportunities, to alumni events, to podcasts, to this here blog, we want you to know that the Whitworth community still supports you and wants to keep the conversation going. And we want to celebrate the ways you are helping us do that, not just through your annual gifts, but also through the many ways you are living out the mind and heart mission.
Let us know what you think. Are you looking for things that aren’t there, or are hard to find? Does it work OK on your phone? Would you be willing to be featured as a Whitworthian for Life profile? Send any of those thoughts our way (or email alumni[at]whitworth.edu) and we’ll respond ASAP.
While Whitworth alumni are continually working hard, exploring the unknown and pushing the horizon, Joe Tobiason and Andrew Knapp, both ’08, have literately captured the horizon with this time-lapse video of the Seattle sky made over the last year.
Joe and Andrew met at Whitworth and have been friends since their days in Mac. Whitworth senior and intern writer Karen Robison caught up with Joe recently to find out more about this video clip and what else the two have been up to since graduation. Read more…
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