College News
Slow Progress on Master Plan
Westmont's updated master plan is moving forward slowly. Consultants will complete a revised environmental impact report in February or March, and the community will have 45 days to consider and comment on it. After the review period, county staff prepare their final report and the Montecito P l a n n i n g Commission considers the updated plan.
If the commission approves the update and no one appeals, the college will begin construction on two long-planned academic buildings: the David K. Winter Hall for Science and Mathematics and the Adams Center for the Visual Arts. If there is an appeal, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will make the final decision in late 2005, with groundbreaking following as soon as permits are issued.
The Santa Barbara County Planning and Development Department determines the pace of progress. "We enjoy a positive working relationship with county personnel, and we appreciate the quality people assigned to our project," says J. Clifton Lundberg, executive vice president. "The presence of opposition always causes delays, and this case is no exception."
The lengthy process has yielded some positive benefits. "Westmont's updated master plan is better and its legal foundation has become stronger," Lundberg notes. "We have made changes that have resulted in a better plan. The update places buildings farther away from neighbors while screening them better, improves traffic circulation on campus, protects natural habitats and enhances fire safety."
President Stan D. Gaede, Lundberg and other staff meet periodically with Montecito residents and opponents of the update to mediate as many concerns as possible.
"Please pray for this important project as we move through the approval process," Lundberg says. "Local friends of the college will have several more opportunities to attend public hearings. It sends a critical message to the community and its elected officials when you fill a hearing room like you did at the EIR review in July. We are truly blessed to have your support. "
A Presidential Award
Westmont President Stan D. Gaede joined the chancellor of UC Santa Barbara and the president of Santa Barbara City College as recipients of the 2004 Inaugural Award for Distinguished Service. Emmaus of Santa Barbara, a non-profit organization that helps at-risk teenagers turn their lives around, presented the awards at their annual dinner in October.
Chancellor Henry T. Yang (above, center) has led UC Santa Barbara since 1994. John Romo (above, left) became president of Santa Barbara City College in 2002.
The award is named for Pierre Claeyssens, a noted Santa Barbara philanthropist who died in 2003.
The Gift of Grants
Westmont faculty, staff and students have received grants to support worship, art and outreach programs.
The Calvin Institute for Christian Worship (CICW) has awarded Westmont faculty and staff two different grants totaling $11,650.
Lisa DeBoer, assistant professor of art history, is conducting research on the arts in worship, and the institute has awarded her $9,250 to support this work. The grant will fund her survey of churches and artists.
CICW has also given $2,400 to the campus pastor's office for the chapel worship team. The money will fund training by a professional musician as well as teambuilding activities. It will also permit the worship team to continue distributing the compact disc of its music produced earlier in the year.
CICW gave Westmont a $15,000 worship renewal grant in 2001, which the art department administered.
Wells Fargo Foundation has given $1,000 to the student ministry program Spring Break in the City. Each year during spring break, teams of Westmont students work with churches and organizations to reach out to inner-city residents in both San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Wealth and Worth
Parents and grandparents discovered how to establish financial family values in an era of relative wealth during a seminar, "The Importance of Worth to Wealth and the Fit Family" held on campus in October. The Westmont Foundation sponsored the event.
Speakers included authors Lillian Carson ("The Essential Grandparent: A Guide to Making a Difference"), Joline Godfrey ("Raising Financially Fit Kids") and Gordon Hess, a Montecito marriage and family therapist.
A panel of financial professionals discussed the effect of self worth on investing, accounting, financial banking and estate planning. The panelists were: attorney John Ambrecht (above); certified public accountants Cindy Enderby and Phil Palmquist; Roy Gaskin of Santa Barbara Bank & Trust; Dick Welch, retired from Santa Barbara Bank & Trust; and Tim Tremblay of Tremblay Financial Services.
Viva Homecoming!
Visit the Homecoming 2004 photo gallery.
A festive fiesta theme added to the fun at the college's annual Homecoming weekend Sept. 24-25, 2004.
During the Celebracion Brunch cón el Presidente on Saturday, Westmont honored four outstanding alums (left to right): Jay Pierson '69, Alumnus of the Year; David MacCulloch '84, Volunteer of the Year; Christopher Aubuchon '94, Young Alumnus of the Year; and Carleeda Hutton '54, Distinguished Service Award. President Stan Gaede (second from right) congratulated the recipients.
The brunch also featured a multimedia presentation on Westmont's history, the announcement of class gifts and a talk by President Gaede.
Throughout the weekend, alumni had opportunities to revisit old haunts by going to chapel, eating in the dining commons, checking out Clark and Page residence halls and taking a campus history tour.
At a "Class without a Quiz," Jay Pierson '69, Republican floor assistant to the speaker of the House of Representatives and political science professor Dave Lawrence discussed the presidential election.
The men's soccer team entertained alumni fans by beating Hope International University 5-0
Other activities included a praise and worship service, academic reunions and a town hall meeting about the updated master plan.
College Players Turn Coach
Members of the Westmont baseball team taught the fundamentals of their sport to local youth.
Warrior baseball practice took on a youthful character Monday afternoons during the fall. PONY League players from the community, ranging in age from 8 to 14 years, filled Carr Field and learned the basics of the sport from varsity athletes.
The inspiration for this collaboration came from Head Coach Rob Crawford.
"I was asked if some of our players could coach PONY League teams because the organization didn't have enough coaches," he said.
"After brainstorming with Ken Doss, PONY League president, and Dave Marshall, a coach and board member, I came up with the idea of Westmont providing one practice a week for the league. The different PONY League teams could split up for another practice during the week and for games on the weekends, but on Mondays, they'd come together at Westmont for a practice with the college team.
"Monday practice is optional during fall-ball so I asked my team if they would be willing to participate in coaching the PONY League players. The response was overwhelming enthusiasm for the idea," Crawford said
"Originally we were only going to involve the 13- and 14-year-olds, but when the 11-year-old coach, Seth Smith, heard what we were planning, he wanted his guys to be part of it. So we opened it up to everyone in the PONY League."
Each week 30-35 kids participate with 25-30 college players. Small groups of players rotate to a variety of stations around the field.
"The kids are so excited to be working with the college players," said Paul Bradford, a coach and board member. "Parents have noticed how the kids sprint from one station to another when it is time to change."
"I've been coaching for 14 years and have never seen anything like the individual attention these kids are getting from the Westmont players," Smith said. "We're not an expensive club program. We're open to all who play in the league. These kids are getting expert coaching and I am expecting them to accelerate in their baseball skills."
"PONY League is concerned with more than baseball," Doss said. "I am excited about the type of players these boys are getting to know. These are the role models and values we are looking for."
Doss and Bradford want to increase the interaction between the players and kids by having families invite two or three of the players over for a home-cooked meal.
"I am excited about the character I am seeing in our guys," Crawford said. "They are taking the initiative to teach and see to it that none of the kids are left out. This is not just about teaching baseball, it's about mentoring and investing in the lives of others. This reflects the core values we have in the Warrior baseball program."
