Commencement 2012

  • Megan Mooty, a communication studies major, presented a Student Reflection at Baccalaureate May 4 on Russ Carr Field
  • A double major in mathematics and physics, Aaron Shadul Panchal reflected on his student years at the Friday evening Baccalaureate service.
  • Communication studies professor Deborah Dunn delivered the Baccalaureate address, 'Be Holy.'
  • The Westmont Banner and bagpipers led the procession onto Russ Carr Field for Commencement 2012.
  • On May 5, 314 members of the class of 2012 graduated from Westmont.
  • President Gayle D. Beebe (left) presented the Westmont Medal to Chad and Ginni Dreier to honor their community service and philanthropy supporting children, education, literacy and health-related causes.
  • Nancy Ortberg, director of leadership development at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church and the mother of a graduating senior, gave the Commencement address, 'Here, There, Now and Then.'
  • The Class of 1962 celebrated their 50th reunion during Commencement weekend, and 42 Golden Warriors marched in the ceremony with the class of 2012.
  • The Santa Ynez Mountains in the background reminded participants and guests of the 2008 Tea Fire, when the class of 2012, then first-year students, evacuated to the gym for the night. The blaze destroyed eight buildings and burned a third of the campus.
  • Elijah Tylski graduated first in his class with a 3.988 GPA, majored in chemistry and received the Faculty Scholarship Award. He will be commissioned as an Air Force officer and begin pilot training in 2013.
  • Kenneth Monroe Award winner Melissa Christensen, a religious studies major and co-director of Emmaus Road, graduated summa cum laude with a 3.94 GPA .
  • Student body president T.J. Breshears, Kenneth Monroe Award winner, majored in religious studies and earned a 3.62 GPA.
  • Coby Cress and Katherine Stuart received the Dean's Award as outstanding student-athletes. Coby played baseball, majored in economics and business and earned a 3.95 GPA. Katherine, a biology major and distance runner, graduated with a 3.86 GPA. Both earned summa cum laude graduation honors.
  • Kelsey Santoro accepted the Dave Dolan Award for her service as co-director of Potter's Clay. A sociology major, she earned a 3.5 GPA.
  • Three Westmont professors received the Bruce and Adaline Bare Outstanding Teacher Award (from left to right): Tom Knecht (political science), Charles Farhadian (religious studies) and Eileen McMahon (biology).
  • Old Testament professor Tremper Longman III received the Faculty Research Award at Commencement.
  • President Gayle D. Beebe congratulates music major Sarah Shasberger.
  • The crowd of more than 4,000 relatives and friends enjoyed sunny weather as they cheered for their graduates.
  • Seventeen seniors graduated with degrees in chemistry at Commencement 2012; 11 had double majors and one completed three majors.
  • Computer science graduates pose with Professors Kim Kihlstrom (far left) and Wayne Iba (far right).
  • Graduates cheer at the end of Commencement.

Dear Member of the Class of 2012 and Parents of Graduates,

Commencement Weekend at Westmont College is an exciting event for the entire campus community. We celebrate our graduates who have achieved their goal of completing an undergraduate degree at Westmont. At the same time, we join with them in celebrating the meaningful relationships they’ve made with fellow students and the faculty who have come alongside them in this journey. We know that their time at Westmont has been more than just an academic education, but a journey of their life with God.

Baccalaureate will be held Friday, May 4 at 6 p.m. on Westmont’s Russell Carr Field. Commencement will be held Saturday, May 5 at 10 a.m., also on Russell Carr Field. Following a long-standing Westmont tradition, on commencement morning graduates will be led by bagpipers from Kerrwood Hall through the formal gardens to Russell Carr Field. Nancy Ortberg, leadership development director at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, and the mother of a 2012 graduate, will be our Commencement speaker; additional information on Mrs. Ortberg is available via the "Ceremonies" link on the left side of this web page.

Following the Commencement ceremony, my wife Pam and I look forward to greeting the graduates and their guests at receptions that will be held on the lawns and patio areas surrounding Winter Hall for Science and Mathematics.

I encourage you to read the entire Commencement website for information re: both the Baccalaureate and Commencement services, tickets, parking, shuttles, schedules, etc. for the Commencement weekend.

Parents, thank you for entrusting your students to us. We have been blessed to have them as part of the Westmont community, and we embrace them as life-long members of our alumni. We have confidence that God has great plans for each one of them and look forward to all that He will accomplish through their lives.

With gratitude and appreciation,

Gayle D. Beebe, Ph.D

Class Verse

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
Ephesians 4:3