2008 William Wiersma Memorial Scholarship Golf and Disc Tourney
The first annual William Wiersma Memorial Scholarship Golf and Disc Tourney will be held Monday, October 6, 2008 at Montecito Country Club. The Golf and Disc Tourney is open to everyone in the Santa Barbara community, all of Westmont's alumni, all of Westmont's faculty, staff and students and all of Will's friends, teammates, co-workers and classmates.
This Tourney is a unique collaboration of traditional golfers and disc golfers inspired by the theme "Don't just innovate. Collaborate!" This collaborative spirit emerged as a major issue and skill in William's life during his education at Westmont and Oxford.
For more information on Will's Tourney visit willstourney.com. To register using our secure online registration form CLICK HERE.
Proceeds from the event will support the William Wiersma Memorial Scholarship Endowment.
William Wiersma Memorial Scholarship
Tom and Laura Wiersma have established a Westmont scholarship in memory of their son, William Wiersma, who was tragically killed in a car accident in September 2006. They have established the William Jae Wiersma Memorial Scholarship to celebrate Will’s life and the way he lived it and to honor his memory in a way that is consistent with his God-glorifying faith.
Will was a gifted student, athlete and student leader and a member of Westmont’s class of 2006. He approached each task with a passionate drive to live life fully and to use every moment to make an impact on the world around him. He believed in working as a team and collaboration was one of his deeply-held values. Whether studying at Oxford University or in a political science class at Westmont, playing competitive Ultimate Frisbee around the world or serving as business manager of the Westmont College Student Association, Will inspired others to dream big dreams. All who knew him walked away inspired to live life fully and well.
For more information regarding endowed scholarships, visit http://www.westmont.edu/giving/endowment.html.
Special Thank You to Donors: 2009 Westmont Calendar
This 12 x 12 inch full-color calendar, available only to Westmont supporters, features spectacular photos of Westmont by M. Bradley Elliott, college photographer. Anyone who has given $100 or more (either once or cumulatively) between July 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2008, will automatically receive the calendar. If you have given $100 since July, you don't need to do anything; the calendar will arrive in the mail. If you are interested in giving, please click here.
College lands $1.5M for Social Sciences
The Fletcher Jones Foundation has awarded Westmont $1 million toward the creation of the college's first endowed chair in the social sciences. The grant is being matched with a $500,000 gift from an anonymous donor to fully endow the chair.
The Fletcher Jones Foundation Chair in the Social Sciences at Westmont will honor the work of an outstanding faculty member in history, sociology and anthropology, kinesiology, economics and business, education and liberal arts, political science or the Urban Program in San Francisco. more
Computer Science Awarded $287,500 Grant
The National Science Foundation awarded Westmont professors Kim P. Kihlstrom and Wayne Iba a $287,500 grant for their project Connection-Oriented Computer Science Education. more
Does your company match your charitable giving? You get the credit too! Search here or ask your human resources department. For more information, email annualfund@westmont.edu.
Westmont Holds Onto Top-Tier In Rankings
Westmont remains in the top tier among the nation's top liberal arts colleges in the 2008 edition of U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" released today. Westmont tied with 10 other colleges with a ranking of 106. This is the third straight year the college has been in the top tier. more
Westmont Receives Large Gift from Neighbors
College's Closest Neighbor Focuses Gift on Scholarships, Arts Montecito neighbors Harold and Annette Simmons have surprised Westmont College with a $1 million gift. Half the gift has been designated for student scholarships. The remainder will go toward funding an endowed chair in art that will bolster the program of the soon to be constructed visual arts center and gallery. more
Westmont Receives $75 Million Gift
An anonymous donor has given $75 million to Westmont, the second largest gift ever for a national liberal arts college. Westmont Chancellor David K. Winter announced the gift in October 2006. more