Westmont News

Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Prize Winner in Economics, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and bestselling author “Thinking, Fast and Slow,” speaks at a luncheon Friday, Nov.

Westmont will honor Howard Kootstra ’76, CEO and founder of Golden Empire Mortgage, and Shauna Niequist ’98, New York Times best-selling author, as Alumnus and Alumna of the Year during Homecoming 2018, Oct. 12-14.

The recently released 2019 rankings of U.S. colleges and universities confirm Westmont as one of the top Christian colleges in the nation.

Westmont’s talented music faculty hosts a free performance Friday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. in Westmont’s Deane Chapel. The Fall Faculty Recital, featuring 15 different faculty members, includes pieces by Max Bruch, Frédéric Chopin, Ottorino Respighi, Noro Morales, Victor Ewald and W.C. Handy.

Michael Stefanic, who holds three Westmont baseball records, has signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. The Warrior with the most career hits (275) and career runs (157) has reported to the Angels Arizona Rookie League team in Tempe.

Are you looking for a good book to read? You’ve still got time for unassigned summer reading. Westmont professors share what they’re reading why they can’t put their books down. Classes begin August 27 for fall semester.

Gayle Beebe, President
“Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman

Westmont’s fourth annual Lead Where You Stand Conference, June 6-8, 2018, helped executives and executive teams strengthen their leadership skills through three days of engaging, inspiring and practical sessions at the new Global Leadership Center. David Brooks, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Lynda Weinman and President Gayle D.

The following is from Westmont Provost Mark Sargent.

The following is a Father's Day reflection by Westmont President Gayle D. Beebe about his father, Richard Beebe.

The powerful Keck Telescope remains under repair, but the public viewing of the stars will continue Friday, June 15, beginning at 7:30 p.m. and lasting several hours at the Westmont Observatory. Smaller telescopes will be provided by Westmont and members of the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit.

Westmont alumnus (Charles) Eben Drost ’11 will serve as director of music and worship at Westmont beginning July 2. Drost, who graduates from Fuller Seminary in June with a Master of Arts in theology, has accepted a one-year position at Westmont.

Art

The powerful Keck Telescope continues to under repair and non-functioning, but the public viewing of the stars will continue Friday, May 18, beginning at 7:30 p.m. and lasting several hours at the Westmont Observatory. Smaller telescopes will be provided by Westmont and members of the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit.

Westmont senior Roslyn Smith ’19 took an unconventional road to college. She enrolled at North Carolina Central University in Durham, her hometown. “But the desire to travel would not go away,” she says.

Bob Alderette, associate professor of painting and drawing in the Roski School of Art and Design at USC, juries Westmont’s annual exhibition featuring Tri-County artists May 17-June 23 in the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum.

Golfers and disc golfers will have a unique opportunity to play together in the 10th annual Will’s Tourney on Monday, May 14, at 11:30 a.m. at the Glen Annie Golf Club. A buffet dinner, raffle and awards presentation will follow the tournament at 5:15 p.m. All proceeds from the event benefit the William Wiersma Endowment Scholarship Fund at Westmont.

About 328 students received diplomas at Westmont Commencement on May 5, but none with more courage than Connor McManigal, who was seriously injured, but survived the Jan. 9 mudslide in Montecito.

Ben Patterson, in his final sermon as Westmont campus pastor, urged students to be happy, joyful and grateful in their lives.

Westmont has received $2 million toward a Center for Student Success from an anonymous donor with close ties to the college. A presidential initiative establishes the new center, which will coordinate all facets of the college experience to supercharge student success on campus and after graduation.

Westmont student musician Tim Beccue ’18 (cello) won first place ($5,000) in the instrumental honors April 29 at the Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation (PASF) finals. Westmont student pianist Zelin Luan received honorable mention.

Look for the spring 2018 Westmont magazine, which has been printed and is being mailed out in the coming days. Our magazine cover and feature story “Stronger Together” reflect the campaign of the same name for recovery efforts by Santa Barbara and Montecito after the devastating debris flow in January. In April, NBC’s “Dateline” segment “No Way Out” also highlighted Stronger Together.

Tom Nguyen, Westmont trustee and managing director of U.S. sales for China International Capital Corp. (CICC), speaks at Westmont Commencement on Saturday, May 5, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Russell Carr Field at Westmont. President Gayle D.