Westmont News

A rotating cast of eight actors perform Eugéne Ionesco’s brilliantly funny farce “The Bald Soprano” Oct. 22-24, 29-31 in Westmont’s Porter Theatre at 8 p.m. General admission is $10, $5 for student and seniors.

Kim Kihlstrom, professor of computer science, examines insights drawn from her experience in November’s Tea Fire and applied to the design of computer systems in a free lecture, “Fire! Applying Lessons Learned in the Tea Fire to Computer Systems,” Thursday, Oct. 8, at 5:30 p.m. at University Club, 1332 Santa Barbara St.

David Newton, Westmont Professor of Entrepreneurial Finance, has been named to the board of directors of a prestigious national educational organization. Newton formally joins the Board of Directors for The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge at its semi-annual meeting Sept. 25-27 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

John Blondell, Westmont theater arts professor, reveals how he developed and directed a world premiere play last summer in Macedonia at a free lecture, “Another Fool in the Balkans,” Friday, Sept. 18, in Westmont’s Porter Theatre at 3:30 p.m.

The hereandnow Theatre Company, which believes everyone has a story to tell, performs in Westmont’s Porter Theatre Saturday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m. The show is free, but reservations are required by calling (805) 565-7040.

//

Starting this academic year, Westmont is video taping each chapel and making it publicly available on YouTube. Alumni and friends of Westmont are able to subscribe to Westmont's YouTube channel, WestmontTV, to be automatically notified when new videos are posted.

//

When students returned to Westmont for the first day of classes, Aug. 31, they encountered many changes and improvements to the Montecito campus. One of the first noticeable enhancements is a new lower Cold Spring entrance, featuring a stone veneer wall. Many larger stones at the entrance have been quarried from other construction areas on campus. Workers have planted about a dozen native oak trees near a new irrigation basin inside the entrance.

Westmont leaped 19 spots in this year’s ranking of the best liberal arts colleges according to U.S. News and World Report’s “American’s Best Colleges, 2010 Edition.” Of the nation’s 266 liberal arts colleges, Westmont finished at 92. This is the fifth straight year the college has ranked in the top tier.

Westmont's summer camps come to an end this afternoon, but not before the Discovery Camp’s annual cardboard boat race, which gets underway at 1 p.m. The races, held at the Westmont pool below Murchison Gym, are expected to last an hour and a half. The campers make their boats out of a refrigerator box and lots of duct tape, climb in and try to paddle across the pool and back. Most boats make it about halfway back.

The Westmont College Worship Team has made the leap to iTunes. Music from all five chapel CDs dating back to 2004 are available for purchase and download through the iTunes Store.

Joel Patterson, Westmont director of music and worship, says Westmont now has a significant, permanent presence in the international music market and thus a greater presence in the world.

Westmont has hired Robert Ruiz as head coach of Westmont baseball. As Azusa Pacific University’s assistant and associate head coach for the past five years, he helped win 36 or more games in three of the past five seasons.

More than 200 people enjoyed an inspirational evening with Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson May 31 at the Westmont Athletics Presidential Scholarship-Challenge dinner. The former NBA All-Star told stories from his youth and from his days as a professional basketball player, encouraging the audience to serve others.

Registration is underway for Westmont Summer Sports Camps and Think Camps. The earliest camp is Bravissimo, a musical theater camp, that begins June 13. Over the course of the 11 days, campers will have the opportunity to rehearse a fully-staged musical theater production culminating in a grand performance of “Cinderella” Thursday, June 25. Girls volleyball and sports skills summer camps begin the week of June 15.

Westmont’s student life office awarded 10 outstanding students for their leadership during the past year. The David K. Winter Character Through Servant Leadership Award is given each spring to students who show exemplary leadership through service at Westmont and in the community.

The Westmont Orchestra departs soon after Commencement for a musical tour of Hungary and Austria. Between May 12 and May 25 the 52 student musicians will perform five concerts in the regions around Budapest and Vienna, while also taking time to stay with host families, visit local churches and attend an opera.

Richard Pointer, professor of history, and Jesse Covington, assistant professor of political science, will lead a discussion, “Lincoln’s Legacy: Race, Liberty, and the Rule of Law,” Friday, May 1, at 7 p.m. in the Faulkner Gallery of the Santa Barbara Central Library, 40 E. Anapamu St. The discussion is part of Santa Barbara County Bar Foundation’s Law Week and is free and open to the public.

Five economics and business student teams will present their semester-long research that culminates in a formal industry analysis. “Change and Innovation Industry Analysis Symposium” is free and open to the public Wednesday, April 29, at 3:30 p.m. in Westmont’s Founders Dining Room. Refreshments will be served.