Westmont News
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Teens to Match Wits in Math Contest
February 10, 2023
About 100 high school students will compete at Westmont’s 34th annual Mathematics Field Day on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 1-5:15 p.m. in Winter Hall. Team and individual awards will be handed out at a banquet, featuring Erik Lucero, site lead of Google Quantum AI in Santa Barbara, from 5:30–6:30 p.m. in Westmont’s Global Leadership Center.
Orchestra Tour Features French Romantics
February 9, 2023
The Westmont Orchestra performs at several locations as part of a Presidents day weekend tour February 16-18. These concerts are open to the public and free. The orchestra The orchestra will perform “Amazing Grace,” Bizet's “Carmen Suite” and Franck's Symphony in D minor on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. in San Marcos High School (4750 Hollister Ave., Santa Barbara); Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. in Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church (1825 Alamo Pintado Rd., Solvang); and Feb. 18 at 7 p.m.
College Hosts Nursing Open House
February 7, 2023
Westmont hosts an information session for its accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (ABSN) program on Wednesday, February 15, from 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. at Westmont Downtown | Grotenhuis Nursing, 26 West Anapamu Street. The open house will be an opportunity for prospective students to meet faculty, admissions and financial aid representatives and tour the downtown campus that houses the nursing program.
Study Examines Suffering, Feelings of Religious Doubt, Abandonment
February 3, 2023
A study of chronically ill U.S. adults suggests that people who experience greater degrees of suffering also experience greater degrees of religious uncertainty and struggle. The research, which examines the link between the depth of suffering and feelings of religious turmoil, including doubt, abandonment and uncertainty regarding God’s love and power, also suggests the more religious the individual, the more acute the struggle.
Talk Explores Bringing SB’s Flying A to the Stage
January 31, 2023
Pratt Takes Leading Role in Filmmaking
January 31, 2023
The Santa Barbra International Film Festival was a small local event when Sean Pratt began working for it two decades ago. Pratt, SBIFF managing director and Westmont adjunct professor, Roger Durling, SBIFF executive director, and their team have grown the festival from one featuring adventure-sport and nature films into one of the top 10 in the country.
Mori to Share about Japanese Internment Camps
January 31, 2023
A Westmont music professor participates in a community conversation about the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. Paul Mori, whose grandparents and parents were all incarcerated under President Franklin D.
Theater Premieres Historic “Flying ‘A’ Fantasy”
January 20, 2023
The Westmont College Festival Theatre brings Santa Barbara’s treasured cinematic history to the stage in a world premiere. “Diamond to Dust: a Flying A Fantasy,” directed by Westmont’s John Blondell and written by local actor, educator and playwright Michael Bernard, explores the silent film industry and its historical significance.
Talk Examines the Soul, Cultural Disillusionment
January 19, 2023
Brandon Rickabaugh, known for his work at the intersection of metaphysics, philosophy of religion, and Christian spiritual formation, speaks about “Mechanizing Ourselves to Death: The Human Soul and Cultural Disillusionment,” on Monday, January 30, at 7:30 p.m. in Westmont’s Global Leadership Center.
Goodwin Returns to Speak at Breakfast
January 17, 2023
Doris Kearns Goodwin, world-renowned presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, speaks at the 18th annual Westmont President’s Breakfast on Friday, March 10, from 7-9 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom of Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. Tickets cost $125 per person and are on sale now at westmont.edu/breakfast. Seating is limited, and tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Spring Opera Offers Double Bill of Humor
January 11, 2023
Westmont performs an ambitious operatic double bill of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Trial by Jury” and Rossini’s “The Silken Ladder” Friday, January 27, and Sunday, January 29; both at 7 p.m. in Center Stage Theater. To purchase tickets, which cost $20 for general admission, $15 for seniors or military members, please visit the Center Stage box office at centerstagetheater.org.
Professor Speaks at Vatican, Meets Pope
January 10, 2023
Professor Wins Prestigious Philosophy Award
January 4, 2023
David Vander Laan, Westmont professor of philosophy, has won the American Philosophical Association’s 2022 Alvin Plantinga Prize. Coincidentally, the prestigious award honors Vander Laan’s doctoral adviser, one of the most influential people shaping Christian philosophical thought during the past 50 years.
‘Entangled’ Exhibit Explores Environment
December 16, 2022
The Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art features two artists whose work responds to climate change.
December Skies Offer Starry Viewing
December 14, 2022
Westmont’s powerful Keck Telescope will zoom in on a several celestial objects Friday, December 16, from 6-10 p.m. at the Westmont Observatory. Westmont hosts the monthly viewings, held on the third Friday of the month, in conjunction with the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit whose members bring their own telescopes. Visitors are asked to enter the Westmont campus through the main, upper entrance, since the kiosk at the Colds Spring Entrance will be unmanned.
The Need for Speed: Engineers Put Creations to the Test
December 7, 2022
Westmont’s junior engineering students were revved up for the annual remote control car competition on Dec. 8 in front of Kerrwood Hall. The students spent the last 10 weeks working in teams to assemble hundreds of parts to create their race cars, which count for 5 percent of their overall grade in the Machine Design course.
Westmont’s History in a Mason Jar
November 29, 2022
Westmont celebrates the life of its founder Ruth Kerr on National Mason Jar Day on November 30. Following the death of her husband Alexander, Ruth became president of the Kerr Glass Manufacturing Company in 1930. Kerr became one of most recognizable American mason jar brands.
New Matching Gift Doubles Westmont Fund Donations Through Friday
November 29, 2022
Inspired by Giving Tuesday, a new donor has stepped up to double every gift made Wednesday through Friday, November 30 at 5 pm PST to the Westmont Fund, up to a total of $50,000.
“This anonymous donor has a personal passion for ensuring students have the financial resources to thrive and grow by attending Westmont.” says Jonathan Thomas, Senior Director of Annual Giving. “The donor hopes to encourage others to give any amount, as they are able, to set students on the lifelong trajectory of significance God has for them.”
Guiding Low-Income Students to College
November 22, 2022
Westmont hosted a community event with education and financial representatives exploring the best ways low-income students can fund a college education on Nov. 15. About 100 underprivileged high school students and their families attended “Affording Your Dream College,” which was held in partnership with several county education initiatives.
A Kerrwood Christmas: 'Let There be Light!'
November 22, 2022
Westmont kicks off the season of Advent with a festive, family-friendly ceremony, "Let There be Light!" on Wednesday, November 30, from 5-7 p.m. on Kerrwood Lawn.
Photos with Santa Claus begin at 4:30 p.m. in Kerrwood Hall with the line forming in the President's Patio near the fountain. Families and children are encouraged to bring their own cameras for a memorable photo with Santa.
The evening begins on Kerrwood Lawn with treats, Christmas carols and entertainment, culminating into the ceremonial lighting of Kerrwood Hall.
Workshop Inspires Christians to Climate Action
November 17, 2022
Westmont is equipping evangelical students from across the nation who care deeply about the environment to lead their communities in answering God’s call to steward creation wisely. The college will be hosting "Faith. Climate. Action: A Workshop on Christian Climate Advocacy" attracting about 40 students and faculty from the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), and 10 InterVarsity student leaders to campus June 25-July 2, 2023.
Jazz Ensemble Gets Swinging
November 14, 2022
Westmont Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Eben Drost, will perform classic jazz pieces and more contemporary compositions on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 8 p.m. in Deane Chapel. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact the music department at (805) 565-6040.
Mosher Talk Examines MLK’s Shared Legacy
November 7, 2022
A large, enthusiastic crowd in Westmont’s Global Leadership Center welcomed Clayborne Carson, the world-renowned and acclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. scholar and director of the King Papers Project. He spoke about “The Lives and Shared Legacy of Coretta Scott and Martin Luther King Jr.,” as part of a Mosher Center for Moral and Ethical Leadership luncheon November 4.
Strike Zone Metric Makes the Grade
November 3, 2022
David Hunter’s 2017 research on umpire consistency continues to garner national attention. Hunter, Westmont professor of mathematics, devised a metric for consistency of home plate umpires that others have relied on to grade Major League Baseball umpires.
Bold, Beautiful: Exhibition Shares Highlights of Berkus Art Collection
October 25, 2022
The Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art shares the deep trove of art collected by the late Barry Berkus, an architect, urban planner, watercolor artist and author, in “A Bold and Unconventional Collector: Highlights from the Barry Berkus Family Collection,” which will be on display from Nov. 17- Dec. 12. The public is invited to a free, opening reception Thursday, Nov. 17, from 4- 6 p.m.
Talk Offers Biblical View on Environmentalism
October 19, 2022
Sandra Richter, Westmont's Robert H. Gundry professor of biblical studies, speaks about “Down to Earth: A Biblical Perspective on Environmentalism” Thursday, Nov. 3, at 5:30 p.m. at the Santa Barbara Community Arts Workshop (CAW), 631 Garden Street. The Westmont Downtown Lecture is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are required.
‘The Prince of Peace’ to Usher In Holy Season
October 19, 2022
The 18th annual Westmont Christmas Festival, “The Prince of Peace,” returns to Santa Barbara’s famed Granada Theatre Saturday, December 3, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 4, at 3 p.m. Tickets, which cost $22 each, are on sale at westmont.edu/festival. For ticket information or to purchase tickets by phone, please contact the Granada box office at (805) 899-2222.
Westmont Moving Forward in Faithfulness
October 18, 2022
On the heels of two consecutive record-breaking fundraising years, Westmont has launched its largest fundraising campaign ever, Forward in Faithfulness. Through generous gifts from alumni, parents, foundations and friends of the college, including the two largest gifts in the history of the college, the campaign has raised more than $197.1 million of the $250 million goal.
Program is Dedicated to Educating Nurses
October 18, 2022
Westmont dedicated its new accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (ABSN) program, naming it Westmont Downtown | Grotenhuis Nursing on Oct. 14 at 26 West Anapamu Street. David Grotenhuis, an alumnus of the college, and his wife Anna were inspired to give generously to the program by Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, who died earlier this month.
World-Renowned Scholar Gives Insight into MLK’s Legacy
October 7, 2022
Clayborne Carson, the world-renowned and acclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. scholar and director of the King Papers Project, speaks at Westmont’s Mosher Center for Moral and Ethical Leadership luncheon on Friday, Nov. 4, from 12-1:30 p.m. in the Simmons Center of Westmont’s Global Leadership Center. Carson will present “The Lives and Shared Legacy of Coretta Scott and Martin Luther King Jr.” A limited number of tickets, which cost $50 per person, are available for purchase at westmont.edu/mosher-event.
Honoring Ridley-Tree, Her Incredible Generosity
October 4, 2022
The Westmont community mourns the passing of Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, whose generosity made a profound impact on the college and touched the lives of many people and organizations in the Santa Barbara community. She personified what it means to be a true philanthropist.
Talk Examines Mental Side of Sports
September 16, 2022
Tim Van Haitsma, Westmont associate professor and chair of the kinesiology department, is a lifelong runner who will speak about mental strength training on Thursday, Oct. 13, at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Arts Workshop (CAW), 631 Garden Street, in downtown Santa Barbara.
Porter to Direct the Martin Institute
September 14, 2022
Steve L. Porter, a longtime professor of spiritual formation, theology and philosophy, is the new senior research fellow and executive director of Westmont’s Martin Institute for Christianity and Culture.
Sharing a Wealth of Writing, Film Knowledge
September 14, 2022
Wendy Eley Jackson brings more than a quarter century of experience in film and television to Westmont as the theater department’s new artist/scholar-in-residence for justice, reconciliation and diversity. Jackson, a native of Atlanta, is teaching Documentary Filmmaking, Screenwriting, and Creative Writing this semester for the theater and English departments.
Talented New Professors Join Faculty
September 13, 2022
Five new accomplished, tenure-track professors have joined the Westmont faculty this fall.
Westmont Ranks Among Premier Colleges
September 12, 2022
New national rankings and economic indicators establish Westmont as one of the top Christian liberal arts colleges in the U.S. once again.
‘Relational Spirituality’ Wins Dallas Willard Book Award
August 25, 2022
The Martin Institute for Christianity and Culture and the Dallas Willard Research Center (MIDWC) at Westmont have chosen “Relational Spirituality: A Psychological-Theological Paradigm for Transformation” by Todd W.
Ronald See Earns Top Fellowship in Israel
August 25, 2022
A Westmont professor has received a prestigious fellowship to serve at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI). The Lady Davis Fellowship Trust selected Ronald See, professor of psychology and neuroscience, as the Marie and Matthew Heller visiting professor in medicine at the Institute of Medical Research.
Inspirational New Students Arrive on Campus
August 19, 2022
About 320 first-year students and a record-setting 70 transfers begin arriving at Westmont for Orientation (Aug. 25-28) and the start of the fall semester (Aug. 29).
Art, Science, Spirituality Collide In Exhibition
August 19, 2022
Adam Belt explores the point where art, science and spirituality converge in an exhibition, “Adam Belt: Wish You Were Here,” Sept. 1 – Nov. 5 at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. A free, public opening reception takes place Thursday, Sept. 1, from 4-6 p.m. in the museum.
Professor, Alum Win Top Mathematics Award
August 17, 2022
A Westmont professor and recent graduate won the Carl B. Allendoerfer Award from the Mathematical Association of America, the world’s largest community of mathematicians, students, and enthusiasts. David J.
Summer Triangle Shines from Milky Way
August 16, 2022
This month’s public viewing of the stars will focus on several exotic Messier objects as the summer Milky Way stretches across the sky from the northeast to the southwest. The free viewing on Friday, Aug. 19, begins at sunset and lasts several hours at the Westmont Observatory.
Higher Ed, Salesforce Collaborate at Impact Conference
July 29, 2022
Westmont’s Center for Applied Technology (CATLab) joins forces with Salesforce to host the Impact Conference on Thursday, Aug. 11, in the Global Leadership Center on campus. Keynote speakers include Peter Coffee, vice president for strategic research at Salesforce, and Lupita Knittel, president of 7Mindsets, an education technology company.
Grant Expands Search for Dark Matter
July 27, 2022
A Westmont researcher has won a grant to further his search for evidence of the presence of mysterious dark matter. The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $200,000 grant to Ben Carlson, Westmont assistant professor of physics, to continue his work on the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, a particle physics laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland.
Observatory Hosts Friday Star Party
July 11, 2022
It’s globular cluster season at the Westmont Observatory with this month’s viewing focusing on two conglomerations containing hundreds of thousands of stars. The free, public viewing of the stars is Friday, July 15, beginning at 7 p.m. and lasting several hours. Face coverings will be required at the event.
Student Teachers Make the Grade
July 8, 2022
A tight-knit cohort of five Westmont student teachers shared inspirational stories about their experiences in the classroom at an emotional Celebration of Teaching April 28 on campus. Linda Ngo, Sam Cordes, Hannah Boelter, Simon Janzen and Shae Caragher, who all earned California Preliminary Credentials, spoke at the event, held for the first time since 2019.
Senior Earns Praise from French University
July 6, 2022
Westmont senior Chloe White earned the Etienne Gros Prize for Academic Excellence in Literature this summer after graduating from the French Honors program at the Institute for American Universities (IAU) in Southern France.
Remembering Professor Emeritus Paul Wilt
June 24, 2022
Paul Wilt, Westmont professor emeritus of history, died June 23 at the age of 93. He is survived by his wife, Doris, and their four children: Tom, Marilyn ’74, Janet ’76 and Daniel ’84. A memorial service will be held at Shoreline Community Church, 935 San Andres Street, Santa Barbara, on Saturday, July 16, at 10 a.m. He has requested donations to Westmont instead of flowers.