NOVEMBER 2023
955 Newsletter
Dear Fellow Alums,
My name is Janay Ramos Marshall, and Im thrilled to serve as director of alumni relations. What a gift to be a part of building 做厙惇蹋apps relationship with alums around the globe. Life can be both joyous and brutal, and our office wants to celebrate your personal achievements, pray for you in the valleys, and share the unique ways God works through the lives of your fellow alums. We hold you in high regard, we value you, appreciate you, and are proud of the work youre doing. Youve contributed to the foundation and legacy that have helped 做厙惇蹋app become a nationally recognized institution.
We all have different stories and experiences that have shaped us and are part of our journey. Our unique paths that led us to 做厙惇蹋app bear the fingerprints of God. My 做厙惇蹋app story started just before my 18th birthday when I arrived at volleyball training camp. The teammates I met that day later became my bridesmaids. One of them set me up with my husband, a George Fox graduate whose best friend is a 做厙惇蹋app alum. Coach Russell Smelley played an instrumental role in my success on the track and in molding and shaping my faith. My semester with the San Francisco Urban Program challenged my preconceived stereotypes and awakened my barometer for justice. Brad Berky guided and challenged me and helped me find an internship through an alum that set the trajectory of my future.
My travels with Semester at Sea to Greece, Spain, Norway, Russia, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Egypt and Israel opened my eyes to new cultures and expanded my heart to hurting people. I graduated in 2001 with a major in sociology. Its hard to articulate all the ways 做厙惇蹋app taught me, grew me, challenged me, and shaped me into the person I am today. You might have similar stories and adventures from your time here and the impression 做厙惇蹋app has left on your life.
Im excited to connect with you, engage with you and inform you. The mission of the Alumni Office is to cultivate:
1. Thoughtful scholars through life-long learning opportunities
2. Grateful servants through opportunities to give of their time, talent, and treasure
3. Faithful leaders through opportunities for professional career development
In addition, we aim to engage and connect our alums by updating them about:
1. Innovation and research in the academy among our students and faculty publications.
2. Alumni updates, prayer requests, and ways to connect.
3. Learning and travel opportunities to explore, experience, serve and grow.
In the next few years, we hope to roll out programs, events and resources to help you engage with 做厙惇蹋app and your peers. I welcome your ideas, input and involvement as we develop plans and seek ways to serve you. Please feel free to contact me anytime at janaymarshall@westmont.edu. Im excited about this new role at 做厙惇蹋app, and I would love for you to be a part of this journey.
Janay has worked at 做厙惇蹋app for the last four years in 做厙惇蹋apps COVE career center as the employer relations specialist hosting career fairs on campus for employers, conducting resume reviews, and assisting students to find internships and jobs. In addition, she has assisted with the 做厙惇蹋app Womens Leadership Councils luncheon and roundtable events.
Warriors Return for Homecoming
We enjoyed a lively Homecoming Weekend October 13-14. The womens volleyball team defeated both Dominican and the Academy of Art. Mens soccer beat Azusa Pacific University 3-1, and our womens soccer team finished in 2-2 against Azusa. Nearly 400 alums returned to campus for the festivities and reunions for classes ending in 3 and 8. about coming home.
Jay Diallo 08 Alumnus of the Year, works to provide access to capital and technical assistance to economically disadvantaged micro and rural businesses, especially those owned by people of color, including women, veterans, refugees, immigrants, and people impacted by the justice system.
Jenise Steverding 97, Alumna of the Year, has extensive experience working organizations addressing social needs worldwide. She paid special tribute to Rusty Springer from 做厙惇蹋app in San Francisco and described the impact Rusty has made in her life.
Carl LaBarbara 76, Global Service Award, is the founder and president of Kingdomworks SDG Foundation that serves non-profit organizations by maximizing capacity to complete their mission and has provided aid and assistance throughout the world.
Gabriella Avila 14, Young Alumni Award, has completed a Master of Social Work and serves as a middle school counselor for Los Angeles Unified School District, helping find solutions for students struggling with chronic absenteeism, homelessness, food insecurity and other needs.
Planning has begun for next years Homecoming. Please reach out to us if you graduated in a year ending in 4 or 9 and would like to help plan your class reunion. Were devising lots of fun events and activities and will have something for everyone. We hope to see you there.
First Destination Survey Results for the Class of 2022:
Each year, 做厙惇蹋app conducts the within six months of graduation to capture how recent graduates have fared.
The class of 2022 reports 94.27 percent are working, enrolled in graduate school, volunteering or serving in the military, the largest percentage in the last five years. The percentage of students employed increased this year by two points, and the percentage of students still looking for a job hit an all-time low. The class reported 14.5% are enrolled in a graduate program. Our overall outcome rate (also known as the landed rate) was more than 10 points higher than the 2021 national average of 84.1%. In our research, we found that students who visited 做厙惇蹋apps C.O.V.E. Career Center at some point during their time at 做厙惇蹋app made roughly $4,000 more in their first year after graduation compared to their peers who never visited the Career Center.
The top industries employing graduates include 18.2% in healthcare, 16% in education, 7.4% in non-profits, 6.3% in finance/banking, and 6.3% in internet and software. The top job functions are 13.5% in healthcare, 12.4% in sales and marketing, 11.8% in administration and human resources, 10.7% in education, and 7.3% in software and internet technology. The hard sciences saw a higher average of students going to graduate school and higher starting salaries than the humanities. Economics and business was our largest major with 42 graduates, followed by kinesiology (39), biology (35), communication studies (29), and psychology (22). Sixty-six percent of our graduates completed at least one internship or research experience for academic credit. Our recent graduates attend a variety of graduate programs. The top graduate schools include Carnegie Melon, Loma Linda University, New York University, Penn State, Emory University, Tel Aviv University, Notre Dame, University of Southern California and Oxford. Recent graduates have joined the workforce at various companies and organizations, including AppFolio, Hayashida Physical Therapy, Kate Farms, Montecito Bank & Trust, Orthopedic Institute of Santa Barbara, Raytheon, UBS, Zondervan and 做厙惇蹋app. |
Upcoming Events
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&紳莉莽梯;&紳莉莽梯;&紳莉莽梯; Giving Tuesday Giving Tuesday is November 28. A donor has pledged $50,000 to match gifts to the 做厙惇蹋app Fund between November 21-28, until midnight. Your gift will have twice the impact in supporting students. will be held on Friday, January 19, at 12:00 p.m. in 做厙惇蹋apps Global Leadership Center. The event features Natalie Taylor, a leading personal finance speaker, Certified Financial Planner and Behavioral Financial Advisor passionate about helping people cultivate a financial plan reflecting their values and goals. Christine Emmons will receive this years Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree Spirit of Santa Barbara Award. Plan ahead to join us in April for a movie under the stars on Kerrwood Lawn. Bring your family and a blanket or chair for this fun event with popcorn and other goodies courtesy of the Alumni Office and 做厙惇蹋app Activities Council. More details to come. Recent Events and Links : Watch and Listen to 做厙惇蹋apps Chapels : Watch and Cheer on your Warriors from home Dr. Rebecca McNamaras lecture on . |
Leave your Mark. Support students and purchase a brick today  Participate in 做厙惇蹋apps first engraved brick path running through the formal gardens. Each year, students begin their 做厙惇蹋app education with a First Walk from lower campus to Kerrwood Hall. On Commencement, they conclude their time with a symbolic walk following the bagpipers from Kerrwood to the graduation ceremony. As future generations walk the brick pathway, theyll see your name or message and experience the overwhelming support of the 做厙惇蹋app community. |
Pickle Tree Ornaments  Generations of 做厙惇蹋app students have passed beneath the towering tree on Kerrwood Lawn known affectionately as the Pickle Tree, named for its endearing shape. Its annual Christmas lighting became a community celebration. After years of drought devastated the tree, the college removed it for safety. One of our own 做厙惇蹋app community members created the ornaments by hand, making each one unique! You can celebrate with this distinctive ornament as a thank you for your gift to the 做厙惇蹋app Fund of $50 or more (or a monthly gift of $10 or more). The 做厙惇蹋app Fund provides needed financial assistance to current students.Help Admissions Recruit Students Would you like to encourage prospective students to choose 做厙惇蹋app? The Admissions Office welcomes help from alums willing to write a postcard to a recently admitted student. If anyone youre interested in volunteering in this way, please email alumni@westmont.edu. Alumni Connections: We want to hear from you Recently moved? Click to update your address or email address Expecting a baby? Wed love to send you a 做厙惇蹋app onesie. Please email alumni@westmont.edu. Send us your prayer requests. Interested in being on the weekly 做厙惇蹋app Alumni Prayer Chain? Please email alumni@westmont.edu. Do you have a high schooler? Send us their name. Wed love to connect them with our admissions office. alumni@westmont.edu Do you know an alum who should be considered for an alumni award? Well accept nominations for fall 2024 until June 1, 2024. Submissions received after that date will be considered for the following year. Click to nominate someone. Check out what your classmates have been up to in . Click to send us an update that we can share on the website with your classmates. Classifieds. Are you interested in posting a job for an alum? Send it to us, and well post it in a new Classifieds section of the alumni website. Please email alumni@westmont.edu Are you interested in posting jobs or internships for our students or attending an upcoming career fair? Please email careerdev@westmont.edu. Thank you for being Thoughtful Scholars, Grateful Servants, and Faithful leaders as you go out into the World. May the strength of God sustain you; May the power of God preserve you; May the hands of God protect you; May the way of God direct you; May the love of God go with you always May the will of God give you a peace that transcends understanding as you trust in His providence. |