Thursday, July 13, 2023

Feature by: Jess Hernandez, Director of Fellowships and Grants

Over the 2022–2023 academic year, Whitman students and alumni applied to fellowship and grant opportunities focused on purposeful exploration, teaching, research, service, leadership and graduate study in the United States and around the world. This pursuit of fellowships and grants required considerable self reflection, focus, commitment and an investment of both time and concentrated effort from each applicant. We take this moment to celebrate all fellowship and grant applicants, regardless of the final result, and express gratitude to all of the individuals (faculty mentors, research advisors, staff, peers and family) who supported students and alumni through the application process.

Below is a list of all the fellowships and grants awarded to Whitties this year. 

Purposeful Exploration:
Watson Fellowship

Teaching:
Fulbright U.S. Student Program, English Teaching Assistantship Award
North American Language and Culture Assistants (NALCA)
CIEE Teach in Spain Program
Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF)

Research:
Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Summer Undergraduate Research Programs (SURP)
Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI)
National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRF)

Service:
Projects for Peace Award

Leadership:
Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship

International & Graduate Study:
U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
The George Washington University, Elliott School of International Affairs Graduate Fellowship
Yenching Academy of Peking University Fellowship
Schwarzman Scholarship

(See the attached document to learn more about each of these awards and the Whitties who received them.)

Associate Professor of Psychology Erin Pahlke was quoted extensively in “An Age-by-Age Guide to Talking to Kids About Race” on lifehacker.com. The article is part of the “Big Talks” series which aims to help parents have important conversations with their children. 

Assistant Professor of Philosophy Wenqing Zhao recently presented at the Aristotle-Confucius Symposium in Athens, Greece hosted by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). Zhao also recently gave a public lecture at Hong Kong Baptist University on conceptual misalignment and comparative philosophy methodology.

The Office of Admission will host another group of prospective students on campus tomorrow, Friday, July 14. Thanks in advance to everyone who engages with these students from their initial point of contact through upcoming visits and decisions, answering questions, and sharing what you love about Whitman. Wearing your Whitman gear tomorrow is encouraged!

Visiting Professor of Computer Science Parteek Kumar will lead a four-part online workshop for students, titled “ChatGPT for Developers: Building Applications with Large Language Models (LLMs).” The workshop, which will take place on Monday, July 17, Thursday, July 20, Monday, July 24 and Thursday, July 27, will focus on training participants to utilize Large Language Models (LLMs) to reshape the software development landscape and leverage ChatGPT APIs to create innovative and robust applications. Two time options (10–11 a.m. or 9–10 p.m.) will be considered based on the preferences of the registrants. If you have questions, please email kumarp@whitman.edu.

Sports Studies, Recreation and Athletics is in the process of cleaning up inventory and reissuing lockers in the Baker Ferguson Fitness Center and Sherwood Center, based on desired need and availability. If you have had a locker, currently have a locker or would like to request a locker in either facility, please fill out the following request form by Monday, July 24th to assist in the process of updating records and getting locker rentals started prior to the school year.

Need to get up out of the heat? The Student Activities’ Kooskooskie Cabin on Mill Creek is available to Whitman students, staff and faculty for summer reservations. For $60/night you can enjoy a cabin that comfortably sleeps eight, with a full kitchen, bathroom, large front porch and yard. Located just 20 minutes from campus, the weather at the cabin is typically 10 degrees cooler than in Walla Walla.

Photo (@whitmancollegeorganic on Instagram): Have you visited the Whitman Organic Garden located at the corner of Penrose Avenue and Pacific Street? The student-led Organic Garden Club maintains the garden, which includes a variety of vegetables, fruits, herbs and a small flock of chickens. Watch for Open Garden events throughout the year!

8 a.m. to Noon

Fire Alarm Inspections

Jewett Hall

8 a.m. to Noon

Fire Alarm Inspections

Hunter Conservatory
& Olin Hall

8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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