Thursday, November 18, 2021

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving break is right around the corner, which means the holiday season isn’t far behind. Does Adopt-A-Family sound familiar to you? The Walla Walla Family Gift Drive is the same program, just with a different name.

 

Whitman is honored to partner with Blue Mountain Heart to Heart and Lincoln High School this holiday season to identify families that are living at or below the poverty level that would benefit from extra support this holiday season. Families submit a wish list and then are matched with groups of students, staff or faculty who sign up to participate with the Walla Walla Family Gift Drive program.

 

Here are the steps to support a family:

1. Collect money. Budget about $40 per family member. (For example: supporting a family of 5 would amount to about $200.).
2. Contact the program coordinators to get matched with a family. Email serviceevents@whitman.edu by Friday, Dec. 3. Please include what size of family you would be able to support. We have large families and individuals available for matching.
3. Go shopping. Use the wish lists as your guides and have fun browsing aisles!
4. Label your family’s gifts. Please do not wrap your gifts! Whitman community members will be wrapping all of the gifts on Saturday, Dec. 11.
5. Deliver the gifts to Reid Campus Center. 

Students, gather your residence life section, office, Greek organization, sports team, group of friends, house, club, etc. together and support a local family this holiday season. Staff and faculty can participate as well.

 

Thank you for lending your support to families in Walla Walla! Please contact serviceevents@whitman.edu if you have further questions.

Announcements

Campus Operations During Thanksgiving Break

Many campus buildings and services will be closed or having altered hours of operations during Thanksgiving Break.

• Reid Campus Center: 11/20 through 11/27 closed; 11/28 regular hours
• Sherwood: closed 11/20 through 11/27; 11/28 regular hours
• BFFC: 11/20 through 11/24 open 8 a.m. to noon; 11/24 through 11/27 closed; 11/28 open 5 to 8 p.m.
• Climbing Center: 11/20 through 11/28 closed
• Penrose Library: 11/20 and 11/21 open noon to 5 p.m.; 11/22 through 11/24 open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 11/25 and 11/26 closed; 11/27 open noon to 5 p.m.; 11/28 regular hours
• Boyer House Print Shop: 11/20 through 11/28 closed
• Student Print Shop: 11/19 through 11/28 closed
• Welty Student Health Center: closed 11/20 through 11/28
• OP Rental Shop: closed 11/20 through 11/28
• Bike Shop: closed 11/20 through 11/28

All campus offices will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 25, and Friday, Nov. 26.

Noteworthy

Murray Interviewed in The Business Journals

President Kathleen Murray was recently interviewed by Hilary Jones, higher-education editor for The Business Journals. In the Q&A, Murray spoke about how “thrilling” it has been to have students back on campus, and focused on Whitman’s unique Early Financial Aid Guarantee, which offers prospective students a preview of precisely how much financial aid assistance they would receive before they even apply. Murray said the tool, which has also been highlighted in The New York Times, is one of the her greatest sources of pride as president. 

Clearfield Featured in Early Learning Article

Professor of Psychology Melissa Clearfield was interviewed about how COVID-19 school closures impacted early learning. In an article focusing on kindergarteners and first graders published last week in The Hechinger Report and USA Today, Clearfield discussed the role poverty has played in exacerbating educational disparities during the pandemic.

Kyjovska, Beaulieu Named To Northwest All-Conference Team

The Northwest All-Conference Women's Soccer Team was announced last week, with Whitman College senior defender Klaudi Kyjovska named to the second team and first-year attacker Molly Beaulieu garnering honorable mention honors.

Alumni Collaborate in World Premiere at Walla Walla Theatre

Theatre Professor Emerita Nancy Simon is directing the world premiere of “The Comfort to Come,” a new play by Lisa Battle ’07 at Walla Walla's Gesa Power House Theatre. Truthful, warm, and often funny, the play follows one woman’s journey through early onset Alzheimer’s disease. The cast includes Shauna Lilly Bogley ’83, Kevin Loomer ’84, Kathryn Bogley ’15 and Julie Jones ’79. Performances are at 7 p.m. on Nov. 19 and 20 and 2 p.m. on November 21, with Battle hosting a post-play discussion on Nov. 20. 

In accordance with Washington state Labor & Industries employer requirements, we are notifying the campus community that in the past 24 hours, a person with Whitman access was confirmed positive for COVID-19. This person is now in isolation for 10 days in accordance with our campus and CDC guidelines. Though the likelihood of transmission is low due to our campus COVID-19 protocols, it is possible that others may have been exposed to COVID-19. There is nothing you need to do at this time aside from following our campus COVID-19 protocols. Anyone identified through the contact tracing process as a close contact (within 6 ft. for at least 15 minutes over 24 hours) will be personally notified. 

Have an event you'd like to share with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.

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