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Message from President Bill Robinson

Specializingin

Faithfulness

2 WT

Nobody likes obnoxious behavior. Sometimes I have these episodes where I just actlike I know everything. It doesn't happen too often, but it happens. I feel it coming,which doesn't help me stop it. I'm sure it's just some form of self-centeredness. We wantpeople to know that we thought of the good idea first, or that our way is the right way.It's all about us. Other-centeredness hardly ever leads to obnoxious behavior. I marriedone of those understated "orherlv" types. She never scrambles to make her point or to gether way. At some level, I must have known I take up too much space to marry anotherme. So I work at being more like Bonnie. I think she likes that. She has never said, "Justbe who you are." She's a smart woman.The reason I thought about the "me" demon is because I noticed in this issue we

feature a news story on Roger Mohrlang, a soul in whom we find few traces of self-promotion. Roger represents students, alumni and staff who specialize in faithfulness.They show little need for recognition. They show big need for quiet service. Theysacrifice in silence, using the fruits of their sacrifices to help people in need. At the endof this past summer, a few of us got an e-mail from Roger. He told of the sheer joy thathe and his great partner in life, Dottie, found on their return to Nigeria. I asked him ifwe could report his experience more widely. As you will read, Roger's joy bears witness tothe inexorable march of God's word and Christ's gospel. But it also symbolizes the livesof so many people in the greater Whitworth family.Alumni magazines highlight things that show well, things that stand out. In a world

preoccupied with brand and image, we think faithfulness qualifies as a standout virtue.Remember the generic brands? Black print on white labels with prosaic information:"Beans," for example. In a strange way, those cans stood out. Painstakingly heroic work,like Bible translation, will not likely serve as the tear-jerking illustration with which weclose our sermons. But it stands out as the life-giving product of faithful servants whooften labor in obscurity.A week ago, I was walking across campus after dark and spotted a dim, lamppost-In

encounter and embrace. It was Roger and Dottie, pausing as they moved in oppositedirections. They deserve each other. I hope that as you read the account of Roger's returnto Nigeria, you will be lifted by the great work he gave to the Kamwe people; and I hopeyou will think of the folks you know who do what they do out of pure hearts, even whenno one is watching. Enjoy this story and all of the others in this issue of Whitworth Today.

---------------------------------------------

Fall/Winter 2008Vol. 77, No, 2

EditorTerryRayburnMitchell, '93

Associate EditorJulie Riddle, '92

Newswriter/CoordinatorErnilyProffitt, '05

Art DirectorTamara Hartman

ContributorsHadenBarkley, '09Jennifer Binczewski, '08AI BormanMorganFeddes, '10Kirk HirotaRobertHuggins, '04EricaNesbitt, '09GregOrwig, '91GarrettRiddleTad Wisenor, '89

Editorial BoardMarianne Hansen, '97Janet HauckRick Hornor, '70Melinda larson, '92Michael LeRoy, '89Jim McPhersonTerryRayburnMitchell, '93GregOrwig, '91Fred PfursichErnilyProffitt, '05Garrett RiddleJulie Riddle, '92TadWlsenor, '89

AdrninistrationPresidentWilliam P. Robinson

Vice Presidentfor Institutional AdvancementKristi Burns

Director of CommunicationsGregOrwig, '91

Managing Editor of UniversityCommunicationsGarrett Riddle

Whitworth Today magazine ispublished twice annually byWhitworth University.

Send address changes toWhitworth Office of Communications300 WestHawthorneRoadSpokane,WA99251or ssherman®Whitworth.edu

Features ------------6 Learning What the Woods Have to Teach

Conserving their land was the drearn of Betty and Durand Verbruggewhen they created a trust to donate 605 acres in picturesque ScotiaValley to Whitworth. Their drearn is becorning reality through faculty-student research, collaborative work with the Verbrugges' son, Gary.and exciting plans for the future.

10 Whitworth Celebrates ArtThe Emst F. Lied Center for the Visual Arts, dedicated this fall,provides students, faculty, visiting artists and the community with animpressive new venue for creating, displaying and appreciating art.

12 Wired for MusicLukas Bratcher, '10, hasn't let lirnited use of his limbs stop hirn frombecoming an accomplished brass musician - with the help of fellowWhitworthian and instrument technician Robin Amend, who inventeda device that makes it possible for Bratcher to play.

Departments ----------2 President's Message4 Editor's Note/Letters/Blogwatch

16 Whitworth News23 Faculty Focus25 Class Notes33 AfterWord

WWW. W hit wort h ,e d u/ W hit wort ht 0 day

lo.. ...

On the cover: 2008 alumna JeriHedlund plants a seedling in a testplot of native shrubs and treesas part of a wetlands-restorationproject on a 60S-acre parcel afland in northeast Washington tobe donated to Whitworth. Photo byKirk Hirota.

W3

EDITOR.S tno eI decided to write this editor's note the

morning before the presidential election- a day I thought might never come.Right now the world is full of possibilities:Who will win? What difference will hispresidency make to each of us?

It's been great to cxpcncnco thiscampaign at Whitworth. Political

scientists, sociologists, economists and theologians have cometo campus to illuminate us about the importance ofthis historicpresidential election and about our call to serve God and oneanother no matter who is elected. Some tried to prepare usfor the fact that the new president will have to pick his waygingerly through overwhelming problems that include a faltenngeconomy, two wars, the ever-climbing cost of health care, and theneed for a new energy policy. And just a couple of weeks ago, TheWhitworthian conducted a straw poll that resulted in a narrowObama win (by a bit more than 1 percentage point) amongstudents.

So now we wait for the real thing. And we pray. Forty-eighthours from now we'll have a new president-elect, and bothcandidates have vowed to take our country in a new direction.Possibilities abound. No matter who wins, life will go on and

individuals (elected and non-elected) will continue to make animpact on the world.

You'll read in this issue about some people whose gifts, bothtangible and spiritual, have created possibilities for others: Agenerous gift will make it possible for Whitworth students tostudy in a beautiful natural habitat to be preserved in perpetuity;a student with physical limitations can pursue his musical dreamsthrough the work of a Whitworthian who sees possibilitieseverywhere; a striking new building provides avenues for artisticexpression by talented students and faculty; a faculty membermakes it possible for his many friends ~ and countless others - inNigeria to read God's word in their own language. And that's justa sampling.

It's an exciting time to be alive. I hope you're enjoying theinterregnum between the end ofthe presidential campaign andthe inauguration of our new commander-in-chief I also hopeyou'll enjoy this issue of WhitwoTth Today.

tmitchellfewhitworth.edu

Jennifer Brown: Joined Whitworth in fall 2008as associate professor of modern languages

Teresa Preston: Associate editor of theAssociation for Supervision and CurriculumDevelopment

Blog: Shelf Love, http://shelflove.wordpress.com

My friend Teresa and Ico-blog about books on Shelf Love. Wepostshort reviews of our recent reads, ask for book recommendations,and do book giveaways.

Our goals for Shelf Love are to provide a venue to discuss andreview books and to be involved in a reading community. Themostenjoyable part of the blog is the same thing Ilove best aboutteaching: Iget to read wonderful literature, learn more about thehuman mind and heart, put together my thoughts on books, and (Ihope) inspire others to read books that are great and avoid booksthat aren't so great. Blogging with a friend whose taste is similar to

mine, but who reads a whoie different range of eclectic books, has beena real joy.Want to know what books Whitworth faculty recommend? Turn to P. 34.

Check out these blogs by other Whitworth faculty:

Professor of Economics & Business Brad Sago's Consumer Mindset blogoffers thoughts, research, analysis and insights on a variety of issuesaffecting consumers: www.consumermindset.blogspot.com.

Associate Professor of Economics & Business Walter Hutchens blogsabout China, law, technology and sundry other matters:www.walterhutchens.net(blog.

Associate Professor of Communication Studies Jim McPherson'smedia and politics blog considers issues related to the mass mediaand the political process, particularly as the two intersect:jmcpherson.wordpress.com. (McPherson predicted Sarah Palin's choiceas Republican vice-presidential candidate long before most of theelectorate had heard of Palin.)

4 WT

Whitworth Today is printed on paper that includes recycled content. When you've finished enjoying this issue, please add it to your recycling bin.

YOURIette rs letters should beunder 200 words andare subject to editing.Send letters totmitchell®Whitworth.edu.

letter on Global Warming "Troubling"logan Gage's recent letter published in Whitworth Today (spring!

summer 2008) is extremely troubling. He says that he remainsunconvinced by the claims of global-wanming science and suggests it is"unwise scientifically and morally" to embrace the agenda of those whoare attempting to address globa: warming.

What Mr. Gage does not acknowledge is the complete scientificconsensus concerning the anthropogenic nature of global warming (seethe work of Naomi Oreskes, U.C. San Diego). This position is affirmedby every international and national scientific body that has investigatedglobal warming, including the United Nations, the National Academyof Science, the National Science Foundation, and every scientificsociety associated with the geosciences, atmospheric sciences andoceanography. There is simply no credible evidence to dispute thisconsensus; indeed, even the White House has recently accepted thisscientific consensus.

Furthermore, Mr. Gage implies that environmentalists concernedwith global warming are targeting Africa to address the problems ofC02 emissions, raising moral issues. Again, this could not be moremisleading or wrong. Those concerned with global warming aim to capthe emissions of C02 by countries in the developed world, particularlythe United States, that contribute the most to global-warming gases.

Finally, Mr. Gage claims to be saddened by the issue of stewardshipand global warming, associating the issue with political agendas. In ademocratic society, scientific problems are often addressed politically.However, the reality of global warming is not determined by politics, butby careful scientific investigation. All Whitworthians should be concernedabout our shared stewardship of the earth, especially when there areclear signs of change associated with our activities.

Keith Benson, '70

How Can I Help?I was so thrilled to see Whitworth Today show up yesterday! Great

issue, and I'm so glad that the Shah babies made the cover. it's greatto read about a young family making it, thanks to the support of theircollege buddies. Indeed, I read it right before going to bed then lay therefor a long time thinking about what I could do to help out, too.

I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the magazine tonight, butI wanted to start the day by saying THANKSto the team that puts W. T.together. It always reminds me to do more for a place I love so much.

Dianna (Cooke) Pategas, '91

Calling all Whitworth bloggers: Send us yourblog link and a bit of info about yourself if you'd liketo be considered for future installments of Whitworthroday's BlogWatch series. Submissions may bemade to tmitchell@whitworth.edu.

-

EVENTScalendarDec. 6·7 Whitworth Christmas Festival Concerts. Dec. 6, FirstPresbyterian Church, Bellevue, 7 p.m.; Dec. 7, First PresbyterianChurch, Seattle, 3 p.m. $18 admission; $15 seniors/students. Topurchase tickets, call 800.532.4668 or visit www.whitworth.edu/musictickets.

Dec. 12-13 Whitworth ChristmasFestival Concerts. Dec. 12, 8 p.m.;Dec. 13,3 p.rn, and 7 p.rn., FirstPresbyterian Church, 318 S. Cedar St.,Spokane. $18 admission; $15 seniors/students. For tickets, call TicketsWestat 509.325. 7328 or purchase onlineat www.whitworth.edu/rnusictickets orwww.ticketswest.com.

Jan. 6-Feb. 7 Art exhibit featuring the works of lanny DeVuono,Bryan Oliver Gallery. Opening reception Jan. 6, 5-7 p.m.; lecture byartist at 7 p.m. Gallery will be closed Jan. 19.

Jan. 7 lecture by Callie Crossley, television and radio commentator.Robinson Teaching Theatre in Weyerhaeuser Hall, 7 p.m.

Feb. 17-April3 Art exhibit featuring the works of Tom O'Day, BryanOliver Gallery. Opening reception Feb. 17,5-7 p.m.; lecture by artistat 7 p.m. Closing reception April 3, 5-7 p.m.

Feb. 20 Inaugural leonard Oakland Film Festival, Soul Searching:A Movie about Teenagers and God, Robinson Teaching Theatre inWeyerhaeuser Hall, 7:30 p.m.

March 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 Whitworth Theatre spring production,Museum, Cowles Auditorium, 8 p.m. March 6, 7, 13, 14;2 p.m. March 8. General admission $7; $5 students/seniors. Call509.777.3707 for details.

April 18 Whitworth Orchestra spring concert. Cowles AUditorium,3 p.m. Admission $5; students/seniors free.

April 25 39th annual Hawaiian Club lu'au, featuring authenticHawaiian food and entertainment. Fieldhouse, 5:30 p.m.Admission $20.

May 3 Whitworth Wind Symphony spring concert, CowlesAuditorium. 3 p.m. Admission $5 (students/seniors free).

May 16 Graduate Commencement,Cowles Auditorium, 10 a.m.

May 17 Baccalaureate, WhitworthFieldhouse, 10 a.m.

May 17 UndergraduateCommencement, Spokane VeteransMemorial Arena, 3 p.m.

To view a calendar of all of Whitworth's upcoming events, visitwww.whitworth.edu/calendar.

wT 5

------ +------IWENT TO THE WOODS

BECAUSE IWISHED TO LIVE

DELIBERATELY, TO FRONT ONLY

THE ESSENTIAL FACTS OF LIFE,

AND SEE IF ICOULD NOT LEARN

WHAT IT HAD TO TEACH, AND

NOT, WHEN ICAME TO DIE,

DISCOVER THAT IHAD NOT LIVED.Walden, Life in rheWoodsHenry David Thoreau

------ +------

For cenrUfie. S, in the picturesque Scoti.3 Valley of north,east Washington, deer, elk and moose sipped fromstreams that tumble down wooded hillsides and spillinto the Little Spokane River as it bends through the

valley floor. Tree swallows and hairy woodpeckers called fromtall stands of tamarack, cedar and pine to chickadees and nuthatches flitting in meadows and wetlands below. Fish, beaverand otter wove through the scattered rocks and icy-clear waterof the river as it meandered south.In the latter half of the 20th century, farming and invasive

species choked out native plants that had provided a naturalwater filter for the aquifer and river. Clear-cut logging scarred theland and stole precious habitat from birds and animals as well asshade from the streams and river.Water temperatures rose and waterquality deteriorated, sending fish andanimals in search of refuge deniedby the development encroaching onall sides.Over the next century and

beyond, Whitworth Universitystudents will collaborate withprofessors to re-introduce nativeplant species to Scotia Valley andrestore the wetlands and forests totheir natural state. They will trackthe return of animals, large andsmall, winged and antlered, as eachacre of habitat is recovered. Theywill monitor water temperaturesin the streams and rivers as wellas dissolved compounds that areinfluenced by the surroundingenvironment. In doing so, they willlearn how to conserve and stewardthe environment.Restoring the land - as well as

humans' understanding of theirimpact on the land - is the dream of Betty Verbrugge and her latehusband, Durand. They created a trust more than a decade agodocumenting their intention to donate their beloved 605 ScotiaValley acres to Whitworth upon the death of their son, Gary,who currently lives on the property. Betty and Gary recentlyestablished a $1 million endowment for maintenance of theproperty and for future construction of a small Whitworth fieldstation for environmental studies and research."We are deeply thankful for the Verbrugge family's vision and

stewardship and for their work to restore the forests on their land,because it reminds us of Christ's ongoing work of redemption inour broken world," says Whitworth Vice President for AcademicAffairs Michael Le Roy. '89. "The Verbrugges' gift will enablecountless generations of students to learn on the land and fromthe land."Students are already learning what the woods have to teach.Last spnng, Jeri Hedlund, a 2008 Whitworth biology graduate,

and biology professor Mike Sardinia, '87, helped Gary Verbruggeplant test plots of native plants in the wetlands that front theLittle Spokane River. The project will help determine whichspecies are best suited for the wetlands-restoration project

R

Verbrugge has undertaken in collaboration with the NationalResources Conservation Service and Pend Oreille CountyConservation District. The project also helped Hedlund land ajob with the Okanogan County Planning Department enforcingland-use and zoning laws designed to protect natural resources.Breanna Hartliep, a senior majoring in biology and theology,

analyzed water quality and temperature from various locationsin the streams, river and a pond on the Verbrugge property.Hartliep's research established baseline levels that will allowfuture students to evaluate the impact of the wetland and forest-restoration work on water quality.Hartliep also was in Sardinia's 2008 [an-Term parasitology

class, which ventured twice to the Verbrugge property in thefrigid depths of winter to studyanimal scat, which, in this case,included frozen deer, elk andmoose poop. It's not surprisingthat Sardinia, who's known forhis demanding, though JOVIal,teaching style, saw advantages tostudents analyzing field samplesthey gathered themselves vs. nicelypackaged samples he could orderfrom a catalogue. What is surprising,perhaps, is that Hartliep so readilyagreed with him."The fact that they were not

pre-ordered samples meant therecould be an infinite number ofresults, which made the testingmuch more interesting," she says."Doing on-site and hands-on testingof the parasites was a great learningexperience. That was the most funI've had in a class at Whitworth."Physics professor Richard

Stevens looks forward to movingWhitworth's Celestron H-inch

Schnudt-Cassegrain telescope to the Verbrugge property.He and Verbrugge have scouted several locations that wouldminimize background-light pollution, a problem associated withthe telescope's current home on campus. Stevens says the newlocation would facilitate a research project aimed at gatheringdata on poorly understood planets orbiting other stars."This is one example where quantity of data really matters,

and, many times, telescopes like ours find systems that meritexamination by the bigger telescopes," Stevens says. "[Thenew location] would produce better picture quality from thetelescope and would speed picture-raking because we would nothave to spend as much time subtracting the background lightinterference."Whitworth's growing engineenog-phvsics program also would

benefit indirectly from relocating the telescope. Since there'sno place to plug in a charger for the batteries that power thetelescope, they would need to be charged by some other means.Solar and wind power are both viable options that presentinteresting engineering challenges for students, Stevens says.These long-range plans are possible in large part because the

Verbrugge family established a conservation easement on the

WT FEATURES 7

2008 alumna Jeri Hedlund and biology professor MikeSardinia (above) work with Gary Verbrugge (above left) toplant test plots of native shrubs and trees to help restorewetlands along the Little Spokane River. The river winds pasta historic railroad boarding house (above right) on the 605-acre land parcel to be donated to Whitworth for environmentalstudies through a trust established by the Verbrugge family.

------+------THOUGH ID0 NOT BELIEVE THAT A

PLANT WILL SPRING UP WHERE NO

SEEDHAS BEEN, IHAVE GREAT FAITH

IN A SEED.... CON'" NCE ME THAT

YOUHAVE A SEED THERE, AND IAM

PREPARED TO EXPECT WONDERS.

Succession of TreesHenry David Thoreau

------+------

property through the Inland NorthwestLand Trust. The easement permanentlypreserves the property as a single parcelthat can never be subdivided anddeveloped commercially, accordingto Chris DeForest, executive directorof the land trust. A special term ofthe easement allows Whitworth toconstruct a small field station forenvironmental study and research on a portion of the property.

The conservation easement and the future plan to transferthe property to Whitworth accomplish the Verbrugges' goal ofpermanently protecting land that's been in their family for nearly50 years, Verbrugge says.

"We want to preserve it in onepiece as a refuge for wildlife," hesays, "and we want to teach futuregenerations about conservation."

Verbrugge's great uncle HarryStorms first purchased land inScotia Valley in 1927, after theonce, lively town of Scotia hadfallen as quiet as the nearby sawmills and Great Northern Railroadline. In 1961, when Verbrugge wasnine, he and his parents movedout from Iowa. They purchasedland adjacent to his uncle's thatincluded an old railroad boardinghouse that became the familyhome he lives in today.

Durand went to work for theU.S. Forest Service while Bettyjoined the Pend Oreille County Treasurer's Office, eventuallyserving as county treasurer from 1973 to 1998. Verbruggeremembers preferring the Pacific Northwest woodlands to theIowa farmlands when he first moved west. But by the timehe graduated from Newport High School, he was ready toexperience city life.

Verbrugge attended Whitworth for a year-and-a-half beforetransferring to Pacific Lutheran University to complete hisbachelor's degree. He went on to a successful career as a computer

8 W' FEATURES

-

forensic specialist with the SocialSecurity Administration beforereturning to Scotia Valley to care forhis ailing mother.

He discovered upon his return thatthe land where he grew up was alsoailing: Nearly a third of the familyproperty had been clear-cur.

"That was a real shock, to comeback and see nothing left of what I remember as being beautifultimber," Verbrugge says. "My folks got connected with a retiredforester and they felt he knew what he was doing. But it shouldnever have been logged that way."

Verbrugge immediatelydedicated himself to reforestingefforts; much of the clear-cur areahas already been replanted. Hismain focus now is to restore thewetlands along the 3,000 feet ofthe Little Spokane RIver thatwinds through the property. Thefirst task is to remove the invasivecanary grass that has chokedout native plants. Next will beto plant native shrubs and treesthat have thrived in the test plotsVerbrugge planted with Hedlundand Sardinia last spring.

The hope is that restoringnative vegetation will improve thequality and temperature of waterflowing into the wetlands and theaquifer that feed the river; the new

trees and shrubs will also provide habitat for birds and animals.This is where Verbrugge, Le Roy and faculty members

get excited about the potential for long, term student,research projects.

"We can follow the life cycle of plants and of populations ofanimals over generations in the same environment; this is goingto span many groups of students," Sardinia says. "My expectationis that students 20, 30, 40 years from now will be looking atBreanna llartliep's initial water-quality studies as the baseline

A single gift can serve many goalsA living trust established by Betty Verbrugge and her late husband, Durand, more than a decade ago, along

with a planned gift to Whitworth and a subsequent conservation easement will preserve the Verbrugges'beloved 605 acres in northeast Washington's picturesque Scotia Valley.The easement and donor agreements call for the property to be permanently set aside in its natural state

for Whitworth students and faculty to use for environmental science and research and to prepare futuregenerations of conservationlsts.The eventual land transfer and a $1 million endowment established by Betty and her son, Gary, to help

maintain the property will also reduce the value of the Verbrugges' estate and offer significant tax savings.MichaelLeRoy talks with GaryVerbrugge"We'd much rather see Whitworth get the property than pay 50 percent estate taxes," Gary Verbrugge says.

"We made the endowment gift to support the maintenance of the property so that it didn't create a long-term liability for Whitworth. The ultimate goalfor all of us was to retain the property in one piece and not have it developed."Joe Dinnison, executive director oIThe Whitworth Foundation, says that almost all planned gifts achieve goals for both the donors and the

university. Discussions are ongoing with Gary Verbrugge on planned gifts to Whitworth's endowment that may offer him further estate-tax benefits,charitable income-tax deductions and a lifetime income stream."It's always the right time for people to talk to their financial advisors or to our staff in The Whitworth Foundation about their estate-planning goals:'

Dinnison says. "Regardless of what's happening in the market, there are planned-giving options that provide consistent incomestreams and tax benefits to donors and that ultimately support Whitworth's mission."

comparison for monitoring the impact of environmental changesin the river valley."

Biology professor LeeAnne Chaney says the property'sdiversity of plant and tree species, elevation and moisture levelsoffer a bounty of resources for teaching as well as research.

"I am extremely grateful that it has this protected status sowe know that most of what is there will remain in more or lessthe condition it is in now," she says. "I think it would be a realminority of schools like ours that would have access to a plot ofland that size."

As Verbrugge and Le Roy imagine the property's potentialas an educational and community resource, they have found asource of ideas in Islandwood. a 255~acre outdoor-learning centeron Bainbridge Island, just west of Seattle. They traveled to thecenter last October and came away impressed by its commitmentto developing and operating facilities using sustainable principles,to combining teaching and research, and to offering educationalprograms that benefit the entire community.

"We\e only in the beginning stage of discussions aboutthe programs and facilities that eventually will be in place onthe Verbrugge property," Le Roy says. "The property hasn't yet

transferred to Whitworth's ownership, so any plans in the nearterm will proceed in close collaboration with the Verbruggefamily. Whaes so exciting is that we share a common vision forrestoring and preserving the land, for studying the abundantnatural resources it offers, and for teaching future generations ofstudents to be environmental scientists and stewards."

That vision began as a seed when the Verbrugges firstestablished the trust that calls for their land to be transferredto Whitworth. With the creation of the Verbrugge FamilyEndowment to maintain and preserve the land, the seed hasbecome a hearty young sapling with promise for great futuregrowth. Centuries from now, perhaps, Whitworth studentswill walk under its boughs and learn the lessons such treeshave to teach.

Visir www.whitworrh.edu/whitworthtoday and click on Web Extmsto view a narrated photo sluieshow of the test-plot plantmg projectundertaken last spring by a Whitworth l1rofessor and srudent withGary Verbrugge.

Greg OrwIg, who !:yew up playing in the woods, is director ofcommunicarions at Whitworth.

Whitworth CelebratesThe new Ernst F. LiedCenter for the Visual Arts

Clockwise from top left: The Ernst F. Lied Center for the Visual Arts, dedicated Oct. 4 during

Homecoming festivities .• Grace Barnes, '11, and Bryan Putnam, '09, enjoy painting in the north

light that is a hallmark of the studio spaces in the new facility .• Two significant sculptural works by

local artist Ruben Trejo grace the stairwells in the building .• Looking down the main floor hallway

toward the gallery; natural light floods the building .• Barbara Elliott Miller, '42, contemplates The

Passing byJose Parla, a featured piece in the inaugural show of permanent-collection works and new

acquisitions in the Oliver Gallery.• Ceramic pieces await firing .• Christina Hixson, administrator

of the Ernst F. Lied Foundation, which provided the lead gift for the facility, and Whitworth President

Bill Robinson chat with Emily Vickers, '11, about her glass-fusing project. • Chelsea Sweetin, '09,

works in the new graphic-design lab .• Board ofTrustees Chairman Walt Oliver, '67, speaks during

the dedication of the building. Oliver and his wife, Shirley, '77, gave a significant gift to the building

and named the gallery after their late son, Bryan.

10 WTFEATURES

2WTFEATURES 11

--~--~-------

Wbitworfbian$ Luka$ Bratcber.10. t:!Q -' ~anEc .........;)

Robin ~mena orchestrate mstrument innovation,.~

b,!JJUlie Riddle, '92.~

12W'

IT'sQUITE POSSIBLE THAT LUKAS BRATCHER AND ROBIN AMEND

HAVE NEVER UTTERED THE WORDS "I CAN'T." Bratcher, a junior speech-communication major, was born with a non-progressive condition calledamnyoplasia arthrogryposis multiplex congenital, which causes stiff joints and

weak or missing muscles in all four limbs. Bratcher is largely confined to a wheelchair,yet he is an accomplished brass musician who has performed throughout the country.Amend, who attended Whitworth in the early 19705, is a maestro at repairing bandinstruments, but lacks expertise in electronics or mechanical engineering. Yet hedesigned a device using a video-game joystick that allows Bratcher to pursue his loveof music and performing.Bratcher crossed paths with his first hom in Saudi Arabia, where he lived for 12

years while his father worked for an oil company and his mother taught middle school.Bratcher and his fifth-grade classmates were required to learn to play instruments, andhis music instructor recommended that he try the baritone, a brass horn shaped like atuba. "I didn't really choose the instrument, the instrument chose me," he says. 'Therewere a lot of factors to consider. I can't hold up a trumpet or trombone, and I can't playall of the keys on a saxophone or clarinet." Bratcher played a European-style baritone,which he could lay in his lap and which was small enough for him to reach the keys.The summer after fifth grade, Bratcher, his mom and his younger brother moved to

Spokane. Just before school began, Bratcher broke his arm; he joined the concert bandat Northwood Middle School in spite of the setback. He faced another challenge whenhe learned that the European baritone was not available. Bratcher had to use a largerAmerican version of the horn, and his hands weren't able to activate the valves. Heresorted to just blowing into the mouthpiece, which produced one note. In rehearsalsand concerts, he waited for the note to come along in the score and played it with gusto.That single note fell silent when Bratcher's hom was stolen from his driveway and hecouldn't play at all.

Above: Lukas Bratcher, '10, rehearses with the Whitworth Wind Symphony for its fall concert.Opposite: Robin Amend's grandfather, Bert Amend (far right) with his trio, circa 1906.(Photo courtesy of Robin Amend)

wT FEATURES 13

�

a child, Robm Amend couldread notes before he couldread words. He grew up in anxtended family of talented

musicians who toured and performed inconcerts and provided entertainment atcommunity meetings and at their ownfamily get-togethers. Amend IS a deftinstrumentalist who has also sungin bands ranging from countryrock and folk ro bluegrassand barbershop quartets.He received a partial

music scholarship toattend Whitworth,where he took privatevoice lessons and sang inthe Whitworth Choir. Butmusic would not be Amend's career:he majored in chemistry and planned tobecome a doctor, like his father. "1 neverconsidered doing music for a living,"he explains, "because in my family, vouplay music for fun." His pre-med planssurrendered to his heart for music whenSpokane Falls Community Collegelaunched an instrument-repair schooland Amend's phone began ringing."Three people called me andsaid 'You've got to get out there,"Amend says. "They knew it would bea natural fit for me, because I was goodmechanically and could play mostinstruments by that point."For the past 28 years, Amend and his

wife, Debbie, have owned and operatedAmend Music Center, which has grownto include two Spokane stores that handleinstrument repair and rentals for schoolsthroughout the Spokane region. TheirSouth Hill store is also a museum of sorts:its walls are lined with vintage instrumentsand band uniforms from area schools,a glass showcase features sepia photosof Amend's paternal grandfather, Bert,playing a piano and posing with fellowband members. But these men were noordinary musicians. In the early 1900s,Bert lost his right arm in an accidentwhile working at a cedar shake-mill. Anavid - and determined - musician, hedevised a harness to fit the stub of hisarm and built attachments to hold a pickand strum a guitar or mandolin, or draw abow over a collo's strings. Bert played thepiano using an attachment with finger-like

14 WT FEATURES

extensions; he patented the device as the"Artificial Hand for Playing Chords" andassembled a group of disabled musicianswho performed on the Pacific Northwestvaudeville circuit.Robin Amend followed in his

grandfather's footsteps in the late 1980s,when a local band directorasked him to modifya clarinet's keys for agirl with a malformed

, hand. Since then he hasadapted a wide range of

instruments; he's currentlymodifying a flute for a professionalmusician in Ottawa, Canada. How

is it that grandfather and grandsonunwittingly took up the same vocation?"I think it's that we both shared a love ofmusic and a heart for disabled people,"Amend says.Amend's instrument-modification

career took a tum in 1990, when he begantinkering with computer equipment hehad bought at a garage sale and grewfascinated by how he could controlmovement with a joystick. "I woke upin the middle of the night with an idea1 think God gave me, that joysticks canbe used for things other than computergames," he says. "I woke Debbie upand said, 'We can do this. It canwork,' and she said, 'What are youtalking about?'"What Amend was talking

about is now known asassistive technology. In 1993Amend applied for andreceived a Small BusinessInnovative Research Grantfrom the US. Department ofEducation. With the fundingand the help of a childhoodfriend who is president ofan electronics manufacturingfirm, Amend built a prototype devicehe named the Amend MIAD (MusicalInstrument Actuating Device). The firstdevice Amend produced was for a girl whoplayed the alto sax. "It worked great," hesays, "and it got better as we went along."Then Lukas Bratcher came along and

pushed Amend's inventive creativity to anew level.

When parents of students inBratcher's band programrallied and raised funds toreplace his stolen hom,

he selected a euphonium, a four-valvecousin of the baritone. Bratcher's banddirector, Lee Shook, introduced him toAmend, who signed on to adapt his newinstrument. "It was a totally new game,"Amend says, because the euphonium hasdifferent fingerings than an alto sax.Bratcher's specialized MIAD comprised

a joystick mounted on the arm of hiswheelchair; battery-charged wiringconnected the joystick to a box mountedabove the euphonium's valves. Movingthe joystick sent different electricalimpulses to solenoids that depressed thehom's keys with the speed of fingers. "It'snot a keyboard, where you push a buttonand it makes music," Amend says. "Youhave to make it work. You're learning toplay the instrument just like anybody else.You have to learn which position playswhich note."By the time the device was finished,

Bratcher had fallen behind his middle-school band-mates and was moved to thebeginning band program. "I had to relearneverything, so I was back at square one,"

he says. Bratcher persevered andpracticed faithfully. "Practicing

is not fun," he says, "but it allowsme to do what I love to do, which

is perform. You have to do thehard stuff to get to the goodstuff." Bratcher's four years at

Mead High School were a whirlwindof practices and performances: Hewas a member of the jazz band,concert band, and the award-winningmarching band, which touredthroughout the Northwest.Bratcher's music aspirations suffered

a serious setback his sophomore year,however, when his euphonium wasstolen a second time. When Bratcherreplaced his euphonium, he calledagain on Amend's expertise. By thatpoint, Bratcher's levels of playing andperforming had advanced to the extentthat customizing a new device pushedAmend to the edge of his abilities. "Thedevice has to be able to withstand alot, because I playa lor," Bratcher says.He connected with two brothers, one a

Robin Amend adjusts a violin at Amend Music Center.

mechanical engineer in Spokane and theother an electrical engineer with Boeing,in Seattle, who worked with Amendto refine his device to meet Bratcher'sdemanding performance needs. "I'm justan instrument-repair guy who had anidea and goofed aroundand tried to make itwork," Amend says."These guys constructeda heavy-duty joystickand hardwired it to workspecifically for Lukas' euphonium."Bratcher, who received a partial music

scholarship to attend Whitworth, hasbeen a member of the Whitworth WindSymphony for three years, was a memberof Jazz Ensemble II for a year, and hastaken private lessons with Professor ofMusic Richard Strauch. "I like playingwith groups that challenge me, so I canlearn and grow," Bratcher says. "Thewind symphony is a good place for meright now. I'm always challenged and I'vebecome a better musician."In 2007 Bratcher was selected by

audition to join the Oregon CrusadersDrum & Bugle Corps, an elite groupof young musicians that competesthroughout the country each summer."It's the Olympics of marching bands,"he says. Bratcher spent the past twosummers putting in l Zvhour rehearsal daysfor two-and-a-half weeks before hittingthe road for drum-corps competitions.

During performances, he was stationedwith the large percussion instrumentson the sideline. Last summer he was afeatured soloist and did what any corpssoloist would do: he moved to

the center of the field,where he played asthe band backed himin a Ll-shape format.Then he navigated his

chair back to his stationand rejoined the score. "We

competed all across the country andgot ranked every time," Bratcher says.Prior to joining the Oregon Crusaders,

Bratcher had tried out for the Blue Devils,a drum corps based in Concord, Calif.,that is the most decorated group in thehistory of Drum Corps International.Bratcher received a perfect score for hismusic performance, but no points formarching. "Their marching is extremelydemanding," Bratcher says. "They requirethat everyone be on the field and 1 can'targue with that. Some people say it'sdiscrimination but 1say no, that's how itis." Even though Bratcher didn't makethe squad, the Blue Devils invited himto play the national anthem at its firstcompetition. Bratcher soloed before astadium crowd in Concord. "I was scaredout of my mind," he says, "but it wentperfectly. It was an honor to give aninvited performance for the Blue Devils."Bratcher's years playing the euphonium

and the people who have pitched tn alongthe way have brought him "blessing afterblessing after blessing." As much as heloves music and performing, Bratcher,like Amend, has chosen to not become aprofessional musician. "Music won't paythe bills unless you perform and travelall the time," he says. "That's not how 1want to live; that's not how Iwant musicto be for me. 1 enjoy it too much for it tobecome my job."Unlike his grandfather, Bert, Robin

Amend didn't patent the MIAD because itwould preclude other people being able tomake similar devices. "The whole point isto help disabled people play instruments,"he says. "I want somebody to see Lukasand say, 'Wow, that's cool. !bet I couldmake one of those." Amend says that ashe was honing his first device, Bratcherwas the right person who came alongat the right time. "From an inventor'sperspective, Lukas is the perfect personto work with. He's a natural musician andworks hard. He gets discouraged but hekeeps going - that's what musicians haveto do."

To view a short video about Lukas Bratcherthat was made by the George LucasEducation Foundation, visit www.eduwpia.org/ ass istive ~technology -lukas -bratcher .To read more about Robin Amend's workwith assistive technology and about hisgrandfather, Bert Amend, visit www.amendmusiccenter .com .

WT FEATURES 15

WHITWORTHnewsFamiliar Faces in New Places:McMurray to direct alumni & parent relations,Wisenor to oversee campaign activities

Whitworth's top fund-raising initiatives."Aaron and Tad bring valuable

experience and skills to their respectivepositions and will provide strongleadership for the university," says VicePresident for Institutional AdvancementKristi Burns. "It wouldn't be possible tofind two people who believe more stronglyin Whitworth's mission."

In McMurray's new role, he will overseeactivities aimed at engaging as manyalumni and parents of current and formerstudents as possible with the university.He also will be involved in fund-raising forstrategic university initiatives. He servedas area and regional director for YoungLife in the Inland Northwest region from1997 to 2007 and most recently managedInternet sales and information systemsfor DAA Northwest, a large automobiledealers' auction business in Spokane. Hereceived a bachelor's in history from

Whitworth in 1995 and a master ofarts in organizational leadership fromGonzaga in 2000. He expects to completea Ph.D. in leadership studies at Gonzagalater this year.Wisenor began his Whitworth career

as an admissions recruiter in 1992 andworked in admissions through 1995.He was appointed director of alumni& parent relations in 1996 and addedoversight of annual giving and churchrelations in 2004. Under his leadership,the university launched severaloutreach programs for graduates of thelast decade, who make up the largestsegment of the alumni population, andconsistently met an annual-fund goalthat grew each year. Wisenor receiveda bachelor's in English literature fromWhitworth in 1989 and a master'sin urban and regional planning fromEastern Washington University in 2004.

AaronMcMurray,1995 alumnusand longtimeYoung Lifeadministratorin the Spokaneregion, assumedresponsibilitiesOct. 23 asdirector ofalumni &parent relations/annual givingand specialgifts. After anational search,Tad Wisenor,'89, who haddirected alumni

relations since 1996, was selected to takeon a new role directing operations for

McMurray

Wisenor

16 WTNEWS

Mohrlang WelcomedEnthusiastically byNigeriansWhen Whitworth Professor of Theology

Roger Mohrlang returned ro Michika,Nigeria, last summer after a 34,yearabsence, he received a hero's welcome.Mohrlang,

who firsttraveled toMichikain 1968 totranslatethe NewTestamentinto thelanguage ofthe Karnwepeople, returned to the booming markettown to help work on a Kamwe translationof the Old Testament. During his four,week visit, he was interviewed on statetelevision, spoke at several1arge churchgatherings, and was honored during anourdoor reception attended by 2,000people at the new Michika Civic Centre.He also opened the new Kamwe ChristianCommunity Forum."After 34 years away, 1was deeply

moved by the warm welcome of somany people and their expressions ofappreciation," Mohrlang says. "One ofthe greatest joys was to see the extentto which the gospel has now permeatedthe area. Here is one Nigerian group onthe borders of Islam that has respondedin large numbers to the gospel of]esusChrist."From 1968-74, Mohrlang translated the

New Testament while living in a mud hutin Michika with a man who had threewives. He worked at a small table, withoutamenities such as electric lights or accessto a library. The first edition of the KamweNew Testament, which was published in1976, sold out. In 1997, 10,000 copiesof a revised second edition were printed,and 25,000 copies of a new paperbackversion recently arrived in Nigeria. TheNew Testament also provided the text for

D

the translation of the film Jesus into theKamwe language.The arrival of the Karnwe New

Testament helped usher in an explosionof conversions to Christianity. In the19505, very few Christians lived in thearea. Converted Kamwe lepers and ablind man were the first evangelists, andby the time Mohrlang arrived in thelate 1960s, small churches dotted mostof the larger villages. Now, an estimated95 percent of the Kamwe people, atotal of nearly 400,000, call themselvesChristians. Churches have beenestablished throughout the region, and 26denominations now thrive in Michika."Many factors contributed to that

phenomenal increase of Christians amongthe Kamwe, but Roger's New Testamenttranslation, and the fact that it wasn't aWestern import but the result of Rogerpitching his tent among the people, surely

(Top) Many olthe children with Mohrlang are JohnGuli's grandchildren

(Middie) 1972: Morhlang with John Gull, theprimary translator of the first edition of the KamweNew Testament, who was later killed in a tragic caraccident

(Left) Mohrlang with Pastor Stephen Vandi

has played a very significant role," saysWhitworth Professor of Theology JimEdwards, '67. "Roger's experience this pastsummer was thrilling, not simply becauseit is about Roger, but because it is aboutthe marvelous outworking of God's graceamong the Kamwe through Roger."While in Miclnka, Mohrlang worked

with the Kamwe Bible TranslationCommittee, taught a course to 30potential Bible translators and reviewers,and assessed the chief translators' workon Ruth, Esther, and parts of Exodus.His primary goal was to help lay thefoundation for the translation of theKamwe Old Testament, which is expectedto take about to years to complete. TheKamwe people hope that Mohrlang willbe able to return to Michika once a year toserve as a translation consultant until theentire Kamwe Bible is published.

W'NEWS 17

WHITWORTHnews

Tom O'Day:Unearthing the PastTwenty years ago, artist Tom O'Dav

buried 30 artworks in a coffin outsideWhitworth's former fine-arts building.This fall, he returned to campus forExhume - an art dig that marked thetransition from Whitworth's formerfine-arts building to the new, 20,000-square-foot Ernst F. Lied Center for theVisual Arts.O'Dav arrived at the dig in a limousine,

accompanied by an accordion playerand friends and family dressed in black.Black-and-white film footage from theburial ceremony in 1988 was projected ona screen, and candles lined the entranceto the site while smoke generated by a fogmachine wafted out of the six-foot-deephole. Of the 30 origmal works, 26 survivedthe 20~year stint underground. O'Davplans to reassemble the unearthed piecesover the winter for a spring exhibit at theBryan Oliver Gallery at Whitworth.O'Day, who is an instructor and

art-gallery director at Spokane FallsCommunity College, makes art that dealswith transition and the process of change;he has destroyed and transformed morethan 300 works of art through processesthat include immersion, axing, freezing,aerial ascent and explosions.

18 WTNEWS

Michele E. Storms:Justice for All?Whitworth's 2008 Constitution Day

Lecture this fall featured Michele E.Storms, executive director of the WilliamH. Gates Public Service Law Programfor the University of Washington LawSchool. During her lecture, "What DoesIt Take to Guarantee Access to Justicefor All?," Storms asserted that while theU.S. Constitution guarantees fair legal

"Lou-mcom« families'lack of access to legal aidresults in ignorance of anddistrust in the legal systemand can allow injustice to

go unchecked. "

proceedings for all citizens, in reality, mostlow-income families don't have accessto civil legal aid. Unlike criminal legaltrials, defendants in civil legal trials don'thave the right to counsel. Low-incomefamilies' lack of access to legal aid resultsin ignorance of and distrust in the legalsystem and can allow injustice to gounchecked, she said,"Of course, if you're getting help from

the legal system, you're going to view it aseffective and equal for everybody," Stormssaid. "But with 88 percent [of low-incomefamilies] not getting any sort of help,either because they don't know about itor they're denied, their view is that thesystem doesn't work."Storms praised Washington for being

the first state to fund civil legal aid forlow-income families and pointed out thatSpokane has a civil legal aid agency.

1!Greg Boyd: Mixing

Faith and PoliticsBoth John McCain and Barack Obama

felt compelled to prove their Christianbona fides in order to attract religiousvoters to their presidential campaigns.This is not a new phenomenon, but itis a dangerous one for the country and,especially, for the Christian church,according to pastor and best-selling authorGreg Boyd.When Christians become too connected

to political candidates or causes, Boydsays, "they stop trusting the power ofself-sacrificial love and start trusting theworldly power of laws, policies, bombsand bullets. The church stops looking likeJesus, which is our singular call, and startslooking like a religious version of Caesar."Boyd elaborated on that theme in

an October lecture at Whitworth. Thelecture was based on his best-selling bookThe Myth of a Chmtlan Nation: How theQuest for Political Power Is Destroying theChurch (Zondervan, 2006).In the book, Boyd recounts that in

the run-up to the 2004 election he feltpressure to shepherd his 5,OOO~membercongregation at Woodland Hills Church,in St. Paul, Minn., toward conservativecandidates. Instead, he delivered a sermonseries outlining a biblical case against theChristian faith being too closely associatedwith any political agenda. The sermonsgenerated overwhelming feedback,both positive and negative, from hiscongregation, as well as coverage in TheNew York Times, National Public Radio,CNN and Christianity Today.Assessing the landscape in 2008, Boyd

says he sees "more people who are gettinga vision of the Kingdom of God thattranscends politics and that advances thecause of God by simply living, individuallyand collectively, like Jesus."

I,I

I! Three Cups of Tea Co-author

Shares 'Stories of the Powerless'

I,I

David Oliver Relin, co-author of the New York Times bestsellerThree Cups of Tea, spoke at Whitworth this fall about the bookand about the human-rights issues he has brought to light duringhis 23-year career as an investigative journalist.Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One

School at a Time, which Relin co-wrote with Greg Mortenson,recounts the journey that led Mortenson to build more than 60schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In 1993, while descendingfrom a failed climb of Pakistan's K2 mountain, Mortensonwandered away from his group and stumbled into a remote,impoverished Pakistani village, where villagers nursed him backto health. Mortenson promised to repay the community bybuilding a school. Fulfilling that promise led to his quest to fightIslamic extremism by reducing poverty and educating children,particularly girls, in a region known for its high population ofTaliban. Mortenson founded the Central Asia Institute, whichpromotes communitv-based education and literacy programs inremote mountain regions of Central Asia.

During Relin's lecture at Whitworth, he talked about Jahan,one of the girls mentioned in Three Cups of Tea, who was the firstgraduate from a school Mortenson built in the Pakistan village ofKorphe. Relin said that jahan now dreams of building a hospitaland becoming its chief administrator.

"I think it's important that we create an armyof jahans," Relin said, asserting that extremistswouldn't be able to defeat such an army.

Relin, a resident of Porrland, Ore., focuses onreporting social issues and their effect on children inthe U.S. and around the world. His interviews withchild soldiers, including a profile of teenager IshmaelBeah, who later wrote the bestseller A LDng WayGone, have been included in Amnesty Internationalreports. His investigation of the Immigration andNaturalization Service and its abuse of children in its custodyCOntributed to the reorganization of that agency. Among hiscurrent projects is a novel about landmine survivors in Vietnam.

Relin told the Whitworth audience that the stories he has

written during his career are "the stories of the powerless," andhe showed pictures of the people he has met during his travels

to impoverished and often war-torn places suchas Vietnam and the Sudan. He told the audiencethat they don't have to travel to faraway places,though, to make positive changes in the world,and he encouraged them to look for opportunitiesto serve their communities.

"We have an obligation. With all of the ... excessin our culture, it's such a small thing for us to help,"Relin said. "What path will you choose in life?What effect will the path that you choose have on

other people in the rest of the world?"Three Cups of Tea was the common-reading book this year for

Whitworth's first-year seminar program. Prior to Relin's lecture,he met with selected students from the program.

"What path will youchoose in life? Whateffect will the path thatyou choose have on

other people in the restof the world?"

To listen ta podcasts of lectures by Szorms. Boyd and Relin, visit www.whitworth.edulpodcast.

WNEWS 19

WHITWORTHnews-

Whitworth StudentsHelp AP CoverElection DayOn Election Day this November,

Associate Professor of CommunicationStudies Jim McPherson and roughly 30Whttworth students helped spread theresults of the U.S. presidential race tothe world.McPherson and the students worked

at the Associated Press' Spokane DataCenter, in downtown Spokane, wherethey helped collect election results,The students took calls from APreporters stationed in 11 states acrossthe country, who phoned in results theyobtained from local election officials.The students relayed that informationto AP staff members at the center, who

20 WTNEWS

entered the data into the AP's computersystems. The systems tabulated thedata, then automatically distributedthe information via satellite and theInternet to newspapers, broadcasters andothers around the globe. The states forwhich the Spokane Data Center coveredelection results included Alaska, Arizona,California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico,Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washingtonand West Virginia.

Whitworth Writing RallyFeatures David ShannonIn November. the 25th annual WhitworthWriting Rally featured award-winningchildren's author/illustrator DavidShannon. whose books include Duck ona Bike, A Bad Case of Stripes and TheRain Came Down. Shannon has alsodesigned numerous book jackets, andhis illustrations have appeared in TheNew York Times. Rolling Stone and Time.More than 600 students from the InlandNorthwest participated in the rally thisyear. The event is a family literacy initiativefor students in pre-school through 6thgrade; it provides an opportunity forchildren to develop their reading andwriting skills with help from a professionalauthor and trained educators.

The AP has operated both the SpokaneData Center and an election centerat Eastern Washington University,in Cheney, since 2000. Whitworth isin heady company, as AP's other twoElection Day centers are located in NewYork City. This year, the four centersreported the results of more than 6,000races nationwide, including those forgovernorships, congressional seats, statelegislators' positions, judgeships and avariety of propositions.

Young Lions of Jazz Roar onto Whitworth StageTrombonist Ryan Keberle and saxophonist and flautist Erica vonKleist, both risingstars in the New York City jazz scene and part of a group of such musicians known asthe Young Lions of Jazz, brought down the house during a concert with the WhitworthJazz Ensemble this fall. VonKleist, who studied at the Manhattan School of Music andreceived the first B.A. in jazz to be offered by The Juilliard School. has been a memberof the acclaimed Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra since 2003 and has composed music forthe Jazzat Lincoln Center Orchestra. Keberle. son of Dan Keberle, the director of theWhitworth Jazz Ensemble, has performed at Carnegie Hall and in the Jazz at LincolnCenter's Allen Room, and has toured internationally. He has performed or recorded withWynton Marsalis, the late Percy Heath, and Alicia Keys, among others. The Whitworth JazzEnsemble performed at the 2008 Washington Music Educators All-State Conference andwon first place at the 2008 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. The ensemble has producedseven CDs; the most recent is Traveiin' Light. released in 2008.

To honorLeonard Oaklandfor his 43 yearsof service toWhitworth,the universitywill presentthe inauguralLeonard OaklandFilm Festival asthe focal pointof Heritage

Month 2009. The festival will take placeFeb. 20-22 and will include three films.In addition, a banquet will be held atthe Davenport Hotel, in downtownSpokane, where the public debut of APortrait of Leonard Oakland, a documentarycommissioned for the event, will be shownto celebrate Oakland's iconic status withinthe Whitworth community.

To Infinity ... andBeyond!Whitworth physics students launched

a balloon into space this fall as partof their upper-division electricity andmagnetism class with Assistant Professorof Physics John Larkin. The balloonreached an altitude of 98,000 feet beforepopping. That distance, called "nearspace," is above 99 percent of the Earth'satmosphere. After the balloon popped,the on-board instruments parachuteddown and teached Mach 2 speeds dunngthe initial part of the descent. Theballoon carried a CPS receiver and radioequipment that transmitted data fromthe instruments to a large-screen mapat Whitworth so that people on campuscould follow the flight. Projects thatstudents designed around the balloonlaunch included measuring the ozone, UVlight and cosmic rays in the Earth's upperatmosphere, and measuring variations inthe Earth's magnetic field. See photos ofWhitworth's balloon launch on the web atwww.whitworth.edu/whitworthtoday.

Theatre's Fall Production RocksWhitworth Theatre's fall production, The CradleWill Rock, is a musical satire about unionorganization and societal corruption. Written in1937 by Marc Slitzstein as part of the FederalTheatre Project, the play takes a critical lookat corporate greed, media, and the arts. Dueto the play's controversial content, the federalgovernment tried to shut it down on its openingnight. The acting company, under the directionof a young Orson Welles, found a new location,and the actors, who were banned by their unionsfrom performing on stage, performed the show toa packed house from their seats throughout thetheatre. The play became an instant hit.

'This play is a brilliant expose of hypocrisy and oppression that remainsrelevant to this day," says Diana Trotter, the play's director and professor oftheatre at Whitworth. "Today's global economy is once again wrestling withlabor issues, whether it's job outsourcing, pay equity for workers in developingcountries, or, especially in the last few months, the tension between MainStreet and Wall Street."

Marketing, ArtStudents AssistLocal BusinessesFor the seventh consecutive fall

semester, Whitworth students applied thelessons from their marketing and digital-design classes to marketing promotionplans and related media they developedfor Spokane-area business clients. Eachyear, student teams in the IntegratedMarketing Communications class researchtheir client and its customers and developa custom promotional plan for thatparticular business. Students in the artdepartment's Digital Imaging class thenuse their expertise to develop a wide rangeof marketing pieces for the client, such asprint advertisements, brochures, coupons,business cards, logos and webpage designs."This class project is extremely useful

for our students as they work towardgaining a realistic picture of what workingwith clients is all about," says Scott Kolbo,associate professor of art.Brad Sago, professor of marketing, says

that the collaboration between marketingand art classes allows students to see abroader, more realistic perspective ofthe workplace. "Cooperation betweenclasses from two different departmentsoffers students a more comprehensiveexperience and a chance for them tobetter understand the challenges thatadvertising agencies face," Sago says.This semester-long process culminates

in formal presentations to the clients.Students outline the benefits of the plansand art pieces, and they give the businessesbudgets, schedules and evaluation criteriato gauge the effectiveness of the overallpromotional campaign. To enhancestudent experience, clients are asked tocritique each plan and presentation."In addition to allowing students to

apply what they have been learningin a real-world setting, this processprovides marketing and art majors withanother experience that will enhancetheir attractiveness and value to futureemployers," Sago says.

W'NEWS2t

IN MEMORIAM

FENTON DUVALL

One of Whitworth's most beloved former faculty members,Fenton Duvall, died peacefully in his Florida home on Nov. II.He was 96. Duvall came to Whitworth in 1949and served as professor of history, co-founder (withProfessor Emeritus of English Clarence Simpson) ofthe Core program, and the first faculty member tolead an international Jan Term study program. Healso served for four years as dean of students.

In a message to the campus community,Whitworth President Bill Robinson wrote, "Longbefore I ever muttered anything about a narrowridge, Fenton was articulating and embracing theunion of Christ-centered conviction and boldcuriosity. Fenton, along with fellow legend ClemSimpson, left an imprint on Whitworth that still influences theway in which we select and SUPPOTt our faculty. The culture wetreasure today was shaped significantly by Fenton Duvall."

In fall 2006, Duvall Hall was dedicated on the Whitworthcampus, A group of alumni contributed generously in Duvall'sname to the building fund and asked that the hall be named aftertheir favorite professor and mentor, At the dedication, Duvalldelighted the audience with his vibrancy and with his continueddedication to Whitworth. "His reflections and expressions ofappreciation left us all looking at one another in amazement,"Robinson wrote. "The clarity and power of his words were what

we would expect at the prime of one's career."At the building dedication, Vice President for Student Life

and Dean of Students Kathleen Storm rememberedDuvall's contributions to Whitworth: "It wasWhitworth's commitment to intellectual rigorand honesty that brought Fenton here," she said,"When he was interviewed several years ago, thisis what he said about the spirit he'd found andvalued at Whitworth: 'I believe you can trulyhave a Christian liberal-arts college where thecommitment to Christ is firm and strong and deepand positive, But at the same time you're not afraidto be open to ambiguities and paradoxes and thefact that we don't have all the answers. '"

"Fenton was warm and personable and always interested incampus life," Storm continued, "He cared deeply about howthings were going at this place that he loved and served forvirtually all of his professional life. He was a moving exampleof the power of love - he believed and lived the principle thatdisagreement should always be overshadowed by care and respect,He was deeply humble, and he challenged us in the academy toremain always cognizant of the limits of human understanding."

Memorial gifts to honor Duvall's life may be made to theR. Fenton Duvall Endowed Scholarship Fund at WhitworthUniversity,

FLOYD DANIEL

Floyd Daniel, who donated more than1,400 volumes of photography books andperiodicals to the university's HarrietCheney Cowles Memorial Library, diedearlier this fall. A career photographerand cinematographer for the BoeingCompany, he also freelanced for Christianmission organizations. He and his wife,Shirley, established the Daniel Fund,which sponsors photography exhibitsat Whitworth and brings professionalphotographers to campus for lecturesand workshops, "For so many reasons,I admired and appreciated Floyd," saysWhitworth President Bill Robinson. "Hehad the best countenance, Somehow heshone with mischief, reverence and joy- all at once." Daniel is survived by hiswife, Slurlev.

22 WT ,

NADINE CHAPMAN

Nadine Chapman, associate professorof English. died in July after a four-yearbattle with ovarian cancer, Chapman wasan accomplished poet, author and teacherwho said that teaching at Whitworthwas the highlight of her life. "Nadinewas a gentle, quiet person," says VicePresident for Academic Affairs and Deanof Faculty Michael Le Roy, '89, "but therewas nothing shy about her devotion toChrist and her love of her family, friends,students and colleagues. We will miss her,and we grieve her loss to our community."A memorial service was held on campusin September to allow the Whitworthcommunity to say farewell to Chapman,who is survived by her husband, John, andtheir four children.

BETTY MALMSTAD

Betty Malmstad, former directorof Whitworth Graduate Studies inEducation, died recently at the age of80. She and her husband, Bob, lived inAustin, Texas, where they moved in thelate 1990s after Betty's retirement fromWhitworth. When Malmstad came toWhitworth, she had been a teacher, acounselor, an administrator, and a specialeducator in the public schools, "This richbackground provided Graduate Studiesin Education with someone who couldmeet the leadership needs in each of ourdeveloping graduate programs at thattime," says Randall Michaelis, professorof education and chair of undergraduateteacher education.

FACUll'(lOCUS

Families Living in the Fabric of Faithfulness:Parents and children describe what worksby Julia K. Stronks & Gloria Goris Stronks

How doesa worldviewbecome a wayof life? Thisquestion is atthe heart ofscholar StevenGarber's bookFabflc ofFaithfulness,and itshaped the

recent Lives of Commitment grant thatWhitworth received from the MurdockCharitable Trust. Garber found thatpeople who were identified by others asliving with integrity between their beliefsand actions often had had a number ofsimilar life experiences:

Julia K. Stronks

• They developed a world view that wassufficient for the questions or crises ofthe next 20 years.

• They had parents or other mentorswho helped them practice behaviorsthat matched their worldview.

• They had first-hand knowledge ofthe struggles of those with less inour society because they engaged inservice of some sort.

• They found friends who shared theirworldview and the practices that wentwith it.

•

As Whitworth implemented the Livesof Commitment grant with our students,it became clear that we had much to learnfrom each other. And Whitworth alumni,parents of students, and others connectedwith the Whitworth and broaderChristian community had importantthings to say about what it meant to themto live in the fabric of God's faithfulness.With Garber's permission, my mother,former Calvin Col1ege education professorGloria Stronks, and I builton the theme of his book.We surveyed thousands ofpeople to determine howthey had worked to shapetheir families, living andraising their children alongthe lines of their Christianworldview.

Christian parentinghelps children learn toconnect knowing withdoing and belief withbehaviar. The troubleis that the values ofthe world around usinfluence all of us.At times our ownbehavior demonstratesa disconnect between what we saywe believe and how we live. This bookexamines the way that different Christianstry to parent and raise families in keepingwith their beliefs.

The people who shared their ideas andconcerns did so with an honesty that wasbeautiful and also sometimes painful. Most

of us believe that if we have children,raising those children is among the mostimportant things we will ever do. But mostof us also recognize that we have made somany mistakes along the way. This bookcaptures moments in time as we live ina world that has been redeemed but notyet fully reconciled to God. It capturesour hopes, our beliefs, our struggles. And,it lets us learn not only from scholars butalso from each other.

This is an ebook and is available forfree at www.whitworth.edu/

livinginthefabric.It is not common

for scholars to maketheir work availablein this sort of venue.

Normally, a peer-reviewed book put

out by a publishinghouse is the way to go.However, both my mother

and I have worked withChristians around theworld in countries where

people simply cannot affordAmerican books. We wanted

this book to be available toanyone who wanted to readit. In the last few months we

have been gratified to hear from parents,teachers and young adults in Africa, India,Australia and Canada. Anyone maydownload the book or copy it for otherswho may want to read it. We would bedelighted to hear from you: jstronks@whirworth.edu.

WTNEWS 23

2008 Alumni Award Winners

(L-r): Dorothy Dellor, '61, Marty Miller, '89, Andrea Palpant Dilley, '00, and John Rodkey, '47

Recent Alumna Award:Andrea Palpant Dilley, '00Andrea Palpant Dilley graduated

from Whitworth with a double major inSpanish and English literature and writing,and was the recipient of the President'sCup and the Alumni Ideals Award.She explored a wide range of career

paths before finding her calling withNorth by Northwest Productions, whereshe works as a producer and director in thecompany's nonfiction division.Palpant Dilley has collaborated with

Whitworth faculty, students and alumni toproduce the documentaries In Time of War,about the Japanese American experienceduring World War II; Art in Me, aboutthe importance of vocation and calling;and A Portrait of Leonard Oakland, whichwill premiere in February as part of theinaugural Leonard Oakland Film Festival.Palpant Dilley's love for the universityand appreciation of its mission informand strengthen these Whitworth,relateddocumentaries that celebrate and honorthe university's past, present and future.

24 WTNEWS

Alumni Service to WhitworthAward: John Rodkey, '47When his parents' resources were

wiped out by the Great Depression, JohnRodkey worked hard to pay his Whitworthtuition. His efforts paid off: He earnedan undergraduate degree in 1947, afterserving in World War II, and a master ineducation degree in 1958.Rodkey's commitment to Whitworth

and to the Spokane community arelegendary. He currently administersthe Helen and Verne Rodkey FamilyScholarship, which was establishedthrough the estate of his mother, Helen.The scholarship stipulates that fundsgo to students who are unable to attendWhitworth without additional support.Rodkey worked in high-school

education from 1948-79, including a 20-year stint as principal of North CentralHigh School, m Spokane. As principal,Rodkey arranged student-reachingpositions for many Whitworth educationmajors and hired a number of them afterthey graduated.

Alumni Mind and Heart Award:Marty Miller, '89As a Whitworth student, Marty

Miller volunteered for Habitat forHumanity, which, with the intellectualand theological foundation he builtat Whitworth, influenced his decisionto pursue a vocation helping those inneed. Miller graduated with a degree inpolitical studies and worked for Habitatfor several years, then served a year onthe U.S. Senate's Labor and HumanResources Committee on behalf of formerWashmgton State Senator Brock Adams.After earning a master's degree in

economic development at EasternUniversity, in St. Davids, Penn., Millerjoined the Office of Rural and FarmworkerHousing, a nonprofit corporation inYakima, Wash., that develops housing forfarmworkers and other rural, low, incomeresidents of Washington state. Miller isnow executive director of the ORFH,which has built approximately 1,025 unitsthat house more than 5,500 people.

Distinguished Alumna Award:Dorothy Detlor, '61During her years at Whitworth, Detlor

had planned to become a missionarynurse in Africa. When she graduated,however, her mission field turned outto be much closer to home, in theemergency department at Spokane'sDeaconess Hospital.In 1973, Detlor earned a master's

degree in maternal/child nursing from theUniversity of Maryland, and then returnedto Spokane to teach at the IntercollegiateCenter of Nursing; she went on to becomedean of the School of Nursing at PacificLutheran University, in Tacoma, and toearn a doctorate from Gonzaga University.Detlor capped her 45,year career as

dean of Spokane's ICN from 1997-2006;this allowed her to maintain close contactwith Whitworth students who completetheir nursing degrees through the program.She also was active in raising funds tocreate a larger facility for the ICN, whichwas recently completed in downtownSpokane.

CLAffotes ---------- www,whitworth.edujalumni

An "x" before a class year indicates thatthe person attended, but did not graduatefrom, Whitworth.

career selling professional books to lawyersand accountants. He was preceded in deathby his wife and is survived by his son Myles,'71. Regina (Bishop) Burnett, '45, died ather home on April 21. Regina is survived byher husband of 61 years, Malcolm, and fivechildren. Ruth (Barnes) Hull, '46, died Aug.25. Her life revolved around her husband,her family and her Lord. She enjoyed leadingBible studies and served as a teaching leaderfor 11 years. She is survived by her husband(Hugh, '49), four children and other family.Ellen (Goins) Binns, '47, passed away April24. After attending Whitworth, she went onto the University of Washington's graduate-studies program in creative writing. She taughtEnglish at Sequim High School for 16 years.She was preceded in death by her husband,Archie, and she is survived by six children andother family.

DEATHS4Os Lt. Cmdr. Clifton M. "Ted"Hussey, x'49, died May

18. Halfway through his sophomore year atWhitworth, he signed with the Chicago WhiteSox. After an injury, he enrolled at EasternWashington College, and, after graduating,served in the Navy until 1972; he then workedfor 20 years as an aerospace engineer. Heis survived by his wife, Jaunel, two children,three stepchildren and other family.Edgar "Ed" Bassford, '40, died June 15. Heserved in WWII as a First Lieutenant for a guncrew on a gasoline tanker transport in theSouth Pacific. Hewas awarded a Purple Heartfor his actions when a kamikaze pilot crashedon board the ship. He spent most of his

195~949The classes of 1959 and 1949will celebrate their 50th and 60threunions during CommencementWeekend next May 16-17. Allalumni from 1959 or earlier areinvited to the festivities. Moredetails are on the way.

19991989The classes of 1999 and 1989will celebrate their 10th and 20threunions during Homecoming nextSept. 25-27. All alumni are invitedto campus for a weekend of athleticcontests, the dedication of the newEast Residence Hall, and other greatevents. More details are available atwww.whitworth.edu/homecoming.

Notice something missing onthese pages? We aren't getting

enough class notes from alumniwho graduated during, and just. following, the Warren era. Havingfun in retirement? Serving in avolunteer capacity with a church ornonprofit organization? Traveling theworld? Enjoying extended family orreunions with classmates? We wantto hear from you! E-mail is easy(alumni@Whitworth.edu); letters areappreciated, too; Whitworth UniversityAlumni Office, 300 W. Hawthorne Rd.,Spokane, WA, 99251.

DEATHS50s Eugene Cotton, x'50, diedMarch 5. He is survived by

his wife and other family. Robert Smith, '51,died Aug. 20. At the time of his death, Roberthad just begun his 58th year of teaching highschool. He was drafted into the U.S. ArmyAir Corps prior to attending Whitworth. Heis survived by five children and other family.Glenna "Sue" Voorheis, '52, died June 9.Paul Holsinger, '52, died July 9. He was asurgical technician and an ordained deaconand elder of his church. He is survived byhis wife, two children, Susan Ulrich-Angell,'71 and Robert, x '83, and other family. K.lounsbury Perrins, x'55, died Aug. 2. Afterattending Whitworth, he graduated fromthe University of Washington and worked inpharmaceuticals before owning the ClinicalPharmacy in St. George, Utah. He is survivedby his wife, two children and other family.Marilyn (Torrence) lince, x'57, died May 29.She was a devoted stay-at-home mom andfriend. She is survived by her husband, Ron,two children and other family. Peter "Pete"Johnson, '59, passed away last year.

wT CLASS NOTES 25

CLASS tno es-------------

6Os 1961 Rudi Unterthinerpublished a book, Faces,

Souls and Painted Crows, a fictional accountof his experiences as a plastic surgeon to thestars in Southern California, Carla (Cannon)Beach's husband, Leslie, died Sept 7, Hewas a member of the U,S, Navy during WWIIand the Korean Conflict He was also apsychology professor for many universities,including Whitworth, In addition to his wife, heis survived by his children and other family.1963 Doug and Sharon (Hottle) Clegg'sson, Steve, died Sept 13. In addition to hisparents, he is survived by two daughtersand other family, including Krista (Clegg)Johnson, '03.1964 Judy (Sanderman) and Dennis Wilkinsretumed from their fifth trip to Ethiopia,where they supervise Project Ethiopia,an organization they founded to providebetter living and school environments in sixVillages. The swim-school students of Kathie(Koopmans) Neir provided 500 uniforms forthe Ethiopian children. Neir runs the swimschool in Sammamish, Wash., with her son,C.l. She enjoys traveling in the off season;this year she visited Italy, Laos, Cambodiaand Vietnam. Sharlene (Campbell) Bathumrecently retired as assistant principal

26 WT CLASS NOTES

of Federal Way High School. She nowenjoys spending time with her family andvacationing. This year she traveled to Scotlandand the Mediterranean. Carol (Rice) Watsonworks at the accounting firm in Seattle thatshe founded. Her true passion is serving asa board member for AGROS,a nonprofit thathelps rural Central American families buyland. She also enjoys fiber arts, autoharp,tap dancing, and studying Spanish. Peggy(Kim) Burrough retired from the PuyallupSchool District She spends much of herfree time involved in her church, PuyallupFirst Presbyterian, where she serves as a

deacon, Kiwanis leader and member of thePresbyterian women coordinating team. Sheis also an adjudicator for state solo andensemble contests. Sharon (DaI02) Parksis the director of leadership at the NewCommons Institute, in Whidbey Island, Wash.Her most recent book is Leadership Can BeTaught A Bold Approach to a Complex World.Sharon recently delivered the keynote speechfor the Council of Independent Colleges.1965 Joanne (Robbins) McNeal completedher doctorate in 1997 and recently retired toEdmonton, Alberta, Canada, after teaching atVirginia Tech for four years. She continues toconduct research with Western Arctic WomenArtists and is working on a book based onher research. Cliff Baker's Wife, Stephanie,died Sept 10. She was a school teacher,mother, volunteer and an avid gardener. Inaddition to her husband, she is survived by adaughter and other family. Sally lash recentlyretired from the Alhambra School District, inAlhambra, Calif., where she remains involvedin a program for retired teachers. She hasdiscovered that being a retired math teacherautomatically makes her the treasurer ofevery organization to which she belongs. Sheenjoys traveling the world, especially to visither family in the United Kingdom. LeilaniJackson lee, x'6S, retired as principal fromthe Tacoma Public School District and wenton to serve as principal of the InternationalSchool of the Sacred Heart, in Tokyo, Japan.While working in Tokyo for three years, sheand her husband, Spencer, explored Asiain their free time. Lee currently works parttime supervising principal interns at theUniversity of Washington, Tacoma, and does

------------------------------ www.whitworth.edujalumni

performance reviews for the Washington StateOffice of Superintendent of Public Instruction.In her free time she enjoys skiing, ridingHarleys and volunteering.1968 Dean Jamieson was installed in Juneas the American Guild of Organists' nationalofficer for Region VII.

DEATHSAnn Parsell, '60, died Sept. 19 after a longillness. She was a passionate volunteer forthe Muscular Dystrophy Association, manyanimal shelters, and her church. She issurvived by her extended family. Ninona(Elsberl)') Neel, '63, died June 15. Sheheld a variety of jobs, lived in many differentplaces, and was a volunteer in her sparetime. She is survived by her daughter andother family. Frances (Patterson) Opitz,'64, died Sept. 8. She taught fifth grade atIndian Trail Elementary School until 1971and volunteered for various organizations inSpokane; she was once honored as SpokaneVolunteer of the Year for her service. She issurvived by three children and other family.Hubert "Hugh" Foy, '66, died April 8. Hespent many years teaching and serving as aprincipal in Idaho, Washington and Alaska.He is survived by his three daughters andother family. George Elliott, '67, died Aug.12. He earned All-American football honors atWhitworth. After graduating, he joined the staffof Young Life and then worked as food-servicedirector for Saga Foods. He and two businesspartners started a coffee-roasting businessand an organization to reach out to troubledyouth. He served on many boards and wasactively involved in his church. He is survivedby his Wife, mother, children and other family.Terrence "Terry" Kelly, '69, died April 10. Hereceived his master's degree in educationfrom Whitworth and was a passionateteacher in the Spokane area for 30 years. Inaddition to teaching, he enjoyed gardening,volunteering and coaching. He is survived byhis Wife, son and other family.

7051973 Rich Mulcahy retiredin 2005 after 31 years

of teaching language arts and 25 years ofcoaching track in the Neah-Kah-Nie School

•••••••.• ....,..... ••• - .-."" ~ •• _~ •• __ ,-. -_ _.~ ••••••• ,"',... •• ~ ''1'In!' _ ~ ,.,...,. • '!

rFollowing a New Road: Erin (Benson)Raska, '01by Morgan Feddes, '10

i

k When Erin Raska graduated from\Xfhitworth with a degree in health,fitness and physical education, she neverimagined that in just a few years shewould be attending Princeton TheologicalSem inary, in Princeton, N.].

"I wanted to think more theologicallyabout why [Christians] do what we do ina ministry context, and I was interested incontinuing to explore and think criticallyabout Christianity," Raska says. "God has

called me to this journey one step at a time."After graduating from Whitworth> Raska worked for two years as an intern

for senior-high ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue, in Bellevue,Wash. In 2003, Raska returned to Spokane to serve as the yourh director atWhitworth Community Presbyterian Church, She entered seminary in 2006.

As part of her schooling, Raska was required to work in ministry outsidethe classroom. She spent last summer working at Hospice of Spokane, whichaccepts patients who are expected to live no longer than six months and whono longer desire life-prolonging treatments, "Our job [as pastors] is to helpmeet the spiritual needs of those in our parishes," Raska says. Most seminarystudents do not choose to serve their internships at hospices, but Raskarecognized her need for the experience. HI needed to Jearn how to become atpeace with death and with the unknown>' she says. HI wanted to learn how tobe present to death and to dying."

Upon graduating in May 2009, Raska can be ordained into the PresbyterianChurch (USA) when she receives a call. She says Whitworth gave herthe foundation to transition from majoring in health, fitness and physicaleducation as an undergraduate to attending seminary, because her educationwas not restricted to just one area. "Whitworth does an excellent job ofhelping students to think critically while also giving them the confidence todream," Raska says. 'The university offers a well-rounded education that freesone from feeling trapped within a discipline. I felt prepared to pursue a pathoutside the field in which 1studied."

I

1

I,,.-._ .. _ .. ~ •.'""-+ .. - . ..."...__ .. _..• .... _ ~ _ ..

District, in Rockaway Beach, are. He nowresides in the country outside Nehalem,Ore., where he is the resident prospectorand "detectorist." Timothy Lickness was afinalist in San Diego's Top Corporate Counselselection process, sponsored by the SanDiego Transcript and the Association ofCorporate Counsel.

1975 Patricia "Patti" (Carlson) Hughesgraduated from Case Western ReserveUniversity with a doctorate in nursing practice.She works in the department of ophthalmologyat Kaiser Pleasanton, in California.1978 Gigi (Dennis) Ewing married her high-school sweetheart and moved to New Zealandin July 2008.

WT CLASS NOTES 27

CLASS tno es------------1979 Cathryn Griggs has taught for 2Byears; she was named teacher of the yearby her fellow staff members in March 2007and by the Oakley Union School Oistrict inApril 200B. Mary Sue Lindsay is principalof Oxford School, a private international highschool in Rowland Heights, Calif.

DEATHSDonald Kofmehl, '73, died April 27. Heworked as a truck driver while attendingWhitworth. In later years he cared for theelderly in his home and tinkered in hisgarage. He is survived by his daughter andother family. Jeanne Pierce, x'73, died July14 in Spokane. She served in Thailand withthe U.S. Foreign Service and later workedas an administrator for Whitworth and forSpokane Community College. She is survivedby her sister.

8051980 Robin Wieber earneda master of arts degree from

Dallas Theological Seminary in May 200B.He is pastor of congregational care at GraceCovenant Church, in Austin, Texas, and lives inRound Rock, Texas, with his wife, Debbie. DaleMoore retired this year after serving as anemergency department nurse for 27 years. Helives in Mosier, are.1981 Tomi Jacobs is the interim Protestantchaplain at Syracuse University in Syracuse,N.Y.1983 Scott Robberson launched a financecompany in Guatemala, where he lives withhis wife, Karla. Linda (Gillingham) Sciaronitook part in the Kilo Moana research-boatoutreach cruise off the shore of Kauai, inSept. 2007. She wrote the webpage for thetrip and was responsible for outreach tochildren and teachers before and after theexperience. She works as a science lab techand tutor at Kauai Community College, inLihue, Hawaii.1985 Byron Wade was confirmed, in SanJose, Calif., as the vice moderator of the21Bth General Assembly of the PresbyterianChurch (USA).1988 Darrell Duncan married Khyra Kropf onJuly 29. The couple lives in Sisters, Ore., whereDarrell works at the Deschutes County JuvenileDepartment facilitating groups on victimempathy, attitudes and communication skills.

28 WT CLASS NOTES

High-Country ReunionOn July 15, Barbara (Symons) Davis,'B6, and Nanette (Grose) Shotwell,'B6, met with their families at Mt.Rainier for a day hike. Though bothfamilies live in Northern Virginia (theOavises in McLean and the Shotwellsin Dumfries), they are often too busy toconnect. When overlapping Northwestvacations brought the former Whitworthroommates to Washington state, thehike was on.

1989 Sean Barrett and his wife, Yuriko (Ejiri,'95), moved from Japan to Fort Leavenworth,Kansas, where Sean attends the U.S. ArmyCommand and General Staff College.

BIRTHS1983 a boy, Sean Patrick, to Jeri (Hansen)and Robert Gentry, April 17

1988 a boy, Nathanael Franz, to Lynn Franzand Joseph Kreuger, Aug. 22, 2007

1989 a boy, Cooper Lee, to Julie (Farley) andBrian Larkin, Sept. 5, 2005

1989 a boy, Zachary Chase, to Steven andLinda Mercer, Nov. 20, 2007

DEATHSAutumn Reed, '86, died May B. She earneda master in teaching degree and guidance-counseling endorsement from Whitworth andtaught for several years. She then worked asa guidance counselor in elementary schoolsthroughout Spokane and retired in 2006. Sheis survived by her husband, two children andother family.

9051990 Matthew Hilgaertnerwas called to serve as a

stated supply pastor for Grace PresbyterianChurch, in Portland, are.1992 Jennifer Pifer married Mark Bixler inOctober. Pifer-Bixler, a senior producer for CNN,accepted a first-place award on behalf of CNNin the TV/radio category for top-20 markets,network or syndicated programming, from theAssociation of Health Care Journalists 200B.1994 Julianne (Piller) Powers publishedThe Truly Grain-Free Cookbook: Beet & CaneSugar-Free Too!1993 Meredith TeGrotenhuis marriedToshi Shimizu on July 19; the couple lives inSpokane, where Meredith is an instructor in theWhitworth Art Department. Katie (Bellingham)Wisenor was in the wedding party.1995 Margaret (Meeker) and her husband,Nathan Carson, '97, live in Waco, Texas,withtheir three-year-old daughter, Emma. Margaretteaches for a local classical Christian schooland Nathan is working toward his Ph.D. inphilosophy at Baylor University. Both attendedRegent College, where Margaret obtained hermaster in divinity degree and completed theordination process in the Presbyterian Church(USA). Nathan finished two master's degrees,in NewTestament studies and interdisciplinarystudies.1997 Kim (Allen) Fox was appointed principalof Bryant Elementary School, Seattle, for the200B-09 school year. Heather Parish is thetheatrical administrator for the WoodwardShakespeare Festival, in Sultana, Calif.Rebecca Ricards married Derek Kavan onJune 14 in Seattle. The couple lives in Seattle,where Rebecca is the director of a retirementcommunity and Derek is a theatre teacher.1998 Christina (Grissen) and Greg Burchand their children, Tyler and Kira, live in CostaRica, where the couple serves as missionariesfor Latin America Mission. Chad Barllet livesin Sacramento, Calif., where he works for theCalifomia Department of Managed Healthcareand writes a weekly article for The SacrarnentoBee that focuses on trends in the healthcareindustry. Melissa (Dunn) Cohea completedher master of public administration degree atCalifornia State University, Long Beach. Sheis director of annual campaigns at CaliforniaState University, Fullerton. Amber Palmer

------------ ------- ----------------~

_____________________________ www.whitworth,edu/alumni

Unlike most college seniors, whomust worry about finding jobs aftergraduation, Josh Hug was working fulltime as an engineer at RealNetworksby January of his senior year. Aftergraduating from Whitworth as adouble major in computer scienceand mathematics, Hug continued towork at RealNetworks, a company

that offers online real-streaming products and media services,where he became director of devices.

In 2006, Hug left RealNetworks to launch a businesswith Kevin Beukelman and Mark Williamson, fellowtechnophiles and bibliophiles who recognized a need for anonline book resource. In October 2006, the team launchedShelfan.com, the first social-media website dedicatedspecifically to books.

Headquartered in Seattle, Shelfari features a powerful,vet-simple interface that enables users to build virtualbookshelves and establish social interactions based on thebooks they care about. The site also features online bookgroups and allows members to rate books. Amazon.cornacquired the site in August and retained Hug as the leader ofthe Shelfari team.

Hug says the "soft skills," such as interpersonalcommunication and collaboration, that he learned atWhitworth have helped him in his career just as much as thecomputer-science and mathematics skills he acquired. Hecredits his Whitworth education as being instrumental in hisswift advancement at RealNetworks and in his success withShelfari. "Whitworth taught me more than just engineering,"he says. 'II learned how to lead and relate to others, includingbusiness leaders who are not engineers."

Building a Haven for Booklovers: Josh Hug, '00by Morgan Feddcs, '10

At the Old Ball GameEach summer, a group of former residents of McMillan Hallgather for a reunion. This year they enjoyed a barbecue inRenton, Wash., on July 18 and attended a Seattle Mariners gameat Safeco Field on July 19. Pictured are (front row I-r) BennettGibson, '99, Josh Hug, '00, Mathew Scamahorn, '98, Henry Yan,Chris Chun, '99; (middle row l-r) Nate Spanier, '00, Kyle Forsyth,'99, Erik Sundin, '00, Kirk Forsyth, '96, Yosef Durr, '98; (backrow) Rhad Brown, '99, Ben Patterson, '98, Travis Cocking, '01,Matt McNelly, '98, and Jason Struthers, '99.

works in the culturaldepartment of theBritish Embassyin Washington,D.C., where shehelps promote theinvolvement of U.S.students in theeducation of studentsin the U.K. She isalso earning a masterin communicationsdegree from JohnsHopkins University.Daria Karam marriedLee Brown onJune 7. Brian andErin (Groefsema)Hackwith live inSnohomish, Wash.,where Brian is afirst line managerat Boeing; heearned an MBAfrom NorthwesternUniversity in 2006.Erin teaches for theEdmonds SchoolDistrict; she earned

a master of education degree from LesleyUniversity in 2005.1999 Amanda Ayars married Jay Nevin onJune 28 at the Presbyterian Church of Novato,in Novato, Calif., where Amanda serves asassociate pastor. Anne Osterlund publishedher first book, Aurelia; she teaches sixth gradeat Irrigon Elementary, in Irrigon, Ore. HeidiHaase married Kenton Clairmont. The couplelives in Spokane.

BIRTHS1991 a boy, Bodie, to Keith and Lori

Clerihue, Aug. 151991 a girl, Keela Maris, to Brian and Diana

(Bell, '95) Gage, April 301991 a girl, Annika Noel, to Daniel and

Kyrsten (Lee, '93) Weber, May 201992 a girl, Grace, to Jordan and Jody

Cleland, April 11, 20071995 a girl, Megan Grace, to Becky and Mike

Kunkel, May 141997 a girl, Helen Katherine, to Elizabeth

(Lockard) and Eric Keber, April 181997 a girl, Lyla Grace, to Sarah (Eells) and

David Larson, June 101997 a boy, Asher Alan, to Alan and Brenna

(Robinson, '00) Stanfield, July 191997 a girl, Sophia Natalia, to Kristopher

and Ana Montes de Vegas, May 1

WT CLASS NOTES 29

CLArrotes---------- _1998 a girl, Olivia Grace, to Kelly (Simon)

and Bryan Cooper, Jan. 11998 a girl, Lillya Rose, to Chad and Shayna

Dahl1998 twin girls, Tessa January and Samantha

Marie, to Maria (Colacurcio) and BrentFrei, Sept. 15

1998 a boy, Landen Craig, to Melinda(Brown) and Daniel Keberle, June 19,2007

1998 a boy, Beau Kekuaokalani, to Courtney(Yin) and Mark LaVoie, Jan. 9

1998 a girl, Joy Elizabeth, to Thomas andLinda (Longacre) Shook, March 11

1998 a boy, Milo Aidan, to Andrew andChrysia (Domingo-Foraste, '99) Watson,May 2

1998 a girl, Brenna Michelle, to Erin (Hauge)and Ron White, '08, June 11,2007

1999 a girl, Emmeline Rae, to Craig andTracey Hirt, April 29

1999 a boy, Edward "Eddie" Seth, to Seth andMeghan Kunzel, Jan. 18, 2007

1999 a boy, Aiden Russell, to Angela (Hoff)and Aaron Stark, April 28

1999 a boy, Joseph David, to Erin (Gauntlett)and Jason VanderMeide, Feb. 11

1999 a boy, Asher James, to Jeremy andElizabeth Wynne, April 4

O052000 Camille Conley marriedBlake DeYoungon May 18.

The couple lives in Seattle, where Camillegraduated from the Seattle Culinary Academy.She is director of food services for the BearCreek School, in Redmond.2001 Christina Close moved to Boise, whereshe is project manager of the Idaho MethProject. Scott Parr married Becki Porter inWalnut Creek, Calif., on Aug. 17. The coupleworks in youth ministry at Walnut CreekPresbyterian Church.2002 Rachel Grassley graduated from FullerTheological Seminary with her master indivinity degree. Tyana Kelly is a candidatefor Washington State Representative District9. Elizabeth (Kear) Kintner is a licensedmarriage and family therapist; she lives inArcadia, Calif., with her husband, Zachary,and their daughter, Kayla. K.C. McVey is inprivate dental practice in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho,after graduating from Creighton University

30 WT CLASS NOTES

An Urge to Serve: Kevin Parker, '96by Morgan Feddes, '10

When Kevin Parker entered Whitworthl he wasalready set apart from his classmates: "I had one of thelowest GPAs ever admitted to Whitworth - possiblythe lowest," Parker says. "I came in as a freshman onacademic probation."Parker dug in and made the most of the opportunity

Whitworth offered. By his senior year, he wasworking as a student assistant in the president's anddevelopment offices. After graduating with a degreein political science, Parker became the area director

of Young Life in Littleton, Colo., a position he held for five years; he was oneof the youngest Young Life area directors in the country at the time. When theColumbine High School shootings occurred in Littleton in 1999, Parker's initialreaction was to contact a former Whitworth mentor."My first call was to [Whitworth Dean of Spiritual Life] Terry McGonigal to get

some perspective," Parker says. Parker shared a message of hope that arises out oftragic circumstances in lectures that he gave around the world at various collegesand universities, as well as at Young Life fund-raising events. Parker left Young Lifeto earn an MBA from George Fox University, in Newberg, Ore., and went on toearn a 21st-century leadership certificate from the Executive Leadership Programat Harvard.Parker has invested in real estate since his twenties and he launched Parker

and Associates, a successful financial-services business, when he was 26. Today heis active in both business and politics. He is president of GTG Ventures, whichowns the Dutch Brothers coffee franchise in Spokane, currently in three locations.Parker also worked on the staff of former Oregon Rep. Denny Smith and is nowrunning for the Washington State House of Representatives for the 6th District ofSpokane. (Ed. note: He won!)In addition to meeting his wife, Kerry (Hultz, '95), at Whitworth, Parker credits

the university with giving him a strong base for his career. "Whitworth and myrelationship with various professors and faculty laid a foundation that has beeninstrumental in my studies at the graduate level, as well as in my experiences inthe private, nonprofit and political sectors," Parker says.Whitworth encourages students to give their lives in service; Parker has taken

this charge to heart in his political campaign. "This is one area where I desire toserve and give back to the community," he says.

School of Dental Medicine in May 2007 andcompleting a year of residency at the UCLASchool of Dentistry in 2008. Brad Norleenserved on many missions and units as aUnited States Marine, and is now a seniorauditor with the United States Air ForceAuditAgency at Osan Air Base, South Korea. NinaSidneva married Mark Jones on Jan. 27, 2006.Kirstin McFarland was maid of honor. Ninagraduated from the University of Washingtonwith a Ph.D. in economics in 2008. She is an

energy-risk analyst/senior utilities economist atTacoma Power.Adam Walker Cleveland, KevinLind, '03, Joshua Mikelson, '03, MatthewKaemingk, '03, and Nicholas Preuninger, '04,received their master of divinity degrees fromPrinceton Theological Seminary.2003 Kevin Keith Spitzer and JennaRonnquist were married May 17. JakeCooney was in the wedding party, and Mollie(Merchant) Swaner, '04, was in attendance.2004 laura Dllgard graduated with a master

----------------------------- www.whitworth.edujalumni

of social work from California State University,Sacramento, and is working toward a clinicalsocial-worker license. She coaches a high-school swim team and a summer recreationalswim team. Melody Downie-Dack and herhusband, David, moved to Pittsburgh, whereMelody teaches while David pursues his masterin divinity degree from Pittsburgh TheologicalSeminary. Jacqueline Pegan married Dr. RicoRomano on July 26 at the Evergreen Gardens,in Ferndale, Wash. Lisa (Gavareski) Hatchell,'01, was a bridesmaid, and Adrianne Tursickwas in attendance.2005 April Brast married Travis Smith on May26. The couple lives in Spokane. April is thecorporate marketing and public-involvementspecialist for GeoEngineers. Travis is a SpokaneCounty sheriff's deputy. Hailey (Nordmarken)Rohde teaches third grade and completedher master of education degree in curriculumand teaching through the Induction Master'sPartnership Program at the University ofSan Diego. Allison Cleaveland and SimonHarrison were married July 26 and movedto England. Danelle Feddes finished hermaster's degree in Cooperstown, N.Y., and livesin Bremerton, Wash., where she is assistantcurator of the Puget Sound Navy Museum.Nathan and Julie (Karber, '06) Dresbackmoved to Princeton, N.J., where Nathan isearning a master in divinity degree at PrincetonTheological Seminary. Jayleen Hille lives inQuincy, Wash., and is an accounting associate

Join the Whitworth Choir for a gloriouscultural exchange in Argentina andUruguayan the next Core 650 tour foralumni, parents and friends of Whitworth,May 18-29, 2009.

A tentative itinerary and other tour detailsare available at www.whitworth.edu/southamerica09. Spaces are limited,so make reservations today.

for LeMaster & Daniels. She also acted inJesus Christ Superstar and TheSound ofMusic with the Music Theater of Wenatchee,Quincy Allied Arts and Leavenworth SummerTheater, and she performed with WenatcheeValley College's HepCats SWingDance. JakeHolderman received his master in teachingdegree from Concordia University and teachesat a secondary school in Portland, are. SatokoTokura married Peter Silva on Sept. 30. TheSilvas live in Euless, Texas, with their daughter,Jaclyn. Dorothy Worden received her

master in English degree with an emphasisin composition studies from WashingtonState University, where she teaches English.Miranda Zapor received her master in divinitydegree from Princeton Theological Seminary.Philip Hickok teaches a postgraduateprogram in Irish and Scottish studies atAberdeen University.2006 Brittany Chambers married BrianNickolay. The couple resides in Mammoth,Wyo. Trevor Sheffels married Megan Crispthis summer; the couple lives in Beaverton,

w' CLASS NOTES 31

CLASS tno es --------------------- www.whitworth.edujalumni

A Passion for Music: Susan Brown, '83by Morgan Feddes, '10

As a Whitworth student, Susan Brown traveledto the U.K. for a semester on the British Isles StudyProgram her junior year. It was an experience thatchanged her life."The trip was packed with wonderful experiences

throughout," Brown says. "It was the highlight of mytime at Whitworth.ll

Brown's semester in the U.K. also gave herdirection for her career path after graduation. Shegrew fascinated with English devotional songs fromthe 17th century, which eventually became thetopic of her doctoral dissertation. Brown earned a

degree in music from Whitworth and an M.A.T. in music from Portland StateUniversity. After earning her Ph.D. in musicology from Claremont GraduateUniversity, in Claremont, Calif., she completed three pose-doctoral fellowships,at Yale, UCLA, and the Huntington Library, in San Marino, Calif.Brown's fellowship work informs her recently released book, Singing and

the Imagination of Devotion: Vocal Aesthetics in Early English Protestant Culture(Paternoster Press, England), which examines the significance of singing toearly modern Anglicans and Puritans. The book also explores these Christians'study of the effect the voice has on the human souL "During this era, singingbecame quite a focus of English theological and devotional writing, in partbecause of the experience of the Reformation and questions that arose aboutthe role music should play in the developing Protestant denominationsand domestic life," Brown says. The book can be purchased at www.authenticmedia.co.uk/paternoster.Brown is currently an instructor of voice and music appreciation at Fullerton

College, in California. She was also recently named a Fulbright Scholar. InJanuary, she will travel to Vilnius, Lithuania, to teach for a full year at theLithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre on her project "Tin Pan Alley Song:Eastern Europe and America Intersect.""Tin Pan Alley" is a name that commonly describes a genre of American

popular songs from 1880-1940. "I'll be working with department singers, muSIChistorians and actors as a coach, performer and lecturer," Brown says.Brown previously spent two summers as a volunteer teaching English as a

second language at the Lithuania Christian College, in Klaipeda. Throughher service in Lithuania, Brown sees herself living out Whitworth's missionto serve humanity, a mission she says her Whitworth professors exemplified."They were good role models as academics who were also imaginative and kindpeople," she says.

Ore. Drew Stutheit works in HIV/AIDSprevention with the Peace Corps in theKingdom of Swaziland. where he is the proudowner of his own hut. Katheryn "Kate" Colerecently married Kyle Havercroft, '07. Thecouple lives in Spokane, where Kate is thecustomer-relations manager for Fastsigns and

Kyle is an athletic trainer at Rockwood Clinic.Jerome Tryon married Jaime Fay at DiscoveryChristian Church. in Bend, are .• on May 31.The couple lives in Bend, where Jerome worksas a contractor and Jaime is an accountingtechnician.2007 Emily Clader lives in Fort Collins,

32 WT CLASS NOTES

Colo.• and attends the occupational therapyschool at Colorado State University. StaceyWebber married William Villanueva at FirstBaptist Church in South Bend, Wash. on July12. The wedding party included SuzanneSherman, Caitlin Couper, Emily Johnsonand Jacqueline Yeend. Noah Patterson andRachel Gray were in attendance. The couplelives in Havelock, N.C.2008 Jacque Parshall married Mitchell Netzerlast summer. Thecouple lives in Kirkland,Wash.Krystal Tate and Kyle Pflug were married Aug.2 on the Whitworth campus. The couple livesin Seattle.

BIRTHS2001 a girl. Sierra Marie, to Melanie (Avey)and Edward Dawson, May 19

2001 a girl, GraceCaroline, to Elisa "Ellie"(Moser) and Jeffrey Lochhead, May 27

2001 a boy, Miles Oliver, to Eric and Leah(Vieltell) Moffat, June 18

2002 a girl, Kayla Elizabeth. to Elizabeth"Beth" (Kear) and Zachary Kintner. June 2

2003 a boy, Samuel Skye, to Hannah(VahlstlOm) and Ben McDonald, '04,March 8

2004 a girl, Claire Caroline, to Mark and AmyBaker. Feb. 16

2004 a girl, Audrey Margaret, to Chris andMary Teague, June 16

2005 a girl. Jadyn Mizuki, to Satoko (Tokura)and PeterSilva, March 12

2006 a girl, Avrienne. to Holly (Bentley) andKerrol Evins

2006 a boy, Micah Timothy, to Christopher andJenelle (Ball) Holmes. April 22

DEATHSJack Keith, '01, died at his home July 12.He served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 22years; upon retiring from the guard he joinedARNCOCorp. He and his brother were weight-lifting title holders. He is survived by his son,stepchildren and other family.

a

'So you're a Christian. Now what?'by Marty Miller, '89

Life's lessonsare not alwaysapparent untilthey are in therearview mirror.

For me, theroad started inSelah, Wash.,headed easton Interstate

90 through Ritzville (I've yet to find the"Ritz" in Ritzville), and in 1985 ended,for a time, in Spokane - at what wasthen known as Whitworth College. Thegood-natured rumor at that time was thatWhitworth had recently gone from CampWhitworth to Whitworth College. Andnow Whitworth University. How farwe've come!

As I give my life's rearview mirroranother look, three enduring themesemerged during my Whitworth years.Those themes are challenges, community,and serving God.

Challenges at Whitworth came early.In my freshman year, I hadn't declared amajor. Fortunately, I was introduced tothe political studies department throughthe course American Government.The professors, courses and concepts inpolitical studies challenged us to thinkcritically, question our assumptions, anddefend our perspectives. My time atWhitworth was a time of shaking andrebuilding a worldview.

The sense of community started quickly,too. My first year, in Baldwin Jenkins, 1met people who remain some of my closestfriends. Over the next four years, thosefriendships developed while we all grewinto adults. Dorm rivalries, late-nightstudying, the tennis team, Jan Terms,intramurals, study programs, Saga: Allprovided a context to learn who we areand how we fit with one another.

And our community wasn't just anycommunity. Learning about self, aboutvalues, about worldview was done inthe context of Whitworth's Christian

•

community. What does it mean to bea Christian? What is our purpose hereon Earth? A semester in the AmericanStudies Program in Washington, D.C.,pushed me the most. There I waschallenged by professors who said, "Soyou're a Christian. Now, what are yougoing to do about it?"

Since Whitworth, I've found those samethree themes guiding my life: respondingto life's challenges, becoming part of acommunity, and trying to serve God.

After graduating, I volunteered for ayear with Habitat for Humanity. It waschallenging; there was a built-in senseof community, and serving God was acore value. It had everything - except apaycheck. So after a meaningful year, Iheaded to our nation's capital to put mynewly minted degree to the test.

Thanks to a Whitworth alum, I got ajob in the U.S. Senate, on a committeefor then-Senator Brock Adams (D-Wa.).I learned a great deal about politics andgovernment, and a lot about myself.While Ienjoyed much of it, Ihad troubleseeing myself there for the long term. Forme, the community aspect was missing.

Next came Philadelphia and theEconomic Development Program atEastern University. To my surprise andgratitude, my graduate assistantshipplacement was with none other thanAnthony Campolo. I couldn't get enoughof his humor and poignant perspectiveon Christianity and service. What anexperience! And what a taskmaster!He's all fun and games when speaking,but he quickly gets down to business inthe office. Philadelphia is also where Imet my wife, Amy. It is now clear to methat she was a much better find thanCam polo. (Sorrv, Tony!)

During one visit home to Selah, Ilearned of a job opening at a nonprofitm Yakima called the Office of Rural andFarmworker Housing (ORFH, for short).I applied, was hired and was excitedabout the job, though I was somewhat

reluctant to be back m the Yakima Valleyat first. ORFH builds affordable housmgfor farm workers throughout Washingtonstate.

The three themes re-emerged:Challenging work meant servingfarmworkers whose low incomes, languageand cultural differences and somewhatnomadic lifestyle create major challengesfor housing, education, health and muchmore. A sense of community meantfinding a church, making new friendsand renewing old ones, and starting afamily. There was a whole new sense ofmeaning and belonging. And through itall, what did it mean to serve Christ? Itmeant to participate in church and to bean involved, loving father and husband;to serve those whom society tends to leavebehind; to be a good neighbor. All theseand more.

Trust me when I say I'm far fromhaving it all figured out. My two youngsons sometimes ask me, "Dad, what doyou want to be when you grow up?"First, I'm flattered they don't think ofme as a grownup. And second, I'm notalways sure of the answer. Maybe ['IIbe a baseball player or an astronaut. Ormaybe I'll continue on in the world ofaffordable housing. No matter what, thequestions that emerge from my threeWhitworth themes keep returning: Howdo we challenge ourselves to be better, todo better? How do we create community?How do we effectively serve Christ?

Turns out that those lessons are not onlyin the rearview mirror; they stretch out infront of the windshield, as far as the eyecan see.

Marty Miller, '89, is a Whirworth AlummAward winner and was a featured speaker atHomecoming Weekend 2008.

WT AFTERWORD 33

..From the Brothers K to the Widow Wadman

Whitworth Faculty Book Favorites

Last spring, then-ASWU President Scott Donnell, '08, compiled a list of Whitworth

faculty members' favorite books. He then disseminated the list to the entire campus.

The book mentioned most often on the list was Fyodor Dostoyevskv's The Brothers

Karamazov. John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany came Il1 second, followed closely

by Leif Enger's Peace Like a River.Whitworth Today decided to check with a number of faculty members to see why they

chose the books they did. Below, their answers.

Forrest Baird (Philosophy & Theology): The BrothersKaramazov, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

This book touches on the most basicof human questions: Who am I? Whois God? Why is there so much sufferingin the world? What is my responsibilityto others? It also explores powerfullyrhe problem of evil why a good, all-powerful God allows all the evil in theworld. One of the brothers blasts holesin all the pious excuses given for God'sallowing evil and is led to reject Godfor this reason. Another shows thatit IS possible to feel the weight of theproblem and still believe. And the third

ultimately cannot bring himself to live with the full consequencesof his atheism. On top of all the psychological, philosophicaland theological insights, the book is also a whodunit murdermystery. But be warned: Everyone has three Russian names anda nickname and they keep changing which name they lise (areference list of names is always good to have handy). The first300 pages may be a bit slow, but the next 700 will fly by'

Tammy Reid, '60 (English): Jayber Crow,by Wendell Berry

34 WT

A quick answer to you fromSrrarford-upon-Avon. where theBritain and Ireland students and I havejust completed a literary pilgrimage toShakespeare-related sites. Great fun!Oh, yes, and learning, too.Berry is best known for his poetry,

but this book, about the life andevolution of a small lOth-ceururv townand its people, captures nuances ofhuman behavior in stunning language.It's not a plot-driven novel - it is aninsight into an era through the eyes ofa gentle, perceptive man, [ayber.

Scott Kolbo (Art): Mystery and Manners,by Flannery O'Connor

O'Connor unequivocally defends theidea that good art is a good in and ofitself. She also takes the cultural worldto task for attempting to drain all of themystery and faith out of the arts in the20th century. Her ironic and witty sense ofhumor cuts through the rhetoric thrownup by both the legalistically pious andthose who would prefer to keep faith as aprivate spiritual matter that has no right to

demand anything from the rest of us. I believe that Mystery andManners is the most important book anyone who is attemptingto make his or her way as an artist and a person of faith can read- and it remains one of the few books about art from a Christianperspective that I think about every day.

Lisa Laurier (Education): The River Why,by David J ames Duncan

Honestly, the book has someunfortunate language in it and notall the questions are answered in thenicest of ways, but I can't help butappreciate a book with charactersnamed Hemingway, Descartesand even Gus, which is short forAugustine. The ability of thewriter to integrate so much historyand philosophy in a book that issuperficially a coming-of-age fishingstory is really something.

/

--

p

Brent Edstrom (Music): Salt, A World History,by Mark Kurlansky

Salt'.I!!•\! A KKK II R L /i. :--.l SKY

Salt, A World History cameto mind because it's a book thatprovides insights into many topicsincluding history, politics, war,commerce, science and geography.I have always enjoyed history butnever realized the significance ofsalt. Salt seems so inconsequentialtoday but, until about 100 years ago,it was as essential to an army as oilis to a modern army. I came awayfrom the book with a very differentperspective on world history, whichis why I think it's such a great read.

Laura Bloxham (English): A Prayer for Owen Meany,by John Irving

The characters are God's hands atwork in the world. There are immenselyfunny scenes, notably a church nativityplay; portrayals of miracles that make onewonder; long passages invested in theVietnam War; and sections some readersmight not want to read for one reasonor another. For the students in one ofmy classes, the book was so sacred theyrefused to allow any analytical discussionat all. They loved the book so muchthey wanted to protect it from academic

discourse. For me, this novel has a truth greater than nonfiction.Though I know it is fiction, I am convinced it happened. I amhaunted by this book in the best way possible.

Scott McQuilkin, '84 (Kinesiology & Athletics):Peace Like a River, by Leif Enger

I've always had an affection fora beautifully written narrativetold from the perspective of a lO~year-old or so kid, e.g. A Prayerfor Owen Meany, Cold Sassy Tree,The Brothers K, and Peace Like aRiver. Authors, it seems to me, canoffer spiritual insights through theeyes of a fictional child, wisdom inchild-like simplicity, and objectivityunclouded by years of living. I wasdisappointed every time I turneda page in Enger's book, becauseI knew that I was then one page

closer to the end of the story. I don't know that I could pay anyhigher compliment to an author.

PEACELI K E A

Vic Bobb (English): Tristram Shandy,by Laurence Sterne

Some of the major circumstances of thebook are so comically perfect that theydo not resist translation: Go ahead andexplain to somebody how Tristram comesto get his name, and it's still a funny story;but within the world of the book, it's twiceas funny, and is twined with a half-dozenother laugh-inducing circumstances andquirks. In fact, one of the reasons the booklands so high on my list is precisely thatthe what of the novel is very funny, and

the how of that funny is spectacularly rewarding. Once you'vegotten immersed in the world of My Uncle Toby and the siege,everything from sashweights to boots (not to mention howthe Widow Wadman might put her finger on the very spot) istied into the funny. The 18th century's definition of wit couldhardly be more delightfully realized than in the extraordinarilvcomplex (and, in this case, largely ludicrous) interplay of theelements of Tristram Shandy.

~IFE~OPINIONSm{!STRAMSHANDY,GENTLEMAN

Send us the title and author of your favorite book, and tell us why it'simportant to you. To see the complete faculty list and/or to add yourbook to our alumni list, visit www.whitworth.edulwhitworthtoday.

7

wT 35

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1967$37530

269$27,100

\XlHITWORTH Non-Profit Org.U.S. PostagePAID

Spokane, WAPermit #387

300 West Hawthorne RoadSpokane, WA 99251

Janet HauckUbrarvHarriet cnenev Cowles Ubrarv

2008Cost per square foot of science-building construction:Computers in the science building:Science majors:Whitworth tuition:

$25o

92$1,150

..-?.. Jhen Whitworth's Eric Johnston Science Center opened in 1967, the-rv world had yet to witness a walk on the moon, AIDS did not exist,and no one had ever heard of "green chemistry." But even as research anddiscovery in the scientific world have moved at a rapid pace over the last40 years, Whitworth science students remain committed to studying andanalyzing both the understood and the unexamined universe in ways thatencompass the role of faith in learning. As we at Whitworth adapt to thechanging world and the needs of our students by preparing to construct anew blo/chern building and add much-needed space for our burgeoningscience programs, your support ofThe Whitworth Fund is more important thanever before. To help maintain the distinctive mind-and-heart mission thatWhitworth has embraced throughout its history and to enable our students topursue the abundant opportunities of tomorrow, please visit www.whitworth.edu/give, or call June Hanson at 509.777.4343 or 800.532.4668.