Author spotlight: Scott Craig

Scott Craig is manager of media relations at Westmont College.

Get Spaced Out at Monthly Star Party
By Scott Craig   |   October 22, 2024

Westmont’s powerful Keck Telescope takes aim at Saturn and a supermoon at this month’s free public stargazing event on Friday, Oct. 18, beginning about 7 pm and lasting several hours at the Westmont Observatory. The college hosts a monthly star party on the third Friday of each month in conjunction with the Santa Barbara Astronomical […]

Theater Performs ‘39 Steps’ at Speed of Fun
By Scott Craig   |   October 22, 2024

Westmont theatre offers The 39 Steps – a fast-paced murder mystery and international espionage plot, encompassing numerous characters played by just five actors – from October 25-26 at 7:30 pm and October 31 at 9 pm, November 1-2 at 7:30 pm and November 2 at 2 pm, all in Porter Theatre. Purchase tickets, which cost […]

Golf Teams Swing Early Wins
By Scott Craig   |   October 22, 2024

Westmont men’s and women’s golf received multiple honors from the PacWest Conference after outstanding performances at the Westmont Invitational earlier this month at Sandpiper Golf Club in Goleta.  The women’s team was named the PacWest Women’s Golf Team of the Week after capturing the tournament title with a four-stroke victory over both Point Loma and […]

Rocks of Remembrance
By Scott Craig   |   October 15, 2024

On the morning of March 27, 1989, Westmont students Lisa Bebout, Patty (Hallock) Crosby, Megan (Harter) Adams, Alan Voorman, and Garth Weedman drove in Voorman’s bright yellow Toyota Corolla from their camp in Ensenada, Mexico, to a nearby village. As members of the Potter’s Clay Construction Team, they were renovating a dilapidated house there. But […]

Former Provost Offers a Hopeful Middle
By Scott Craig   |   October 15, 2024

Polarization in our culture and politics has led to division, tension and hostility in our churches, workplaces and even our families. Shirley Mullen, former Westmont provost and history professor, encouraged the Westmont community to instead claim the powerful, redemptive potential of the courageous middle. “It’s one of the hardest things you’ll ever do, but it’s […]

Westmont Ranks Among Premier Colleges
By Scott Craig   |   October 8, 2024

For two decades, U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges list has ranked Westmont as the top Christian liberal arts college in California and the Western U.S. In the 2025 edition released today, Westmont appears at No. 108 (tied) among all national, not regional, liberal arts colleges. And, Westmont holds its rank as the top […]

Poli-Sci Prof. Explores ‘Hopeful Realism’
By Scott Craig   |   October 8, 2024

Jesse Covington, whose research explores the interrelation of religion and government, takes a step away from the current electoral matchup to look at enduring challenges Christians face in a context like the United States. He discusses “Hopeful Realism: Faith-Based Principles for Pluralist Democracy” at a Westmont Downtown Lecture on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 5:30 pm […]

Scheffler Putter Raffle
By Scott Craig   |   October 8, 2024

As part of the Westmont Classic Golf Tournament, the college will raffle off a TaylorMade Spider Tour X putter with the cover autographed by Scottie Scheffler. The golf tournament, which raises funds for student scholarships, will be held on Friday, Oct. 4, from noon to 6 pm at Glen Annie Golf Club. A barbecue dinner […]

Students to Celebrate Summer Research
By Scott Craig   |   October 8, 2024

Nearly 40 students will present their summer research findings at the annual Celebration of Summer Research on Friday, Oct. 4, from 3:30-5 pm in the Winter Hall Atrium. The Celebration of Summer Research, sponsored by the Office of the Provost, is free and open to the public. Students will present 19 posters representing the natural […]

Homecoming Honors Alumni
By Scott Craig   |   October 1, 2024

Westmont’s alums return to campus for Homecoming 2024 with an abundance of family-friendly events from October 4-6. Please visit westmont.edu/homecoming for the full schedule, prices and ticket information. The college will honor stellar individuals at the annual Alumni Awards Celebration Brunch on Saturday, October 5, from 9:45-11:30 am at the Global Leadership Center. Dr. Lauren […]

How Faith-Based Colleges Shape Students
By Scott Craig   |   October 1, 2024

Guests from the Lilly Network of more than 100 faith-based colleges and universities will examine the initial findings of a study about the intellectual-religious experience of undergraduates at the network’s national conference hosted by Westmont’s Gaede Institute for the Liberal Arts on September 27-29. The Springtide Institute study, commissioned by the Lilly Network of Church-Related […]

Beebe To Join Global Church in Korea
By Scott Craig   |   October 1, 2024

Westmont President Gayle D. Beebe has been serving as a delegate at the Fourth Lausanne Congress for World Evangelization on Sept. 22-28 in Incheon, South Korea. He has served as a college president for more than 25 years (18 at Westmont) and received his invitation through the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities. Beebe joins […]

New Faculty Bring Innovation, Expertise
By Scott Craig   |   September 24, 2024

Six new professors on tenure track or with multiyear contracts joined the Westmont faculty this fall. Jonathan Diaz (English), Kevin McGuire (economics and business), Sara Morrisset (history) and Jada Willis (kinesiology) step into tenure-track positions. Stephanie Cowell ‘04 (chemistry), Laura Drake Schultheis ‘06 (biology) and Mike Ryu (computer science) all previously taught at Westmont and […]

Put a Ring on It
By Scott Craig   |   September 24, 2024

The planet Saturn will be the star of the show on Friday, Sept. 20, from 7:30-10 pm at the Westmont Observatory. “If you haven’t seen this unique planet and its rings through a telescope before, I highly encourage you to come out and join us,” says Jen Ito, assistant professor of physics and director of […]

Stargazers to Be Moonstruck Saturday
By Scott Craig   |   September 17, 2024

The public is invited to join Westmont’s astrophysics students to learn more about the moon on NASA’s International Observe the Moon Night on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 7:30-9:30 pm at the Westmont Observatory.  “The moon is something we’re so used to seeing, and it’s an important part of our life here on Earth,” says Jen […]

Guerrero Scores Weekly Honors 
By Scott Craig   |   September 17, 2024

Westmont junior Erik Guerrero has been named the PacWest Men’s Soccer Player of the Week in the first such award of the year. Guerrero scored goals in both of the Warriors’ games last week. In the season opener against Simon Fraser (B.C.) on Sept. 5, Guerrero’s penalty kick in the 67th minute drew the Warriors […]

Study Finds Immediate Benefit to Churchgoers
By Scott Craig   |   September 17, 2024

The research of a Westmont sociologist who examined the effects of church attendance has garnered national attention. According to the study of U.S. adults, regular weekend attendance of a religious service creates an immediate increase in positive emotions as well as a decrease in negative ones. Researchers found there was no change in the emotional […]

Alum Shares Wildlife Art in ‘Fins, Feathers’
By Scott Craig   |   September 10, 2024

Alumnus Casey Underwood ’14 has returned to his alma mater to exhibit his diverse talents as an outdoor wildlife artist in “Fins and Feathers: The Art of Casey Underwood” from Aug. 29-Dec. 21 in the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art’s downstairs gallery. Underwood, an illustrator and outdoorsman living in southern Montana, has become one of […]

Warm Reception for Refreshed DC
By Scott Craig   |   September 10, 2024

Returning students created a buzz of excitement when they ventured into the newly renovated Westmont Dining Commons (DC). They were most excited about the adjoining outdoor patio, where workers installed an automatic sliding door from the dining room. “We have also added two fire pits, multiple heaters, a shade structure and all-new furniture to make […]

Honoring Willard Book Awardees
By Scott Craig   |   September 10, 2024

Michael Stewart Robb, who won the Martin Institute and Dallas Willard Research Center’s Book Award in 2023, will receive the honor and speak in the chapel at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 6, in Murchison Gym. He will discuss key themes from his award-winning book in a Provost’s Lecture, “Dallas Willard and Rational Spirituality: Claiming the […]

400 Warriors Arrive at Westmont
By Scott Craig   |   August 27, 2024

About 400 new incoming students, including the Grotenhuis Nursing cohort of ‘24, arrived at Westmont to begin their first week of Orientation, Aug. 21-25, and the start of the fall semester, Aug. 26.  Nineteen percent (70) of new students are first-generation and joined their parents beginning Aug. 20 for a First Connections Pre-Orientation program, which […]

Beebe to Sign New ‘Crucibles’ Book 
By Scott Craig   |   August 27, 2024

Gayle D. Beebe, entering his 18th year as president of Westmont College, will sell and sign copies of his new book, The Crucibles That Shape Us: Navigating the Defining Challenges of Leadership, on Thursday, Aug. 29, from 4-6 pm in front of the turtle fountain at La Arcada Plaza, 1114 State Street in downtown Santa […]

Exhibition Offers Glowing ‘Night Visions’
By Scott Craig   |   August 27, 2024

Duncan Simcoe, a Southern California artist and former chair of the College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design at California Baptist University in Riverside, offers his signature limited-palette paintings on dark construction-grade tar paper in Night Visions: The Black Drawings of Duncan Simcoe, 2014-2024 from Aug. 29 to Nov. 9 in the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum […]

Stargazers to Enjoy Summer Viewing
By Scott Craig   |   August 20, 2024

Westmont’s monthly stargazing event features a triangle asterism, a globular cluster and a waxing moon on Friday, August 16, beginning about 8 pm and lasting several hours at the Westmont Observatory. Along with the college’s powerful Keck Telescope, members of the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit bring their telescopes to share with the public. The 12-day […]

Jarrett to Lead ICP
By Scott Craig   |   August 20, 2024

Iyree Jarrett (‘22) is the only student to have appeared on the cover of the Westmont magazine twice. She was featured as a student-athlete who best exemplified leadership, and as the star guard for the National Championship winning women’s basketball team.  The lifelong Southern California resident has accepted a new leadership position at Westmont, this […]

New Golf Coach Joins Warriors
By Scott Craig   |   August 20, 2024

Leo Maes, former head golf coach at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona, will serve as the next head coach for Westmont’s men’s and women’s golf teams. Maes previously was the head coach for four years at Glendale Community College and three years as an assistant at Mesa Community College.  “He brings a well-rounded track record […]

Local Company Stops Hacking, Tracking
By Scott Craig   |   July 30, 2024

The growing concern about personal information and privacy in the digital age has led a company based in Santa Barbara to develop products protecting consumers. MOS Equipment, founded by Westmont alumnus Ryan Judy (’08), manufactures Mission Darkness™ faraday bags, tents, and lockers that block radio waves, including cell phone signals.  “A lot of people don’t […]

Swing for a Cause
By Scott Craig   |   July 30, 2024

The Westmont Golf Classic, a charity golf tournament started in 2008 to raise funds for student scholarships, returns Friday, Oct. 4, at the Glen Annie Golf Club, 405 Glen Annie Road in Goleta. Registration is $200 per golfer and includes: 18 holes of golf with cart; tri-tip BBQ dinner, on-course games, raffles and awards. Additional […]

Summer Exhibit Unveils New Acquisitions
By Scott Craig   |   July 23, 2024

Experience 45 of the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art’s recent acquisitions at a stunning summer show. The exhibition features works by three dozen artists, including Americans Richard Artschwager, Laddie John Dill, and Louisiana Bendolph of the Gee’s Bend quilters, contemporary Chinese artist Yue Minjun, and numerous local artists.  New Acquisitions: Selections from the Modern and […]

Impact Conference Explores AI, Education
By Scott Craig   |   July 23, 2024

Westmont’s annual Impact Conference, co-sponsored by Salesforce, explores opportunities and dangers using artificial intelligence tools in education Thursday, July 25, and Friday, July 26, in the Global Leadership Center. Tickets to the two-day event cost $100 with breakfast and lunch provided both days. To register or get more information, please visit westmont.edu/impact. “The conference, geared […]

Warriors Gain Full NCAA DII Membership
By Scott Craig   |   July 23, 2024

Westmont Athletics has been granted full membership into NCAA Division II… a year early. The NCAA Division II Membership Committee told President Gayle D. Beebe and Robert Ruiz, director of athletics, that the Warriors had successfully completed year two of the NCAA probationary period and had been granted a waiver for year three of the […]

College Hosts Christian Climate Conference
By Scott Craig   |   July 16, 2024

Westmont hosted more than 70 evangelical students, professors, and nationally recognized experts from across the country for the second consecutive summer to address the global challenge of climate change on June 16-21. “Faith. Climate. Action. A Workshop on Christian Climate Advocacy” equips students who care deeply about the environment to become leaders in their communities […]

Top Baseball Players Tryout at Carr Field
By Scott Craig   |   July 16, 2024

About 200 of the best high school baseball players from Southern California came to Westmont’s Carr Field to show off their talents in front of Major League Baseball scouts and coaches from Division I colleges June 24-26. Since 2010, Westmont has hosted the Area Code Tryouts, which are organized by the Milwaukee Brewers in this […]

Supervisor-Elect Tours Westmont
By Scott Craig   |   July 2, 2024

Roy Lee, Santa Barbara County 1st District supervisor-elect and Carpinteria councilman, will spend the six months before he’s sworn into office listening to his constituents. He and his chief of staff, Wade Cowper, met for breakfast with Westmont’s executive team, including President Gayle D. Beebe, before touring the 111-acre campus by golf cart on June […]

Cellist Returns to Perform at MAW
By Scott Craig   |   July 2, 2024

Westmont alumnus and local resident Tim Beccue (’18) is back on campus, this time as a fellow of the Music Academy of the West. Since 2016, Westmont houses 140 exceptional young classical musicians each summer for the academy, which provides live events through Aug. 3. Visit musicacademy.org for a full calendar of concerts.  “I have […]

Storytellers Shine at LEAD Conference
By Scott Craig   |   June 25, 2024

Westmont’s Lead Where You Stand Conference delivered inspirational stories, helpful advice, and insightful conversation for the 173 attendees with the goal of “Pursuing the Greater Good in Challenging Times” from June 5-6 at the Montecito college. It featured keynote speakers Marcus ‘Goodie’ Goodloe, Dr. Charity Dean, Matthew Luhn, Gayle D. Beebe, David Brooks, Jeff Schloss, […]

Senior Engineers Drop Final Project
By Scott Craig   |   June 18, 2024

“Dropping in three, two, one.” Then a drone, flying 150 feet high, released a plastic, hexagonal safety pod housing a blinking computer chip, amusing dozens of people gathered to watch one of two final presentations by the engineering design team on Lovik Field at Westmont.  The craft, trailed by a parachute, hit the grass, and […]

College Hosts Admissions Conference
By Scott Craig   |   June 18, 2024

Westmont hosted 450 attendees for the North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals (NACAAP) Conference June 3-5. With the theme “Mi Casa, Su Casa,” the Montecito college led by Ceili Norling, admissions and marketing coordinator, rolled out the welcome mat, offering keynote talks and worship sessions with alumnus Dean Wilson (’97), Turner Foundation president and […]

Exhibition Offers Room for Reflection
By Scott Craig   |   June 18, 2024

Westmont alumna Ella Jennings (’23), education and outreach coordinator at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art, shares her paintings of luminous interiors in an exhibition, Abide with Me, at the Fireside Gallery at Trinity Lutheran Evangelical Church, 909 N. La Cumbre, open from 10 am – 2 pm on weekdays.  “The everyday buildings we frequent […]

College Honors Its Employees of the Year
By Scott Craig   |   June 11, 2024

Westmont honored a number of employees for their outstanding contributions at the May 9 Faculty and Staff Appreciation Brunch, an annual ceremony that recognizes individual work anniversaries and accomplishments. President Gayle D. Beebe and members of the college’s executive team selected the recipients from a peer-nominated pool. An endowment set up by the late Bruce […]