Author spotlight: Scott Craig

Scott Craig is manager of media relations at Westmont College.

Zig’s Musical Chair
By Scott Craig   |   October 10, 2023

Siegwart ‘Zig’ Reichwald was officially installed as Adams chair of music and worship at Westmont in a day that featured chamber musicians, the college choir, orchestra and chapel band performing music from the Psalms, Felix Mendelssohn, and rock band U2.  As part of the formal installation ceremony, President Gayle D. Beebe urged Reichwald to bring […]

Universally Speaking
By Scott Craig   |   October 10, 2023

Jennifer Ito, Westmont assistant professor of physics, explores exciting new developments in astrophysics in a Westmont Downtown Lecture, “Asteroids and Exoplanets: How Scientists Are Exploring Our Universe,” on Thursday, October 12, at 5:30 pm at the Community Arts Workshop, 631 Garden Street, in downtown Santa Barbara. The event is free and open to the public; […]

‘Moses’ Comes to Montecito
By Scott Craig   |   October 10, 2023

Westmont alumnus Dave LeMieux (’93), new director of worship for Montecito Covenant Church, performs a two-part multimedia event, “Moses – Truth to Power,” on Wednesday, October 18, and Friday, October 20, at 10:30 am at Westmont chapel in Murchison Gym.  He will perform both parts as a special event on Thursday, October 19, at 7 […]

Music, Theater Combine in ‘Godspell’
By Scott Craig   |   October 3, 2023

Westmont presents Godspell, one of the most popular musicals of all time, on October 12-15 at 7:30 pm and October 14 at 2 pm in Westmont’s Porter Theatre. Music and theater students join together to stage a production for the first time since 2019. Tickets, which cost $20 for general admission and $12 for students […]

Parents of Alum, Student Join Trustees
By Scott Craig   |   October 3, 2023

The parents of a Westmont alumna and a current student joined the Westmont Board of Trustees in May. Mary Barbour, whose daughter, Anna, graduated from Westmont in 2022, and Marcus ‘Goodie’ Goodloe, whose daughter Hannah is currently a senior and will graduate in spring 2024, look forward to supporting the college’s mission on the board, […]

Zola Legs Out More Honors
By Scott Craig   |   October 3, 2023

Westmont’s Zola Sokhela picked up the pace at the end and ran to victory in The Master’s Invitational September 23, finishing the 8K cross country race in a season-best: 24:08.2. As a result, Sokhela earned PacWest Runner of the Week honors for the second time this season.  The junior from Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, will next […]

A Day of Musical Events to Celebrate ‘Zig’
By Scott Craig   |   September 26, 2023

In a public ceremony replete with orchestral and choral music, Siegwart ‘Zig’ Reichwald will be installed as the Adams professor of music and worship on Friday, September 29, at 10:30 am in Murchison Gym. The formal ceremony serves as a prelude to a day of public events that include a keynote address and chamber concert.  […]

Westmont Soars in Latest Rankings
By Scott Craig   |   September 26, 2023

Westmont jumped 16 spots in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Colleges national liberal arts rankings – the college’s largest rise since 2010. For the 19th straight year, Westmont, ranked at No. 107 (tied), is one of only two national liberal arts colleges in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and remains […]

Female Mystics of the Medieval
By Scott Craig   |   September 26, 2023

Rebecca McNamara, Westmont professor of English and medieval literature scholar, speaks about “Mystics, Healers, Writers and Saints: Medieval Women You Should Know” on Wednesday, September 27, at 7 pm in Adams Center, room 219. The talk is part of Linda Ekstrom’s current art exhibition at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art, Straddling Circumference, on display […]

Physics Students Work at Chilean Telescopes
By Scott Craig   |   September 19, 2023

For the first time in more than a decade, undergraduate students assisted with research at the Simons Array, a set of three telescopes in the Atacama Desert in Chile at an elevation of about 17,000 feet. Westmont students Michael Lew and Jacob Nelson joined Jen Ito, assistant professor of physics, at the site, an expansion […]

Music Faculty Perform Fall Recital
By Scott Craig   |   September 19, 2023

Westmont music faculty take the stage for the Fall Faculty Recital on Friday, September 15, at 7 pm in Deane Chapel. The performance is free and open to the public. The recital features Music Director Ruth Lin (piano), Adelle Rodkey (oboe), Christina Ramsey (mezzo-soprano), Erin Bonski-Evans (piano), Egle Januleviciute (piano), and Cam Audras (viola). They […]

Sokhela Races to College’s First PacWest Honor
By Scott Craig   |   September 19, 2023

Zola Sokhela, Westmont’s 14-time NAIA All-American, ran to a second-place finish in the men’s cross country 8K at the Biola Invitational September 8. The performance earned him the title of PacWest Runner of the Week, the first NCAA Division II honor given to a Westmont athlete. Sokhela and the Warriors return to action September 23 […]

Young Alumna to be Honored at Homecoming
By Scott Craig   |   September 12, 2023

Westmont will give Gabriella (Pinheiro Chavez) Avila (2014) the Young Alumni Award at a special Homecoming brunch Saturday, Oct. 14, for her faithful life of leadership and service.  Avila serves as a counselor in California’s largest school district: Los Angeles Unified. She meets regularly with many of the 1,200 students at her middle school, helping […]

Talk Examines Christian Nationalism, the Gospel
By Scott Craig   |   September 12, 2023

Andrew Whitehead, one of the foremost scholars of Christian nationalism in the United States, speaks about his new book, American Idolatry: How Christian Nationalism Betrays the Gospel and Threatens the Church, on Thursday, Sept. 14, from 3:30 to 5 pm in the Global Leadership Center at Westmont. The lecture is free and open to the […]

Head of the Class: Meet the New Faculty
By Scott Craig   |   September 5, 2023

Westmont welcomes four excellent new tenure-track professors to campus this fall. Sam Cole (economics and business), Linghui Han (economics and business), Paul Mena (communication studies), and Anna Jordan (‘07; English) each bring a deep Christian faith and a desire to challenge students to think deeply while learning broadly.  “Westmont is distinct because our faculty are […]

Soccer Kicks Off NCAA DII Schedule
By Scott Craig   |   September 5, 2023

The Warriors kick off a new era of Westmont athletics when men’s soccer battles Saint Martin’s (Wash.) on Thursday, August 31, at 3 pm on Thorrington Field as part of the Heritage Club Classic men’s soccer tournament. This will be the first official game by Westmont as a member of NCAA DII. The Warriors game […]

The Warriors Are Coming
By Scott Craig   |   August 29, 2023

About 400 first-year and transfer students arrive on campus for the newly named Warrior Welcome August 24-27. Classes for the fall semester begin Monday, August 28. On Wednesday, August 23, about 150 first-generation and international students and their families participate in First Connections, a pre-orientation welcome program designed for those who are the first in […]

Warriors Host Home Soccer Action
By Scott Craig   |   August 29, 2023

Men’s and women’s soccer play their first exhibition games on Thorrington Field. Fresh off an exhibition against UC Santa Barbara at Harder Stadium, the men will battle CSU San Bernardino on Thursday, August 24, at noon. The Warriors’ junior goalie Brady Highfill of Bakersfield tallied 10 saves in the game against the Gauchos, impressing the […]

Art Exhibit Straddles the Intellectual, Spiritual
By Scott Craig   |   August 22, 2023

Celebrated Santa Barbara artist Linda Ekstrom offers a wide range of poetic, imaginative, and spiritual works of transformed fabric, paper, books, and gloves in an exhibition (August 31 – November 11) at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. A free opening reception Thursday, August 31 from 4-6 pm at the museum, honors Straddling Circumference…The Art […]

Spy Saturn at Monthly Stargazing 
By Scott Craig   |   August 22, 2023

The gas giant Saturn will be the star attraction at this month’s free, public viewing Friday, August 18, beginning at about 8 pm and lasting several hours at the observatory. Stargazing at Westmont includes the college’s powerful Keck Telescope, a computer-controlled 24-inch reflector. Members of the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit bring their own telescopes to […]

Men’s Soccer Features New Coach 
By Scott Craig   |   August 22, 2023

Morgan Cathey will lead the men’s soccer team into Harder Stadium Saturday, August 19, at 7 pm in an exhibition matchup against UCSB. The annual game, now called the Community Shield, has been played for more than six decades, but this will be Cathey’s first as the Warriors’ new head coach.  Cathey, a former men’s […]

Education, Technology Join at Impact Conference
By Scott Craig   |   August 15, 2023

Westmont’s annual Impact Conference brings together leading thinkers in education and technology to discuss the development of better data systems for colleges and universities. Co-hosted by Salesforce and Westmont’s Center for Applied Technology (CATLab), the free event takes place on campus Thursday, August 10, from 8am – 1:30pm. To register or get more information, please […]

Women’s Soccer Season Kicking Off
By Scott Craig   |   August 15, 2023

Westmont women’s soccer added seven recruits to its roster ahead of its first season in the NCAA Division II PacWest Conference. The newcomers include Angelina Garcia of Chicago; Kennah Shaffer of Buellton; Ellie Ludwig of Temecula; Katie Lannon of San Pedro; Sydney Reese of Campbell; Lauren Schwarz of Murrieta; and Mia Stuart from Newport Beach.  […]

Students Bring Joy of STEM to Ecuador
By Scott Craig   |   August 8, 2023

Westmont engineering students returned to Quito, Ecuador, in May to share their love of science, technology, engineering, and math with children in an after-school program. The seven engineering students – Jonny Reitinger, Jonah Swanson, Jacob Bailey, Maria Judy, Elijah Cicileo, Becca Hudson, and Tasha Loh – designed and built STEM educational materials to share with […]

Nursing Hits 100% Success Rate
By Scott Craig   |   August 1, 2023

All eight graduates of Westmont’s inaugural Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) cohort have successfully passed the National Council for Licensure Exam-RN (NCLEX-RN) and begun careers as nurses. Half of these nurses serve in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. They completed the program in May 2023. The 2023 national average for Bachelor of Science […]

Swimming Team Earns Academic Accolades 
By Scott Craig   |   August 1, 2023

The Westmont women’s swimming team has capped off an historic season by being named Scholar All-Americans by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America. The teams were selected on the basis of their spring 2023 team grade point averages. The Warriors posted a team GPA of 3.38.  The CSCAA also selected Ella Chaisson […]

Hansen Named Sports Performance Coach
By Scott Craig   |   August 1, 2023

Erik Hansen, a former student-athlete at UC Santa Barbara where he was a member of the men’s swim program, has been tabbed as Westmont’s new sports performance coach. He will also serve as the assistant women’s swimming coach and will teach kinesiology and physical activity courses. “As we look to the future of Westmont athletics, […]

Observatory Opens for Stargazers
By Scott Craig   |   July 25, 2023

Westmont hosts a star party of sorts on Friday, July 21, beginning about 8 pm and lasting several hours at the observatory. The college’s powerful Keck Telescope, a computer-controlled 24-inch reflector, is available to the public every third Friday of month in conjunction with the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit (SBAU). Members of the SBAU bring […]

Warriors to Compete in NCAA DII PacWest Conference 
By Scott Craig   |   July 25, 2023

It’s official: Westmont launches into a new era of athletic competition to play in the NCAA Division II this fall. The NCAA formally notified the college that it is approved to move on to the second year of provisional status, which allows them to compete in the PacWest Conference beginning this coming year.  “The move […]

Elwood Returns to Helm of Men’s Tennis
By Scott Craig   |   July 25, 2023

Chris Elwood returns to Westmont as head coach of men’s tennis, a position he previously held for 14 years (1993-97, 2001-09). “In a competitive pool of candidates, Chris stood out as someone with great experience, a strong vision for the program, and a compelling plan to build for the future,” says Westmont Director of Athletics […]

Westmont Hosts Christian Climate Advocacy Workshop
By Scott Craig   |   July 18, 2023

About 40 students and faculty from Christian colleges and universities learned about climate change and its widespread effects at an environmental conference June 25 – July 2 hosted at Westmont’s leafy 111-acre campus. More than two dozen top scholars spoke at “Faith. Climate. Action: A Workshop on Christian Climate Advocacy,” which included outdoor worship services, […]

Dual Violinist/Chemistry Major to Perform in Aspen
By Scott Craig   |   July 11, 2023

This summer, Westmont violinist Sophia Chan (’25) performs at the Aspen Music Festival and School (June 29-August 20), one of the top classical music festivals in the United States that features more than 600 classical music students from around the world. “It’s insanely competitive – she is joining students from top conservatories around the world, […]

High Schoolers’ Field of Dreams
By Scott Craig   |   July 11, 2023

The top Southern California high school baseball players in the class of 2024 and 2025 will be showcased at the Area Code Tryouts hosted by the Milwaukee Brewers July 6-7 from 9 am to 4 pm at Westmont’s Russell Carr Field. Scouts from many top NCAA colleges and the MLB will be in attendance.  Afterward, […]

Large Grant Funds Study of Reptile Dwarfism
By Scott Craig   |   July 4, 2023

Westmont biologist Amanda Sparkman (’03) and her research collaborators have won a two-million-dollar, four-year grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to continue investigating the evolution of dwarfism in Channel Islands National Park reptiles.  The study focuses on five species, including the gopher snake, western yellow-bellied racer, southern alligator lizard, western fence lizard, and side-blotched […]

Using Her Communication Skills for Public Service
By Scott Craig   |   July 4, 2023

In 2004, Lauren Bianchi Klemann (’04)traveled to the Middle East with former Westmont professor Bruce Fisk. A graduating senior, she wanted to visit places such as Syria, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan. “It fed my soul,” she says. “The experience combined my passions: looking at political and religious landscapes. Exploring physical history and the political landscape […]

Grants Guide Graduates in Growing Globally
By Scott Craig   |   June 20, 2023

A record three Westmont graduates have earned prestigious Fulbright Scholarships this year to teach and conduct research around the world. Ebun Kalejaiye (’23) will teach English in Spain, Cody LeFebre (’22) will teach English in Colombia, and Valerie Swisher (’22) will study personal experiences and perceptions of mental health care in Hungary.  Also, recent graduate […]

Grad Uses Poetry to Thank Parents
By Scott Craig   |   June 20, 2023

Recent Westmont graduate Kimberly Quezada Carrillo, president of the college’s first-generation club, penned a poem to thank her parents, Manuel and Maria. The Light of your Eyes I am The Light of your eyes,To which you let dream of everything that is great.You made me an ambitious person,And you taught me the most valuable thing.Your […]

Warriors Finish on Top
By Scott Craig   |   June 13, 2023

Westmont Athletics ended its final season in the NAIA with the baseball team diving onto a celebratory dogpile. The Warriors secured a nail-biting 7-6 World Series victory over the hosts, Lewis-Clark State, claiming the college’s 10th national championship. Westmont will compete in NCAA Division II this fall after more than seven decades with the NAIA. […]

Streamlining the County’s IT Services
By Scott Craig   |   June 13, 2023

Alumnus Chris Chirgwin (’95) brought more than two decades of executive IT leadership and consulting experience to Santa Barbara County as its first Chief Information Officer in 12 years. During his first six months, he’s mapping a new strategic plan to make IT its own department. “The existing IT team has been keeping the day-to-day […]

Offering a Certificate in Theological Leadership
By Scott Craig   |   June 6, 2023

Westmont launches a new program to cultivate wisdom in Christian leaders and offers a post-baccalaureate Certificate in Theological Leadership. The initiative begins January 2024 with an inaugural cohort of 25 students. It’s designed for ministry professionals, laypeople eager to grow spiritually, and recent college graduates considering seminary. For more information, please visit westmont.edu/theo-leadership. President Gayle […]