Tag archives: Westmont College

Hosting the German National Team
By Scott Craig   |   July 26, 2022

The German Track and Field National Team found a home at Westmont July 3-18 while preparing for the 2022 World Athletics Championships, which are being held for the first time ever in the United States.  A total of 135 athletes, coaches, trainers, doctors, and managers moved into Westmont’s Global Leadership Center and worked out at […]

Remembering Paul Wilt
By Scott Craig   |   July 19, 2022

Paul Wilt, Westmont professor emeritus of history, died June 23 at the age of 93. A memorial service will be held at Shoreline Community Church on Saturday, July 16, at 10 am. He is survived by his wife, Doris, and their four children: Tom, Marilyn (’74), Janet (’76), and Daniel (’84).  Paul taught mostly U.S. […]

Emergencies & Insurance at Montecito Association
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   July 19, 2022

At this month’s Montecito Association board meeting, Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor thanked attendees of the Fire District’s emergency preparation meeting, which took place last week at Westmont College.  The meeting had various presenters, including Wildland Fire Specialist and Fire Behavior Analyst Nic Elmquist, who reported that 90% of the western United States is in […]

Observatory Hosts Friday Star Party
By Scott Craig   |   July 19, 2022

It’s globular cluster season at the Westmont observatory with this month’s viewing focusing on two conglomerations containing hundreds of thousands of stars. The free, public viewing of the stars is Friday, July 15, beginning at 7 pm and lasting several hours. Face coverings will be required at the event. Westmont hosts viewings on the third […]

Senior Earns Praise from French University
By Scott Craig   |   July 19, 2022

Westmont senior Chloe White earned the Etienne Gros Prize for Academic Excellence in Literature this summer after graduating from the French Honors program at the Institute for American Universities (IAU) in Southern France. “Since your arrival, we have all been very moved, very touched by your work — always thoughtful, always documented — and by […]

Student Teachers Make the Grade
By Scott Craig   |   July 12, 2022

A tight-knit cohort of five Westmont student teachers shared inspirational stories about their experiences in the classroom at an emotional Celebration of Teaching April 28 on campus. Linda Ngo, Sam Cordes, Hannah Boelter, Simon Janzen, and Shae Caragher,who all earned California Preliminary Credentials, spoke at the event, held for the first time since 2019.  “Teaching is […]

Summer Sports Camp Fun 
By Scott Craig   |   July 12, 2022

The popularity of Westmont Summer Youth Sports Camps has soared to new heights following a reduced schedule in 2020. The camps returned to full capacity the last two years with about 1,400 campers enjoying Westmont’s athletic facilities at 20 different camps during nine weeks this summer.  With summer camp coordinators Jeff Azain and Johnny Whallon […]

Feminism and Faith
By Stella Haffner   |   July 5, 2022

Supreme Court leak in the USA, Spain’s new initiatives to improve reproductive rights and compensation, Northern Ireland’s abortion clinics – feminist issues are on the mind of the Western world. This week, we journey over to the campus of Westmont College to hear from their Feminist Society. Co-led by students Anna, Britta, Mika, and Riley, […]

New Music Director of Youth Symphony
By Richard Mineards   |   July 5, 2022

Dr. Daniel Gee, assistant professor of music at Westmont College, is the new Music Director of the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony.  Gee, who conducts the college choir and chamber singers, says: “I am thrilled at this opportunity to lead the youth symphony and continue the legacy of investing in our community’s young musicians… Making music […]

Pursuing a Love, Talent for Opera
By Scott Craig   |   June 28, 2022

Westmont senior Sibongakonkhe (“Sibo”) Msibi joins an elite group of 20 Fellows this summer at the Vocal Institute at the Music Academy in Santa Barbara. The first Westmont student to achieve this honor, he aspires to become “one of the best opera singers out there.” Chosen from an international pool of talented applicants who seek […]

Attorney Serves Alma Mater as Trustee
By Scott Craig   |   June 21, 2022

Westmont alumnus Ramon Gupta (’94), a corporate attorney with an active practice in Santa Barbara, has joined the Westmont Board of Trustees. A partner with Mullen & Henzell LLP, Business & Real Estate Group, since 1999, Gupta has taught business law at his alma mater since 2014. He will begin a three-year term at his […]

Strong Family Ties for Fulbright Scholars
By Scott Craig   |   June 21, 2022

Two Westmont graduates and Augustinian Scholars, John Corbett (’22) and Kyle Mayl (’21), have won Fulbright Scholarships to teach English outside the United States. Corbett will serve in the Czech Republic while Kyle Mayl will be in Spain.  The award is particularly meaningful for Corbett, whose grandfather was born in the Czech Republic. “I grew […]

Stellar Night for Stargazers
By Scott Craig   |   June 21, 2022

Though the May gray wiped out last month’s public viewing, officials are counting their lucky stars and hoping for a break from June gloom for the event on Friday, June 17, at the Westmont Observatory. The free gathering, held in conjunction with the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit, begins after sunset and lasts several hours. In […]

Conference Offers Leadership Lessons
By Scott Craig   |   June 14, 2022

Westmont’s eighth annual Lead Where You Stand conference featured a trove of inspirational speakers who challenged the crowd and offered practical experience and guidance for their own lives June 1-3 at the college’s Global Leadership Center.  Robert Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett detailed how America has reached historic levels of political polarization, economic inequality, social […]

Ruiz Named New Athletic Director
By Scott Craig   |   June 14, 2022

After 13 years as head coach of Westmont baseball, Robert Ruiz will serve as director of athletics. Dave Odell, who has served in that capacity in a part-time role since January 2009, will become the executive director of athletics. In his new position, Odell will focus on athletics strategic planning, fundraising, and coach development. He […]

Weird Science: Teens Explore Physics
By Scott Craig   |   May 31, 2022

Nearly 40 local high school students enrolled in an AP physics course visited Westmont on May 16 for a hands-on exploration into how the universe behaves. The event, Understanding Physics from Galaxies to Particles, was led by Ben Carlson, Westmont assistant professor of physics. “We are asking the fundamental questions: What is the universe made […]

Artists Awarded  at Exhibition Opening
By Scott Craig   |   May 31, 2022

Santa Barbara resident Nadya Brown won Best of Show at the opening reception of the annual Tri-County juried exhibition, Uncanny, at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum. Brown, who was born and raised in England, won the $1,000 prize for her vibrant, dream-like painting Kafka and the Snowglobe. Westmont alumnus and hyperrealist painter Robin Eley (’01) handpicked […]

Baseball is Bound for the World Series
By Scott Craig   |   May 31, 2022

For the first time, Westmont baseball is headed to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho. Though the Warriors have made seven trips to the NAIA National Tournament in the last eight years in which the tournament was held, they have never won the opening round tournament.  Westmont is the No. 6 seed in the […]

Double Stars to Dazzle Stargazers
By Scott Craig   |   May 24, 2022

Following the breathtaking lunar eclipse earlier in the week, the Westmont Observatory opens to the public for its monthly event with the powerful Keck Telescope on Friday, May 20, beginning at sunset and lasting a few hours. Face coverings will be required at the event, which is co-hosted by the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit. The […]

Nothing ‘Uncanny’ About Talented Local Artists
By Scott Craig   |   May 24, 2022

The abundance of accomplished artists from the Tri-County area is on full display at the annual juried exhibition in the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. Westmont alumnus and hyperrealist painter Robin Eley ‘01 juried the show, Uncanny, which is available May 19 to June 18. A free, public opening reception for the exhibition is Thursday, […]