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NOVEMBER 2023

955 Newsletter

Dear Fellow Alums, 

My name is Janay Ramos Marshall, and I’m thrilled to serve as director of alumni relations. What a gift to be a part of building �Ļ�ӰԺ’s relationship with alums around the globe. Life can be both joyous and brutal, and our office wants to celebrate your personal achievements, pray for you in the valleys, and share the unique ways God works through the lives of your fellow alums. We hold you in high regard, we value you, appreciate you, and are proud of the work you’re doing. You’ve contributed to the foundation and legacy that have helped �Ļ�ӰԺ become a nationally recognized institution. 

We all have different stories and experiences that have shaped us and are part of our journey. Our unique paths that led us to �Ļ�ӰԺ bear the fingerprints of God. My �Ļ�ӰԺ story started just before my 18th birthday when I arrived at volleyball training camp. The teammates I met that day later became my bridesmaids. One of them set me up with my husband, a George Fox graduate whose best friend is a �Ļ�ӰԺ alum. Coach Russell Smelley played an instrumental role in my success on the track and in molding and shaping my faith. My semester with the San Francisco Urban Program challenged my preconceived stereotypes and awakened my barometer for justice. Brad Berky guided and challenged me and helped me find an internship through an alum that set the trajectory of my future. 

My travels with Semester at Sea to Greece, Spain, Norway, Russia, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Egypt and Israel opened my eyes to new cultures and expanded my heart to hurting people. I graduated in 2001 with a major in sociology. It’s hard to articulate all the ways �Ļ�ӰԺ taught me, grew me, challenged me, and shaped me into the person I am today. You might have similar stories and adventures from your time here and the impression �Ļ�ӰԺ has left on your life.

I’m excited to connect with you, engage with you and inform you. The mission of the Alumni Office is to cultivate:
1.    Thoughtful scholars through life-long learning opportunities
2.    Grateful servants through opportunities to give of their time, talent, and treasure
3.   Faithful leaders through opportunities for professional career development

In addition, we aim to engage and connect our alums by updating them about:
1.    Innovation and research in the academy among our students and faculty publications.
2.    Alumni updates, prayer requests, and ways to connect.
3.    Learning and travel opportunities to explore, experience, serve and grow.

In the next few years, we hope to roll out programs, events and resources to help you engage with �Ļ�ӰԺ and your peers. I welcome your ideas, input and involvement as we develop plans and seek ways to serve you. Please feel free to �Ļ�ӰԺ me anytime at janaymarshall@westmont.edu. I’m excited about this new role at �Ļ�ӰԺ, and I would love for you to be a part of this journey. 

Janay has worked at �Ļ�ӰԺ for the last four years in �Ļ�ӰԺ’s COVE career center as the employer relations specialist hosting career fairs on campus for employers, conducting resume reviews, and assisting students to find internships and jobs. In addition, she has assisted with the �Ļ�ӰԺ Women’s Leadership Council’s luncheon and roundtable events. 

Warriors Return for Homecoming 
We enjoyed a lively Homecoming Weekend October 13-14. The women’s volleyball team defeated both Dominican and the Academy of Art. Men’s soccer beat Azusa Pacific University 3-1, and our women’s soccer team finished in 2-2 against Azusa. Nearly 400 alums returned to campus for the festivities and reunions for classes ending in 3 and 8.  about coming home.

Jay Diallo 08’ Alumnus of the Year, works to provide access to capital and technical assistance to economically disadvantaged micro and rural businesses, especially those owned by people of color, including women, veterans, refugees, immigrants, and people impacted by the justice system.  

Jenise Steverding 97’, Alumna of the Year, has extensive experience working organizations addressing social needs worldwide. She paid special tribute to Rusty Springer from �Ļ�ӰԺ in San Francisco and described the impact Rusty has made in her life. 

Carl LaBarbara 76’, Global Service Award, is the founder and president of Kingdomworks SDG Foundation that serves non-profit organizations by “maximizing capacity to complete their mission” and has provided aid and assistance throughout the world.

Gabriella Avila 14’, Young Alumni Award, has completed a Master of Social Work and serves as a middle school counselor for Los Angeles Unified School District, helping find solutions for students struggling with chronic absenteeism, homelessness, food insecurity and other needs. 

Planning has begun for next year’s Homecoming. Please reach out to us if you graduated in a year ending in 4 or 9 and would like to help plan your class reunion. We’re devising lots of fun events and activities and will have something for everyone. We hope to see you there.

First Destination Survey Results for the Class of 2022:

Each year, �Ļ�ӰԺ conducts the  within six months of graduation to capture how recent graduates have fared.  

The class of 2022 reports 94.27 percent are working, enrolled in graduate school, volunteering or serving in the military, the largest percentage in the last five years. The percentage of students employed increased this year by two points, and the percentage of students still looking for a job hit an all-time low. The class reported 14.5% are enrolled in a graduate program. Our overall outcome rate (also known as the landed rate) was more than 10 points higher than the 2021 national average of 84.1%. In our research, we found that students who visited �Ļ�ӰԺ’s C.O.V.E. Career Center at some point during their time at �Ļ�ӰԺ made roughly $4,000 more in their first year after graduation compared to their peers who never visited the Career Center. 

Leave your Mark. Support students and purchase a brick today Participate in �Ļ�ӰԺ’s first engraved brick path running through the formal gardens. Each year, students begin their �Ļ�ӰԺ education with a First Walk from lower campus to Kerrwood Hall. On Commencement, they conclude their time with a symbolic walk following the bagpipers from Kerrwood to the graduation ceremony. As future generations walk the brick pathway, they’ll see your name or message and experience the overwhelming support of the �Ļ�ӰԺ community.

Pickle Tree Ornaments  Generations of �Ļ�ӰԺ students have passed beneath the towering tree on Kerrwood Lawn known affectionately as the Pickle Tree, named for its endearing shape. Its annual Christmas lighting became a community celebration. After years of drought devastated the tree, the college removed it for safety.   One of our own �Ļ�ӰԺ community members created the ornaments by hand, making each one unique! You can celebrate with this distinctive ornament as a thank you for your gift to the �Ļ�ӰԺ Fund of $50 or more (or a monthly gift of $10 or more). The �Ļ�ӰԺ Fund provides needed financial assistance to current students. Help Admissions Recruit Students Would you like to encourage prospective students to choose �Ļ�ӰԺ? The Admissions Office welcomes help from alums willing to write a postcard to a recently admitted student. If anyone you’re interested in volunteering in this way, please email alumni@westmont.edu. Alumni Connections: We want to hear from you… •    Recently moved? Click  to update your address or email address •    Expecting a baby? We’d love to send you a �Ļ�ӰԺ onesie. Please email alumni@westmont.edu. •    Send us your prayer requests. Interested in being on the weekly �Ļ�ӰԺ Alumni Prayer Chain? Please email alumni@westmont.edu. •    Do you have a high schooler? Send us their name. We’d love to connect them with our admissions office. alumni@westmont.edu •    Do you know an alum who should be considered for an alumni award? We’ll accept nominations for fall 2024 until June 1, 2024. Submissions received after that date will be considered for the following year. Click  to nominate someone.  •    Check out what your classmates have been up to in . Click  to send us an update that we can share on the website with your classmates. •    Classifieds. Are you interested in posting a job for an alum? Send it to us, and we’ll post it in a new Classifieds section of the alumni website. Please email alumni@westmont.edu •    Are you interested in posting jobs or internships for our students or attending an upcoming career fair? Please email careerdev@westmont.edu. Thank you for being Thoughtful Scholars, Grateful Servants, and Faithful leaders as you go out into the World.     May the strength of God sustain you; May the power of God preserve you; May the hands of God protect you; May the way of God direct you; May the love of God go with you always May the will of God give you a peace that transcends understanding as you trust in His providence.