Westmont Magazine Celebrating 75 Years of Westmont History

Anniversary events in October and November focus on alumni and Westmont’s heritage as a liberal arts college committed to Christ.

Illustration © 2012 Martin Voelker | Design by Scott Anderson

Celebratory events throughout October and November mark Westmont’s 75th anniversary. Twelve alumni artists exhibit their work at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art Oct. 18-Nov. 17: Benjamin Caldwell ’06, Robin Eley ’01, Cheyenne Ellis ’00, John Morra ’85, Judy Neunuebel ’69, Joel Phillips ’11, Nicholas Price ’06, Christopher Rupp ’00, Sharon Schock ’06, David Shelton ’70, Cory Steffen ’97 and Cheryl Ann Thomas ’65.

The Santa Barbara Historical Museum and Westmont cosponsor a 75th anniversary lecture Oct. 24. Distinguished Professor Emeritus John Sider describes some of the people who’ve shaped Westmont, illustrating his remarks with archival photographs. The Historical Museum devotes its fall Noticias publication to an article by Nancy Favor Phinney ’74 on Westmont’s history.

Alumni arrive for Homecoming Oct. 26, and three events honor the anniversary during the weekend. Professor Emeritus Robert Gundry, scholar in residence at Westmont, speaks in chapel Friday morning about the college’s motto: Christ holding preeminence. At an Anniversary Gala Saturday evening, President Gayle D. Beebe reflects on the college’s heritage and envisions its future. The college will honor 75 notable alumni and recognize Stan D. Gaede ’69 as Alumnus of the Year. Westmont Festival Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” debuts Homecoming weekend and concludes the following weekend. Seven alumni contribute to the production: Lynne Martens ’08, Jonathan Hicks ’04, Cameron Squire ’05, Elizabeth Hess ’98, Greg Wadsworth ’06, Leah Benson ’06 and Ben Johnson ’10.

The college commissioned professors to produce two anniversary pieces: Music professor Steve Butler composed an orchestral fanfare and Paul Willis, an English professor and Santa Barbara Poet Laureate, wrote a poem. Illustrator Martin Voelkker has created an anniversary poster (above), available through the Westmont bookstore.

You can read more about Westmont’s history by visiting www.westmont.edu/anniversary.