Grads Implored to 'Live Eternally in the Moment'
An historic week at Westmont witnessed the dedication of two new buildings, leading up to the graduation of the class of 2011. At Commencement, Dallas Willard, professor of philosophy at USC, implored 341 graduates to remember who they are during his address May 7. “You are an unceasing spiritual being with an eternal destiny in God’s great universe,” he said to the more than 4,000 in attendance at Russell Carr Field. “When you seize that truth and put it into practice, you are living eternally in the moment.”
President Gayle D. Beebe awarded Walter and Darlene Hansen with the Westmont Medal for their service and generosity to Westmont and numerous local organizations.
Jane Higa, Westmont dean of students, honored several students, including Elizabeth Evancoe and Daniel Sargent who won the Dean’s Award, given for demonstrated excellence in the classroom, making superior contributions to an intercollegiate athletic team and demonstrating a deep faith in Christ.
Mariah Kimbriel earned the Dave Dolan Award, which is given to an outstanding graduate whose campus leadership has made significant contributions in awareness and response to the social and spiritual needs of the community, the nation and the world.
Marina Kookootsedes and Felix Huang won the Kenneth Monroe Award for demonstrating superior academic achievement, excelling as leaders on campus and making an impact on other students’ lives through integrity, character and faithfulness.
Acting Provost Richard Pointer gave the Faculty Scholarship Award to Keith Cochran who attained the highest cumulative grade point average while at Westmont.
Theology professor Telford Work, chemistry professor Allan Nishimura and education professor Andrew Mullen won the Bruce and Adaline Bare Outstanding Teacher Awards, which recognize an outstanding professor from the humanities, the natural and behavioral sciences and from the social sciences.
Associate professor of religious studies Charles Farhadian earned this year’s Faculty Research Award for his work on world religions.