Whitworth students receive scholarships from Logos Bible Software

Whitworth's mathematics and computer science department has finalized an annual scholarship for computer science majors through a collaboration with Logos Bible Software. Last month, Whitworth juniors Joshua Starkey and Kseinya Langlois were each awarded $1,000 through the Logos Bible Software Annual Scholarship. They have also been selected to participate in the Logos Internship Program this summer.

“This year I had to take out a greater amount in loans than usual, so it is a relief to have the option to return one of those loans and use the scholarship money instead,” says Langlois, a computer science major who plans on pursuing a career in program testing.

Whitworth selects Jann Leppien as its inaugural Margo Long Chair in Gifted Education

Jann Leppien, Ph.D., an internationally known expert in the field of gifted education, will join Whitworth University as its inaugural Margo Long Chair in Gifted Education, an endowed chair funded by James P. and Wanda Cowles. Leppien will join the Whitworth faculty in July.

Leppien currently serves as associate professor of education at the University of Great Falls, in Great Falls, Mont., where she teaches courses in curriculum and instruction, gifted education, assessment and learning, educational research, and methods in social sciences. Additionally, she teaches curriculum courses and thinking-skills courses online and in the Three Summers Program at the University of Connecticut.

Whitworth students partner with local universities through Inland Northwest Business Plan Competition

The 2013 Inland Northwest Business Plan Competition (BPC) is a collaboration between Whitworth University's School of Global Commerce & Management, Eastern Washington University's Center for Entrepreneurial Activities, Gonzaga University, and Spokane Community College's Avista Entrepreneurship Program. The competition allows students to take steps toward starting successful businesses by competing for prizes totaling $22,500 in three categories: student-generated, community-based and social enterprise plans.

Whitworth forensics team places first in national competition

The Whitworth forensics team took first place in the overall sweepstakes and second place in the debate sweepstakes at the National Christian College Forensics Association (NCCFA) National Tournament. The tournament was hosted by John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Ark., March 9-11. Whitworth finished ahead of 24 Christian colleges from 14 states, including Azusa Pacific University, Liberty University, Wheaton College and Wiley College.

Whitworth Hawaiian Club presents its 43rd annual lu’au April 13

The Whitworth Hawaiian Club, Na Pu’uwai o Hawai’i (The Heart of Hawai’i), will share food and culture with the Whitworth and Spokane communities during the club’s 43rd annual lu’au on Saturday, April 13. The doors will open and dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m., and entertainment will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

Tickets are $22 for general admission, $12 for students, seniors (65-plus) and children (6-12), $17 each for groups of ten or more and free for children 5 and under. Tickets are available for purchase at the Hixson Union Building Information Desk. There will be a 20 percent discount on ticket prices March 17-22 and a 10 percent discount April 1-12. Tickets will be sold full-price at the door. The annual event is expected to draw roughly 700 people from the local area.

Three Whitworth athletic training students perform an impressive research study

Whitworth juniors Richard Aley, Aaron Libolt, and Victoria Reardon hope to discover whether the common practice of sports massage before track events is beneficial or harmful to an athlete’s performance. These three athletic training students are specifically researching the effects of pre-participation massage on the power, speed and psychological state of the athlete.

To track the effects of pre-participation massage on lower-body explosiveness, these students will observe and record 20 meter sprints, vertical jumps and a profile of mood states. After doing a pilot study, they discovered better results from an eight-minute pre-participation massage in comparison to a four-minute massage.

Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia Tamrat Layne Admassu will present lecture on “Transformation of Life in Jesus” March 13

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Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia Tamrat Layne Admassu, who is an ex-atheist, radical revolutionary and communist, will discuss choice, forgiveness and life changes in his lecture “Transformation of Life in Jesus” March 13 in the Weyerhaeuser Hall Robinson Teaching Theater. The lecture will begin at 7 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call (509) 777-3270.

Tamrat, who served as Ethiopia’s prime minister from 1991 to 1996, was a political prisoner for 12 years. He was a self-professed atheist for more than 23 years before becoming a Christian in 2002 while still imprisoned. Since his release in 2008, he has spoken in schools and churches in more than 20 states.

Whitworth alum, Rev. Ben Robinson to present lecture on Egypt, March 14

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Reverend Ben Robinson, ’03, will present Whitworth’s next Great Decision Lecture, “Egypt,” on Thursday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Robinson Teaching Theatre in Weyerhaeuser Hall at Whitworth. For more information, please call (509) 777-4937.

Robinson worked at St. John the Baptist Anglican Church, in Cairo, from 2004-06 and 2009-12; he began a youth program there and served as associate minister for youth, young adults and education. He was in Egypt during the Tahrir uprising and has extensive contacts with the Muslim and Coptic religious communities in Egypt. Robinson holds a M.Div. from Princeton Seminary and a master’s degree from the Evangelical Theological Seminary, in Cairo.

Whitworth alumnus has global impact through research and service in India

After his third year of medical school at the University of Utah, Whitworth alum Paul Long, ’08, and his wife traveled to Kolkata, in eastern India.  They lived there for nine months, working with Mercy Hospital and conducting public health research projects.

Long and his wife began most days working in city-wide healthcare clinics with community health workers, nurses and doctors. During their stay, they worked on two research projects, including an assessment of the general health characteristics of Indian high school students. They also studied the basic knowledge of diabetes amongst Indians in socially disadvantaged communities.

Dr. Caroline Simon Appointed Whitworth’s next Provost and Executive Vice President

Whitworth University President Beck A. Taylor announced March 5 the appointment of Caroline Simon, Ph.D., as Whitworth’s next provost and executive vice president. Simon will begin her new position on July 1.

Simon currently serves as associate dean for teaching and learning at Hope College, in Holland, Mich. She has previously held numerous administrative leadership roles at Hope and has served on the college’s board of trustees.

Whitworth students raise awareness on eating disorders through upcoming events

Whitworth students are taking the initiative to bring awareness to the reality and dangers of eating disorders. National Eating Disorder Awareness (NEDA) Week will take place March 3-8. Three events will be conducted by students who are passionate about this topic.

Eating disorders can be life-threatening illnesses, and it is important to point out the pressures and behaviors that foster and shape these disorders. The organizers of NEDA Week hope to help students gain perspective and understanding about how people with eating disorders see themselves. The week is also about sufferers coming forward, admitting to and treating a range of eating disorders.

Author Patrick Jennings to lead 29th annual Whitworth Writing Rally March 16

As many as 350 students are expected to participate

The Whitworth Writing Rally, a family literacy initiative for students in pre-school through sixth grade, will celebrate its 29th year by welcoming to campus author Patrick Jennings. This year’s rally will take place Saturday, March 16, with sessions beginning at 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in Weyerhaeuser Hall.

Registration for this event is available online at www.whitworth.edu/writingrally. The registration fee is $18, which pays for a T-shirt, snacks, writing and art supplies and participation for one child and a parent or adult guardian. The deadline for registration is Wednesday, March 6.