Whitworth alumna Diane Cunningham, '95, will release her second book, Inspired Women Succeed, on April 28. Cunningham is also the founder and president of the National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs.

Former Whitworth President Robert Mounce releases new book about the gospels

Last summer, Whitworth's 15th president, Robert Mounce, released his latest book, Jesus, in His Own Words, published by B&H Books. The book weaves together a continuous narrative of the four gospels, which, Mounce says, allows Jesus to tell his own story.

This summer, Chris Miller, '01, was hired as a weekend sports anchor and weekday sports reporter for KOMO news, in Seattle. Miller says one of the best experiences working at KOMO so far was his first assignment, when he covered a baseball game between the Yankees and Mariners at Safeco Field.

"I stood next to the Yankees dugout after interviewing their manager, Joe Girardi, and out walked Jeter and A-Rod, standing right next to me," Miller says. "I've interviewed several major star athletes since then, but at that moment, I knew I was in big."

Miller says the best part of his job is walking off the set knowing that he produced and anchored a flawless, entertaining and informative sportscast.

Initially, Miller planned on writing for National Geographic, but an internship for a TV station in his hometown of Denver sparked his interest in broadcast journalism. He later worked as a news reporter in Grand Junction, Colo., and as sports director for a station in Palm Springs, Calif.

Miller advises students interested in broadcasting to be patient, as it is a competitive career that requires perseverance. Early on, he says, there's no glamour in the profession, and you have to grow accustomed to deadline pressure.

"Starting out, be prepared to move to a small town in the middle of nowhere," Miller says. "You'll make a laughable salary, subsisting on Top Ramen and sleeping on an air mattress. You'll cover seemingly ridiculous stories on topics like, 'Girl Scout fundraisers' and 'a grandmother's missing puppy.'"

He continues, "The good news is that you'll make lots of friends who are going through the same process right along with you. You'll make mistakes, but learn not to repeat them."

Miller also strongly urges students interested in broadcasting to complete their internships at a television station and learn everything they can.

Miller credits Ginny Whitehouse and Mike Ingram, professors in the communication studies department, as influential Whitworth professors.

"Both of them were tough and wouldn't let me slide through their classes without learning the necessary tools to make me a successful journalist," he says. "They were tough graders, and I still call on several things I learned under their guidance."

Miller also says adjunct professor Dawn Bayman was a major influence on his decision to pursue a career in television broadcasting.

At Whitworth, Miller played football and wrote for The Whitworthian. He also hosted a late-night classic rock show on Whitworth's radio station, KWRS. Miller says radio is a fantastic venue for learning how to think quickly and to be an engaging speaker.

Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). The university, which has an enrollment of nearly 3,000 students, offers 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Contact:

Emily Proffitt, public information officer, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703, or eproffitt@whitworth.edu.

Whitworth professor of mathematics' new interactive calculus textbook used by esteemed universities nationwide

Cochran's new book also has won a 2011 Textbook Excellence Award

Whitworth Professor of Mathematics Lyle Cochran is a coauthor of a new calculus textbook that is already being used in 140 colleges and universities across the U.S. and Canada, including Yale University, University of Connecticut, and Oregon State University. Released this fall by Pearson, the textbook is available in two versions, Calculus and Calculus: Early Transcendentals.

Whitworth journalism alumna named runner-up for Montana Weathercaster of the Year award

Last summer, 2008 Whitworth alumna Shannon Newth received an E.B. Craney Award as first runner-up for Montana Weathercaster of the Year.

Newth is a morning anchor and weathercaster for KRTV, in her hometown of Great Falls, Mont. She says it is an honor to be nominated, especially considering that the other nominee was a 30-year veteran in weather broadcasting who had already won three E.B. Craney awards.

Whitworth triple major Brayden Hollis, '13, is one of 100 students in the U.S. to receive NASA's Motivating Undergraduates in Science and Technology (MUST) Scholarship. The scholarship will provide him with up to $10,000 of his tuition and fees, a paid 10-week summer internship at a NASA field center, and the MUST Professional and Academic Support System (PASS), which provides scholars with tutoring, mentoring, and access to various professional development activities.

Whitworth Academic Dean to present Founder's Day Convocation address during Heritage Month 2011

Events marking university's 121st anniversary to include film festival, gospel concert, and discussion of "The End of Men"

>> Listen to Podcast >> View Gospel Explosion photos >> View Art Wolfe photos

Each February, Whitworth commemorates its founding, on Feb. 20, 1890, with a month-long celebration. Heritage Month 2011 will begin with the university's annual Founder's Day Convocation, when students, faculty and staff gather to remember Whitworth's past and dedicate themselves to building upon that legacy in the coming year. On Feb. 8, Whitworth Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty Michael Le Roy will give his first Founder's Day Convocation address. Other focal points of Heritage Month will include the third annual Leonard A. Oakland Film Festival, Feb. 17-19, a Gospel Explosion performance Feb. 11, and a Feb. 15 Dean's Dialogue discussion on "The End of Men: How Women are Taking Control of Everything," referring to the cover story in a recent issue of Atlantic Monthly.

Whitworth alumna featured in Hospice Foundation of America video distributed nationwide

This April, Whitworth alumna Erin (Benson) Raska, '01, will be featured in a national education video produced by the Hospice Foundation of America. The video, Spirituality and End-of-Life Care, is expected to be viewed at about 1,000 sites across the U.S.

Whitworth computer science, mathematics major selected for Microsoft internship

Last summer, David Jackson, '11, completed a 12-week paid summer internship for Microsoft in his hometown of Redmond, Wash., where he worked as a software development engineer.