Whitworth Earns Military Friendly® School Gold Status for 2026-27
This recognition is a testament to the university’s unwavering commitment to empowering military connected students and families. This distinction places Whitworth among the nation’s most trusted institutions for veterans, service members and the spouses who stand beside them.
“Whitworth University is honored to be recognized as a Military Friendly® School for the 10th year in a row,” says Phil Labrie, director of military & veterans outreach. “Serving our military-affiliated students is not just my job; it’s my mission – and it’s a mission shared by the entire Whitworth community. I’m deeply grateful to our dedicated staff and campus partners who work every day to support the men and women who serve our country, along with their families. They deserve nothing less than our very best.”
Over the past two years, Whitworth has significantly expanded its outreach to better serve the families of our nation’s service members overseas, particularly students attending Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) across Europe and the Pacific. Through visits to schools in Germany, Japan and South Korea, Whitworth recruiters have met exceptional students whose global experiences and diverse perspectives enrich the Whitworth community. In 2026, Whitworth welcomed four DoDDS students: two from Ramstein High School and one from Stuttgart High School in Germany, and one from Camp Humphreys High School in South Korea. Whitworth counselors just met with admitted students from Yokota High School and Nile C. Kinnick High School, and connected with juniors and seniors exploring Whitworth for their future academic home.
A cornerstone of Whitworth’s commitment to military connected students is the Military & Veterans Resource Center (MAVRC), a dedicated space offering support, community and resources. The university continues to enhance the center to make it accessible and welcoming to all. One of its current priorities is fundraising for a FlexStep, a two in one accessibility solution that functions as both a stairway and a lift. Because a traditional ramp cannot be installed in the existing space, this innovative system will allow students with physical disabilities to safely reach the main floor of the MAVRC.
Thanks to the generosity of Whitworth supporters and community partners, including Gesa Credit Union and Northwest Golfers for Warriors, the university has raised more than $34,000 toward the project. Nearly $30,000 is still needed to complete this critical accessibility upgrade. If you would like to help support this project, please see more information here.
The Military Friendly® ratings are determined through public data analysis, proprietary survey responses and an automated scoring system designed to ensure fairness and transparency, with oversight from an independent advisory council of military education experts and industry leaders.
About Whitworth University:
Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university, which has an enrollment of about 2,500 students, offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Contacts:
Trisha Coder, associate director of media relations, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or tcoder@whitworth.edu.
