News | Westmont College
Source: https://westmont.edu/news
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:35
News | Westmont College
Westmont News
See all the latest news here!
Students Earn Top Honors at National Model UN
April 17, 2026
Eighteen Westmont students traveled to New York earlier this month with
Katherine Bryant
, assistant professor of political science, to participate in the
National Model United Nations conference
as part of their International Organizations and Law course.
Read More
‘Reencounter’ Offers Tapestry of Talent
April 14, 2026
Family, friends and art lovers all packed into the
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art
to celebrate the 14 graduating art majors who presented their capstone projects in
“Reencounter”
on April 9. The exhibition, featuring a class of artists ready to make their mark on the world, will remain open through May 9.
Read More
30 Years of Discovery: Celebrating Student Research
April 13, 2026
More than 40 students will present posters and explain their research at the
30th annual student research symposium
Thursday, April 16, from 3-4:30 p.m. in Winter Hall.
Read More
Observatory Features Jupiter and Double Stars
April 13, 2026
The
Westmont Observatory
opens to the public Friday, April 17, at 8 p.m. for a night of stargazing that will feature views of Jupiter and the star pair Mizar and Alcor. The event is expected to last several hours.
Read More
Crosstown Soccer Rivals, Greater Purpose
April 13, 2026
A 60-year soccer tradition is getting a new look this spring while benefiting a globally recognized local charity.
Read More
Students Embody the Spirit of Servant Leadership
April 13, 2026
Juniors Avala Elwood of Carpinteria and Isaiah Conway of Spring Valley won David K. Winter Servant Leadership Awards for their selflessness and humility as effective leaders.
Angela D’Amour
’01, dean of students, presented the 26
th
annual awards to the students
on April 10 at chapel
in Murchison Gym.
Read More
Choirs Showcases Global Sounds
April 7, 2026
As the academic year draws to a close, the
Westmont music department
is set to showcase a global repertoire in a series of final concerts and recitals. The season’s highlights include two major choral performances that celebrate Latin American traditions and serve as a formal send-off for the college’s upcoming international tour.
Read More
Art Grads ‘Reencounter’ the Self
April 7, 2026
Fourteen graduating art majors will present their capstone projects in an exhibition that reencounters their cultural identity, family history and patterns, and art historical traditions from April 9-May 9 in the
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art
. There will be a free, public opening reception for “
Reencounter
” on Thursday, April 9, from 4-6 p.m. in the museum.
Read More
Provost to Offer Hope at Breakfast
March 31, 2026
Kim Denu
, Westmont provost and dean of faculty, serves as the keynote speaker for the annual
Santa Barbara Family YMCA
Good Friday Breakfast, “Keeping Hope Alive,” on April 3 beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the
Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort
. Tickets, which cost $70 each, may be purchased at
ciymca.org
.
Read More
GLC's 'Top Gun' Takes Gold
March 30, 2026
It was a night full of laughs and surprises March 28 at the
Santa Barbara Bowl
as Westmont celebrated its 65
th
year of Spring Sing, where students from each residence hall produce musical skits to compete for prizes and bragging rights. Spring Sing, the longest running Westmont tradition, involves hundreds of students who use song, dance and faculty/staff appearances to tell a comedic story about this year’s theme, “That’s Classic!”
Read More
Women’s Luncheon to Inspire and Empower
March 27, 2026
The
Westmont Women’s Leadership Luncheon
, an inspiring community event dedicated to educating, enriching and empowering women, features keynote speaker
Anja Manuel
, renowned author, former diplomat and trusted advisor to Fortune 50 companies, on Friday, April 24, from 12–1:30 p.m., with check-in beginning at 11:30 a.m., at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.
Read More
Talk Explores Changes, Opportunities with AI
March 26, 2026
A
Westmont Downtown Lecture
will explore AI's real-world implications on Thursday, April 23, at 5:30 p.m. at Westmont Downtown | Keith Center,
29 W.
Read More
From Manzanar to Petroglyphs — A Journey Through History
March 17, 2026
Members and supporters of the
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art
experienced California’s Owens Valley and the Sierra Nevada on a unique trip Feb. 27-28 with stops at
Manzanar National Historic Site
, the
Paiute Shoshone Cultural Center
and nearby ancient petroglyphs.
Read More
Curtains Open for Local Teens
March 17, 2026
About 120 junior high and 40 high school students enjoyed a special matinee performance of “Little Women” by the Westmont Theater Arts Department on March 5 in Porter Theatre. The event, made possible through a grant from the Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts, brought students from La Colina, Santa Barbara and La Cumbre Junior Highs as well as Santa Barbara High to a live performance, many for the first time.
Read More
Highland Violinist Takes Top Guild Prize
March 13, 2026
Violinist Nathan Schafer of Highland won the Westmont Music Department’s 14
th
annual Guild Scholarship Competition and was awarded the $15,000 annual Guild Scholarship on March 7 in Deane Chapel.
Read More
Film Festival Opens Call for Entries
March 12, 2026
Student filmmakers from around the world are invited to submit their work for the
fourth annual
Montecito Student Film Festival
, taking place Saturday, Nov. 14, at Westmont College in Montecito. The festival’s call for entries opened March 1, and submissions will be accepted through midnight on June 1.
Read More
Pulitzer Prize Winner Examines Antisemitism, Foreign Policy
March 9, 2026
World-renowned journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist
Bret Stephens
emphasized the importance of global stability for economic prosperity, criticized the decline in civics education and stressed the irreplaceable value of a liberal arts education at the 21
st
annual
Westmont President’s Breakfast
on Feb. 27.
Read More
Ansel Adams' Lens Into LA Architecture
March 5, 2026
More than 100 people packed into the
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art
on Feb. 24 to hear
Dennis Doordan
, an architectural and design historian, analyzes Los Angeles architecture through photographs Ansel Adams took on assignment there in the 1940s. The talk, “
Looking at Ansel Adams Looking at LA
,” contrasted Adams’ iconic nature photos with those he captured of Los Angeles' industrial landscape.
Read More
Ecologist Shares Climate-Smart Planting Strategies
February 26, 2026
Westmont ecologist
Laura Drake Schultheis
shares her research about plant flammability and defensible spaces in the face of climate change in a Westmont Downtown Lecture on Wednesday, March 11, at 5:30 p.m. at Westmont Downtown | Keith Center,
29 W. Anapamu St
. The talk, “Rooted in Resilience: Adaptive Planting Strategies in Wildland-Urban Interfaces,” is free and open to the public.
Read More
Dallas Willard Book Award Finalists
February 26, 2026
Westmont’s
Martin Institute
and Dallas Willard Research Center have announced the finalists of their annual book award. The winner of the Dallas Willard Book Award, which was created in 2015 to highlight the intellectual legacy of Willard, will be announced in May or June. Willard was a best-selling author and beloved philosophy professor at USC.
Read More
Alums Give Back Through Day of Service
February 26, 2026
The
Westmont Alumni Office
launched its first Alumni Day of Service for alumni, students and staff with more than 50 volunteers serving on Feb. 7 across five different sites.
Read More
Telescope Aims for Rare Blood Worm Moon
February 26, 2026
The Westmont Observatory opens to the public for a rare lunar eclipse in the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 3. This will be the last total eclipse that will be visible in Santa Barbara for at least the next three years. The observatory will open at 3 a.m. and will remain available until about 5 a.m. when the moon dips below the horizon. March's full moon, named a worm moon, will slowly turn into a blood moon, as the Earth's shadow completely covers the moon, filtering sunlight through our atmosphere and turning the lunar surface deep red or coppery brown.
Read More
Ansel Adams' Lens into LA Architecture
February 18, 2026
Here is a
link to a YouTube recording
of the video.
Read More
Celestial Showcase Includes Jupiter’s Red Spot
February 17, 2026
Mercury and Saturn are expected to make an appearance at this month’s free stargazing event Friday, Feb. 20, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and lasting several hours at the
Westmont Observatory
.
Read More
‘Little Women’ Showcases Timeless Themes
February 13, 2026
Madeline Fanton
remembers the first chapter book she read as a child: “Little Women.” Now, the visiting professor of theater arts directs Westmont’s production of the novel by
Louisa May Alcott
, adapted by Kate Hamill, on Feb. 27-28 and March 6-7 at 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 28 and March 7-8 at 2 p.m., all in Porter Theatre.
Read More
Student’s Film Premieres at SBIFF
February 12, 2026
Westmont senior Ashley Clark, an English and theater arts double major from Henderson, Nevada, participated in the
Santa Barbara International Film Festival
’s competitive five-month filmmaking program. During that time, she wrote a screenplay, “Deus Ex Machina.” The festival paired her with UC Santa Barbara international student Can Basoglu, who directed the short film that premieres during the festival Saturday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m. at Santa Barbara’s historic Arlington Theatre.
Read More
Math All-Stars Visit for Annual Field Day
February 12, 2026
More than 60 exceptional mathletes from seven Southern California high schools matched wits in the 37th annual
Westmont College Mathematics Field Day
at the Montecito campus. The event included a variety of activities, including group problem-solving, individual math presentations, called Chalk Talks, hands-on construction of 3-D models, and the popular and sometimes stressful College Bowl with Jeopardy-like buzzers.
Read More
Environmentalist Shares Career Journey
February 10, 2026
William Morris, a faith-based climate activist, shared his journey of growing up near an oil refinery in Torrance to his current work in environmental justice. The lecture was the first of a new series about careers in environmental studies hosted by
Sustainable Westmont
and stemming from the college’s new environmental studies major.
Read More
Running in Circles: Raymond Shares Life Lessons
February 5, 2026
Jeff Raymond
shares snapshots of personal stories and lessons learned from nearly four decades in college athletics in a new book, “
Lessons Learned While Running in Circles
.”
Read More
Students Bring Cutting-Edge Engineering Research to Conference
February 5, 2026
Two Westmont engineering students presented their research findings at the
American Society of Mechanical Engineering
(ASME) Annual Meeting in November at Memphis.
Read More
Partnership Provides Pipeline to Health Careers
February 5, 2026
Westmont has partnered with the
San Marcos High School Health Careers Academy
(HCA) to guarantee graduates have a path to a bachelor’s degree. The Santa Barbara Unified School District approved the memorandum of understanding that guarantees academy graduates, who meet specific academic criteria, admission to Westmont along with a minimum of $15,000 in institutional aid.
Read More
Poetry Reading Honors Stafford
January 26, 2026
Paul Willis
, English professor emeritus and former poet laureate of Santa Barbara, hosts the 17
th
annual William Stafford Reading on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 2 p.m. at the First Crossing Day Use Area in Los Padres National Forest, across from the old Los Prietos Boys Camp, 3900 Paradise Road. This is the former site of the Los Prietos Civilian Public Service Camp, where Stafford served as a conscientious objector during World War II.
Read More
Professor Keeps King’s Dreams Alive
January 16, 2026
Wendy Eley Jackson
, assistant professor of English and film studies at Westmont, recently joined the board of directors for the
Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Santa Barbara
.
Read More
Stargazing with Saturn, Neptune, Uranus
January 15, 2026
The Westmont Observatory will highlight several celestial objects, including Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, the Pleiades, Jupiter and Orion's nebula at its monthly stargazing event Friday, Jan. 16, beginning about 6 p.m. and lasting several hours.
Read More
Alumna Artist Offers “Habitual Curiosity”
January 14, 2026
Emerging artist and Westmont alumna
Chelsea Roberts
’18, who delicately illustrates wildlife and flora with a gentle, compassionate reverence, opens a solo exhibition, “
Habitual Curiosity
,” in the
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art
’s downstairs gallery through June 20.
Read More
Museum Offers ‘Adams 1940S Los Angeles’
January 9, 2026
The
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art
offers a groundbreaking exhibition that reveals a little‑known chapter of America’s most celebrated photographer in “
Beyond the Wilderness: Ansel Adams in 1940s Los Angeles
,” from Jan. 15-March 28. The museum hosts a free, public, opening reception for the exhibition on Thursday, Jan. 15, from 4-6 p.m.
Read More
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist Takes the Stage at President’s Breakfast
January 7, 2026
Get ready for a morning of inspiration and stimulating insights at the 21st annual
Westmont President’s Breakfast
, featuring world-renowned journalist and Pulitzer Prize–winning New York Times columnist
Bret Stephens
. The annual early morning event will transform the Grand Ballroom into a vibrant epicenter of ideas and conversation on Friday, Feb. 27, from 7–9 a.m.
Read More
Anchors Aweigh for ‘Pirate’ Laughter
January 6, 2026
The Westmont Opera Orchestra and more than a dozen cast members will sing, dance and swashbuckle their way through “Pirates of Penzance,” a hilarious story of adventure, danger and romance on Friday, Jan. 23, and Sunday, Jan. 25, both at 7 p.m. in Porter Theatre. Tickets, which cost $20 for general admission and $15 for students and seniors, may be purchased online at
westmont.edu/boxoffice
.
Read More
Westmont Graduates 25 New Nurses
December 18, 2025
Westmont celebrated the accomplishments of 25 new graduates of the
Westmont Downtown | Grotenhuis Nursing
program at a pinning ceremony Dec. 18 before a standing-room only crowd at Montecito Covenant Church. This is the sixth cohort to graduate from the 16-month accelerated bachelor of science in nursing program, housed at 26 W. Anapamu.
Read More
Seibert Leads College into a Greener Future
December 16, 2025
Christine Seibert, Westmont’s new assistant director of environmental studies, brings a rare blend of scientific training, deep Christian conviction and a contagious enthusiasm for helping communities care for God’s creation.
Read More
Stargazing Features Christmas Tree Cluster
December 16, 2025
Westmont’s powerful Keck Telescope zooms in on the rings of Saturn on Friday, Dec. 19, beginning about 6 p.m. and lasting several hours at the
Westmont Observatory
. In case of cloudy weather, please call the Telescope Viewing Hotline at
(805) 565-6272
and check the
observatory website
to see if the viewing has been canceled.
Read More
First Theological Leadership Cohort Marks Graduation
December 16, 2025
Westmont’s inaugural cohort of theological leadership students celebrated their graduation during a special dinner Dec. 4 in Hieronymus Lounge. This was the final event for the eight students who each shared a personal story about the impact of the program before they received their
certificate in theological leadership
.
Read More
Sacred Stories Project to Amplify Christian Vocational Narratives
December 11, 2025
Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded a nearly $5 million grant to Westmont for the college’s Sacred Stories Project, which will uncover, share and celebrate the vocational journeys of Christian young adults.
Read More
Engineers Ride Crash Course to Victory
December 8, 2025
Westmont engineering
’s fifth annual remote-control (RC) car showdown was packed with crashes, flips, stalls, missed turns—and, for the first time, a three‑car championship race. When then dust finally settled, the team of Ben Mandani and Isaac Silva, who launched their car, named NESI, more than five feet off a ramp to win a one-jump playoff, hoisted championship trophies Dec. 5 on Kerrwood Lawn.
Read More
Museum Hosts Event with Local Artists
December 8, 2025
Local artists Dane Goodman and Dug Uyesaka will speak about their works in the current exhibition on Monday, Dec. 15, from 4-5 p.m. in the
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art
. The event, which includes refreshments, is free and open to the public.
Read More
New STUNT Program Announced
December 8, 2025
The nation’s fastest-growing female sport comes to Westmont in fall 2026. Since its NCAA Division II debut as an emerging sport in 2023, STUNT has blended the athleticism of cheer, dance and gymnastics into a high-impact competition celebrating teamwork, precision and power.
“We’re excited to create another thriving athletic program that attracts amazing student-athletes who want to succeed at Westmont,” says Athletic Director Robert Ruiz. “We can become a strong regional competitor and take it to the highest level of NCAA DII.”
Read More
Revved Up for RC Car Showdown
December 2, 2025
Westmont’s junior
engineering
students are revved up to battle it out in a three-part competition that includes racing around cones and distance jumping off a ramp on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 1:15 p.m. in front of Kerrwood Hall. Students use the 500-piece remote-control (RC) car they’ve made as part of their Machine Design class.
Read More
Finding Thanksgiving in Everyday Grace
November 25, 2025
Thanksgiving is more than a holiday marked by turkey, pumpkin pie, and family gatherings—it is a reminder that gratitude begins the moment we recognize we are not owed anything, yet we have been given everything. In my Moral and Spiritual Psychology class at CS Lewis, I invite students to practice gratitude not as a fleeting habit but as a way of being, encouraging them to keep a weekly gratitude journal that thanks God for five things each week.
Read More
Westmont News
See all the latest news here!
Students Earn Top Honors at National Model UN
April 17, 2026
Eighteen Westmont students traveled to New York earlier this month with
Katherine Bryant
, assistant professor of political science, to participate in the
National Model United Nations conference
as part of their International Organizations and Law course.
Read More
‘Reencounter’ Offers Tapestry of Talent
April 14, 2026
Family, friends and art lovers all packed into the
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art
to celebrate the 14 graduating art majors who presented their capstone projects in
“Reencounter”
on April 9. The exhibition, featuring a class of artists ready to make their mark on the world, will remain open through May 9.
Read More
30 Years of Discovery: Celebrating Student Research
April 13, 2026
More than 40 students will present posters and explain their research at the
30th annual student research symposium
Thursday, April 16, from 3-4:30 p.m. in Winter Hall.
Read More
Observatory Features Jupiter and Double Stars
April 13, 2026
The
Westmont Observatory
opens to the public Friday, April 17, at 8 p.m. for a night of stargazing that will feature views of Jupiter and the star pair Mizar and Alcor. The event is expected to last several hours.
Read More
Crosstown Soccer Rivals, Greater Purpose
April 13, 2026
A 60-year soccer tradition is getting a new look this spring while benefiting a globally recognized local charity.
Read More
Students Embody the Spirit of Servant Leadership
April 13, 2026
Juniors Avala Elwood of Carpinteria and Isaiah Conway of Spring Valley won David K. Winter Servant Leadership Awards for their selflessness and humility as effective leaders.
Angela D’Amour
’01, dean of students, presented the 26
th
annual awards to the students
on April 10 at chapel
in Murchison Gym.
Read More
Choirs Showcases Global Sounds
April 7, 2026
As the academic year draws to a close, the
Westmont music department
is set to showcase a global repertoire in a series of final concerts and recitals. The season’s highlights include two major choral performances that celebrate Latin American traditions and serve as a formal send-off for the college’s upcoming international tour.
Read More
Art Grads ‘Reencounter’ the Self
April 7, 2026
Fourteen graduating art majors will present their capstone projects in an exhibition that reencounters their cultural identity, family history and patterns, and art historical traditions from April 9-May 9 in the
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art
. There will be a free, public opening reception for “
Reencounter
” on Thursday, April 9, from 4-6 p.m. in the museum.
Read More
Provost to Offer Hope at Breakfast
March 31, 2026
Kim Denu
, Westmont provost and dean of faculty, serves as the keynote speaker for the annual
Santa Barbara Family YMCA
Good Friday Breakfast, “Keeping Hope Alive,” on April 3 beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the
Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort
. Tickets, which cost $70 each, may be purchased at
ciymca.org
.
Read More
GLC's 'Top Gun' Takes Gold
March 30, 2026
It was a night full of laughs and surprises March 28 at the
Santa Barbara Bowl
as Westmont celebrated its 65
th
year of Spring Sing, where students from each residence hall produce musical skits to compete for prizes and bragging rights. Spring Sing, the longest running Westmont tradition, involves hundreds of students who use song, dance and faculty/staff appearances to tell a comedic story about this year’s theme, “That’s Classic!”
Read More
Women’s Luncheon to Inspire and Empower
March 27, 2026
The
Westmont Women’s Leadership Luncheon
, an inspiring community event dedicated to educating, enriching and empowering women, features keynote speaker
Anja Manuel
, renowned author, former diplomat and trusted advisor to Fortune 50 companies, on Friday, April 24, from 12–1:30 p.m., with check-in beginning at 11:30 a.m., at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.
Read More
Talk Explores Changes, Opportunities with AI
March 26, 2026
A
Westmont Downtown Lecture
will explore AI's real-world implications on Thursday, April 23, at 5:30 p.m. at Westmont Downtown | Keith Center,
29 W.
Read More
From Manzanar to Petroglyphs — A Journey Through History
March 17, 2026
Members and supporters of the
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art
experienced California’s Owens Valley and the Sierra Nevada on a unique trip Feb. 27-28 with stops at
Manzanar National Historic Site
, the
Paiute Shoshone Cultural Center
and nearby ancient petroglyphs.
Read More
Curtains Open for Local Teens
March 17, 2026
About 120 junior high and 40 high school students enjoyed a special matinee performance of “Little Women” by the Westmont Theater Arts Department on March 5 in Porter Theatre. The event, made possible through a grant from the Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts, brought students from La Colina, Santa Barbara and La Cumbre Junior Highs as well as Santa Barbara High to a live performance, many for the first time.
Read More
Highland Violinist Takes Top Guild Prize
March 13, 2026
Violinist Nathan Schafer of Highland won the Westmont Music Department’s 14
th
annual Guild Scholarship Competition and was awarded the $15,000 annual Guild Scholarship on March 7 in Deane Chapel.
Read More
Film Festival Opens Call for Entries
March 12, 2026
Student filmmakers from around the world are invited to submit their work for the
fourth annual
Montecito Student Film Festival
, taking place Saturday, Nov. 14, at Westmont College in Montecito. The festival’s call for entries opened March 1, and submissions will be accepted through midnight on June 1.
Read More
Pulitzer Prize Winner Examines Antisemitism, Foreign Policy
March 9, 2026
World-renowned journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist
Bret Stephens
emphasized the importance of global stability for economic prosperity, criticized the decline in civics education and stressed the irreplaceable value of a liberal arts education at the 21
st
annual
Westmont President’s Breakfast
on Feb. 27.
Read More
Ansel Adams' Lens Into LA Architecture
March 5, 2026
More than 100 people packed into the
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art
on Feb. 24 to hear
Dennis Doordan
, an architectural and design historian, analyzes Los Angeles architecture through photographs Ansel Adams took on assignment there in the 1940s. The talk, “
Looking at Ansel Adams Looking at LA
,” contrasted Adams’ iconic nature photos with those he captured of Los Angeles' industrial landscape.
Read More
Ecologist Shares Climate-Smart Planting Strategies
February 26, 2026
Westmont ecologist
Laura Drake Schultheis
shares her research about plant flammability and defensible spaces in the face of climate change in a Westmont Downtown Lecture on Wednesday, March 11, at 5:30 p.m. at Westmont Downtown | Keith Center,
29 W. Anapamu St
. The talk, “Rooted in Resilience: Adaptive Planting Strategies in Wildland-Urban Interfaces,” is free and open to the public.
Read More
Dallas Willard Book Award Finalists
February 26, 2026
Westmont’s
Martin Institute
and Dallas Willard Research Center have announced the finalists of their annual book award. The winner of the Dallas Willard Book Award, which was created in 2015 to highlight the intellectual legacy of Willard, will be announced in May or June. Willard was a best-selling author and beloved philosophy professor at USC.
Read More
Alums Give Back Through Day of Service
February 26, 2026
The
Westmont Alumni Office
launched its first Alumni Day of Service for alumni, students and staff with more than 50 volunteers serving on Feb. 7 across five different sites.
Read More
Telescope Aims for Rare Blood Worm Moon
February 26, 2026
The Westmont Observatory opens to the public for a rare lunar eclipse in the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 3. This will be the last total eclipse that will be visible in Santa Barbara for at least the next three years. The observatory will open at 3 a.m. and will remain available until about 5 a.m. when the moon dips below the horizon. March's full moon, named a worm moon, will slowly turn into a blood moon, as the Earth's shadow completely covers the moon, filtering sunlight through our atmosphere and turning the lunar surface deep red or coppery brown.
Read More
Ansel Adams' Lens into LA Architecture
February 18, 2026
Here is a
link to a YouTube recording
of the video.
Read More
Celestial Showcase Includes Jupiter’s Red Spot
February 17, 2026
Mercury and Saturn are expected to make an appearance at this month’s free stargazing event Friday, Feb. 20, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and lasting several hours at the
Westmont Observatory
.
Read More
‘Little Women’ Showcases Timeless Themes
February 13, 2026
Madeline Fanton
remembers the first chapter book she read as a child: “Little Women.” Now, the visiting professor of theater arts directs Westmont’s production of the novel by
Louisa May Alcott
, adapted by Kate Hamill, on Feb. 27-28 and March 6-7 at 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 28 and March 7-8 at 2 p.m., all in Porter Theatre.
Read More
Student’s Film Premieres at SBIFF
February 12, 2026
Westmont senior Ashley Clark, an English and theater arts double major from Henderson, Nevada, participated in the
Santa Barbara International Film Festival
’s competitive five-month filmmaking program. During that time, she wrote a screenplay, “Deus Ex Machina.” The festival paired her with UC Santa Barbara international student Can Basoglu, who directed the short film that premieres during the festival Saturday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m. at Santa Barbara’s historic Arlington Theatre.
Read More
Math All-Stars Visit for Annual Field Day
February 12, 2026
More than 60 exceptional mathletes from seven Southern California high schools matched wits in the 37th annual
Westmont College Mathematics Field Day
at the Montecito campus. The event included a variety of activities, including group problem-solving, individual math presentations, called Chalk Talks, hands-on construction of 3-D models, and the popular and sometimes stressful College Bowl with Jeopardy-like buzzers.
Read More
Environmentalist Shares Career Journey
February 10, 2026
William Morris, a faith-based climate activist, shared his journey of growing up near an oil refinery in Torrance to his current work in environmental justice. The lecture was the first of a new series about careers in environmental studies hosted by
Sustainable Westmont
and stemming from the college’s new environmental studies major.
Read More
Running in Circles: Raymond Shares Life Lessons
February 5, 2026
Jeff Raymond
shares snapshots of personal stories and lessons learned from nearly four decades in college athletics in a new book, “
Lessons Learned While Running in Circles
.”
Read More
Students Bring Cutting-Edge Engineering Research to Conference
February 5, 2026
Two Westmont engineering students presented their research findings at the
American Society of Mechanical Engineering
(ASME) Annual Meeting in November at Memphis.
Read More
Partnership Provides Pipeline to Health Careers
February 5, 2026
Westmont has partnered with the
San Marcos High School Health Careers Academy
(HCA) to guarantee graduates have a path to a bachelor’s degree. The Santa Barbara Unified School District approved the memorandum of understanding that guarantees academy graduates, who meet specific academic criteria, admission to Westmont along with a minimum of $15,000 in institutional aid.
Read More
Poetry Reading Honors Stafford
January 26, 2026
Paul Willis
, English professor emeritus and former poet laureate of Santa Barbara, hosts the 17
th
annual William Stafford Reading on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 2 p.m. at the First Crossing Day Use Area in Los Padres National Forest, across from the old Los Prietos Boys Camp, 3900 Paradise Road. This is the former site of the Los Prietos Civilian Public Service Camp, where Stafford served as a conscientious objector during World War II.
Read More
Professor Keeps King’s Dreams Alive
January 16, 2026
Wendy Eley Jackson
, assistant professor of English and film studies at Westmont, recently joined the board of directors for the
Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Santa Barbara
.
Read More
Stargazing with Saturn, Neptune, Uranus
January 15, 2026
The Westmont Observatory will highlight several celestial objects, including Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, the Pleiades, Jupiter and Orion's nebula at its monthly stargazing event Friday, Jan. 16, beginning about 6 p.m. and lasting several hours.
Read More
Alumna Artist Offers “Habitual Curiosity”
January 14, 2026
Emerging artist and Westmont alumna
Chelsea Roberts
’18, who delicately illustrates wildlife and flora with a gentle, compassionate reverence, opens a solo exhibition, “
Habitual Curiosity
,” in the
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art
’s downstairs gallery through June 20.
Read More
Museum Offers ‘Adams 1940S Los Angeles’
January 9, 2026
The
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art
offers a groundbreaking exhibition that reveals a little‑known chapter of America’s most celebrated photographer in “
Beyond the Wilderness: Ansel Adams in 1940s Los Angeles
,” from Jan. 15-March 28. The museum hosts a free, public, opening reception for the exhibition on Thursday, Jan. 15, from 4-6 p.m.
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Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist Takes the Stage at President’s Breakfast
January 7, 2026
Get ready for a morning of inspiration and stimulating insights at the 21st annual
Westmont President’s Breakfast
, featuring world-renowned journalist and Pulitzer Prize–winning New York Times columnist
Bret Stephens
. The annual early morning event will transform the Grand Ballroom into a vibrant epicenter of ideas and conversation on Friday, Feb. 27, from 7–9 a.m.
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Anchors Aweigh for ‘Pirate’ Laughter
January 6, 2026
The Westmont Opera Orchestra and more than a dozen cast members will sing, dance and swashbuckle their way through “Pirates of Penzance,” a hilarious story of adventure, danger and romance on Friday, Jan. 23, and Sunday, Jan. 25, both at 7 p.m. in Porter Theatre. Tickets, which cost $20 for general admission and $15 for students and seniors, may be purchased online at
westmont.edu/boxoffice
.
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Westmont Graduates 25 New Nurses
December 18, 2025
Westmont celebrated the accomplishments of 25 new graduates of the
Westmont Downtown | Grotenhuis Nursing
program at a pinning ceremony Dec. 18 before a standing-room only crowd at Montecito Covenant Church. This is the sixth cohort to graduate from the 16-month accelerated bachelor of science in nursing program, housed at 26 W. Anapamu.
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Seibert Leads College into a Greener Future
December 16, 2025
Christine Seibert, Westmont’s new assistant director of environmental studies, brings a rare blend of scientific training, deep Christian conviction and a contagious enthusiasm for helping communities care for God’s creation.
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Stargazing Features Christmas Tree Cluster
December 16, 2025
Westmont’s powerful Keck Telescope zooms in on the rings of Saturn on Friday, Dec. 19, beginning about 6 p.m. and lasting several hours at the
Westmont Observatory
. In case of cloudy weather, please call the Telescope Viewing Hotline at
(805) 565-6272
and check the
observatory website
to see if the viewing has been canceled.
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First Theological Leadership Cohort Marks Graduation
December 16, 2025
Westmont’s inaugural cohort of theological leadership students celebrated their graduation during a special dinner Dec. 4 in Hieronymus Lounge. This was the final event for the eight students who each shared a personal story about the impact of the program before they received their
certificate in theological leadership
.
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Sacred Stories Project to Amplify Christian Vocational Narratives
December 11, 2025
Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded a nearly $5 million grant to Westmont for the college’s Sacred Stories Project, which will uncover, share and celebrate the vocational journeys of Christian young adults.
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Engineers Ride Crash Course to Victory
December 8, 2025
Westmont engineering
’s fifth annual remote-control (RC) car showdown was packed with crashes, flips, stalls, missed turns—and, for the first time, a three‑car championship race. When then dust finally settled, the team of Ben Mandani and Isaac Silva, who launched their car, named NESI, more than five feet off a ramp to win a one-jump playoff, hoisted championship trophies Dec. 5 on Kerrwood Lawn.
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Museum Hosts Event with Local Artists
December 8, 2025
Local artists Dane Goodman and Dug Uyesaka will speak about their works in the current exhibition on Monday, Dec. 15, from 4-5 p.m. in the
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art
. The event, which includes refreshments, is free and open to the public.
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New STUNT Program Announced
December 8, 2025
The nation’s fastest-growing female sport comes to Westmont in fall 2026. Since its NCAA Division II debut as an emerging sport in 2023, STUNT has blended the athleticism of cheer, dance and gymnastics into a high-impact competition celebrating teamwork, precision and power.
“We’re excited to create another thriving athletic program that attracts amazing student-athletes who want to succeed at Westmont,” says Athletic Director Robert Ruiz. “We can become a strong regional competitor and take it to the highest level of NCAA DII.”
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Revved Up for RC Car Showdown
December 2, 2025
Westmont’s junior
engineering
students are revved up to battle it out in a three-part competition that includes racing around cones and distance jumping off a ramp on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 1:15 p.m. in front of Kerrwood Hall. Students use the 500-piece remote-control (RC) car they’ve made as part of their Machine Design class.
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Finding Thanksgiving in Everyday Grace
November 25, 2025
Thanksgiving is more than a holiday marked by turkey, pumpkin pie, and family gatherings—it is a reminder that gratitude begins the moment we recognize we are not owed anything, yet we have been given everything. In my Moral and Spiritual Psychology class at CS Lewis, I invite students to practice gratitude not as a fleeting habit but as a way of being, encouraging them to keep a weekly gratitude journal that thanks God for five things each week.
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