Alum Gives To Support Snakes & Science Outreach
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It’s not every alum who fondly remembers snakes when making gifts to Whitman College. But for Willem Rasmussen ’15 (pictured with Candy the corn snake), the Biology Department’s live animals are top of mind. For nearly a decade now, Rasmussen has dedicated his annual gifts to the care of some special animal ambassadors who bring science to life for Whitman College students and the Walla Walla community.
Today, Rasmussen works as in-house legal counsel for a software company in Santa Barbara, California. But it was a transformative experience in the Hall of Science that sparked his first gift and continues to inspire his generosity.
Rasmussen remembers feeling a pair of eyes on him as he was walking through a hardware store in Walla Walla one day. When he turned and saw a young girl watching him, he knew what was coming next.
“She wanted to introduce her dad to the snake guy,” he says.
A Biology and Economics double major at Whitman at the time, Rasmussen had recently visited her elementary school with Snakes Alive, a program he co-founded to introduce young students to snakes and other reptiles.
The initiative was part of the college’s Science Outreach program, which brings hands-on science experiences to schools in the Walla Walla Valley and beyond.
The program meant a lot to Rasmussen during his time at Whitman—it was an opportunity to get kids excited about science, connect with the community and share his love of reptiles. He’s directed his annual gifts to the Biology Department ever since.
Read more.
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Conference Honors for Whitman Tennis Players
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Members of Whitman’s men’s and women’s tennis teams recently received league honors at the end of the season. On the men’s team, Alexander Stage ’27 and Cameron Yang ’26 were named to the NWC All-Conference First Team, and Lucas Huang ’25 earned Second Team honors. On the women’s team, Teleya Blunt ’25 and Ilina Jha ’25 were named to the First Team and Nana Vang ’28, Jin Yu ’25 and Arianna Castellanos Calderon ’25 garnered Second Team honors. In addition, Head Women’s Tennis Coach John Hein was named Coach of the Year for the second time in three seasons.
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Sex Week Events Happening Today
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Sex Week continues today, beginning with a workshop titled “Sex, Consent and Cultural Stereotypes: How They Impact Us” on Thursday, April 24, from noon–1:30 p.m. in the Reid Campus Center Young Ballroom. The workshop will center the voices of Black, Indigenous and people of color. Lunch will be provided by the Glover Alston Intercultural Center. (Flyer attached.)
Tessa Schwartz ’26 will lead a workshop titled “Coming to Power: The Truth About the Vaginal Orgasm” on Thursday, April 24, from 5–6 p.m. in the Reid Campus Center coffeehouse. This playful and informative educational event will combine politics, history and biology. (Flyer attached.)
The “Take Back the Night” event will begin on Thursday, April 24, with a Pop-Up Fair at 6:30 p.m. at Cleveland Commons followed by a march beginning at 7:30 p.m. At 8 p.m. there will be a space for survivors to share their experiences in the Reid Campus Center Young Ballroom. The event will conclude with a vigil at 9 p.m. on the Hunter Conservatory lawn. (Flyer attached.)
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Music Department Concert on Monday
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The Music Department will present “Music of Empowerment” on Monday, April 28, at 7 p.m. in Cordiner Hall. This concert by Whitman’s Orchestra, Chorale and Chamber Singers will feature the American premiere of “Suffrage Cantata” by Swedish composer Elfrida Andrée. (Flyer attached.)
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Volunteer for Friends ‘FUN-ANZA’ Event
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The Friends Program is hosting a carnival-style event on Friday, May 2, for Whitman students and their elementary school mentees. Volunteers are needed to run activity booths and help with setup and cleanup. Please sign up in advance. (Flyer attached.)
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The 2025 Hosokawa Student Journalism Awards were announced at the annual celebration dinner on Tuesday. Congratulations to this year’s winners: Uma Bratt ’26 and Arham Khan ’25 (not pictured, awards accepted on their behalf by Whitman Wire Editor-in-Chief Nazaaha Penick ’25, left), and (continuing from left) Garrett Schreiber ’26, Chloe Collins ’25, Chloé Williams ’26 and Kaitlyn Salazar ’25.
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Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
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Reid Campus Center, Coffeehouse
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Reid Campus Center, All Faiths Room
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Open House: Religion Department
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Reid Campus Center, Queer Resource Center
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Reid Campus Center, Coffeehouse
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Reid Campus Center, Room 240
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Take Back the Night: Pop-Up Fair
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Artist Talk: Jiemei Lin & Joe Hedges
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Reid Campus Center, All Faiths Room
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Take Back the Night: March
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Take Back the Night: Speak-Out
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Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
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Take Back the Night: Vigil
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Hunter Conservatory, Lawn
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Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.
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Whitman Today is emailed to Whitman College staff, faculty and students each weekday during the academic year and twice a week during breaks. An archive of previous issues is available online.
All submissions are welcome! If you have accomplishments to celebrate, an event to publicize or other Whitman content to share, email whitmantoday@whitman.edu. Submissions of 125 words or less are due by noon on the business day prior to publication. Submissions may be edited and/or held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. Your submission also authorizes use on Whitman's social media unless otherwise specified.
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