Thursday, April 9, 2026

By Lily Kamila ’28

I have loved every minute of my time at Whitman College, but to be honest, I didn’t always picture myself here. My path to Whitman followed a series of what I can only describe as synchronistic or serendipitous events that arose from an overall willingness to be open to new experiences and, ultimately, just listen to my mom.

My college search consisted primarily of state schools because that was the only type of higher education I knew about. None of my close friends or family had ever attended a private liberal arts college. In fact, I didn’t even know what a “liberal arts” education truly meant until my first semester at Whitman.

I was born and raised in Edmonds, Washington, about 15 miles north of Seattle. Growing up, my friends and I dreamt about going to college in Seattle. While many of them did, I decided to branch out and explore other options.

However, I soon realized that all of the out-of-state colleges I was accepted into didn’t appeal to me and were incredibly expensive. During this time, Whitman began to show great interest in me. I felt wanted and valued by Whitman, not only for my academic achievements, but for what I had to offer as a unique individual. My family and I received personalized letters from Whitman faculty and a box full of cute Whitman swag and goodies.

By April of my senior year of high school, many of my classmates were announcing their future plans while I was still deeply conflicted about mine. My mom really loved the interest Whitman was showing in me, and she had heard really great things about the college. So, she told me to just visit the school—“you don’t have to go there, but just visit.” Admittedly, I wasn’t interested in visiting, but something told me to still say “yes.” Little did I know back then, this “yes” would completely alter the trajectory of my life.

Read the full Student Voices blog post.

The Office of Native American Outreach has secured two grants to send Whitman’s Šináata Scholars to the 2026 Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque, New Mexico, later this month. The grants—from the state of Washington via For The People and from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Cultural Coalition—will help support travel costs for the trip. Participation in the powwow will enable the Šináata Scholars to strengthen their cultural identity and build connections with other Native communities.

The Jewish holiday of Passover is celebrated this year from April 1–9. The student group Kehillat Shalom will host a Passover Seder tonight at 6 p.m. in the Cordiner Hall foyer. Jewish and non-Jewish students are all welcome. The event will include singing, telling the story of Passover, dinner, drinks and discussion. (Flyer attached.)

Barbara G. Brents, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, will deliver a talk titled “Sex Workers, Sexual Violation and Legal Consciousness: How the Law Shapes Sex Work” tonight at 6 p.m. in Olin Auditorium. This event is sponsored by the Law, Culture and Humanities minor and counts toward the Campus Events and Lectures requirement for the minor.

The Visiting Writers Reading Series continues with a reading by Kevin Prufer on Thursday, April 9, at 7 p.m. in Kimball Theatre in Hunter Conservatory. Prufer is the 2026 Texas Poet Laureate and the author of numerous books of poetry and fiction. (Flyer attached.)

Current Whitman students are invited to attend Whitties Helping Whitties, hosted by the Career and Community Engagement Center and Alumni Relations, on Friday, April 10, from 4–5:30 p.m. at Cordiner Hall. This event is a great opportunity to connect with other students and build your professional network with Whitman alumni. Free LinkedIn portraits will also be available for students attending the event. Register in advance on Handshake. (Flyer attached.)

Enjoy this short video of the first baby ducks spotted on campus this season!

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Chemistry Seminar: Lilo Pozzo, University of Washington

Hall of Science, Room 159

Noon–1 p.m.

Information Session: 3-2 Dual-Degree Programs

Hall of Science, Room 142

12:30–1:10 p.m.

Movement That Matters: Yoga

Sherwood Athletic Center, Room 114

12:30–1:30 p.m.

Dr. Sylvia Carey-Butler’s Open Office Hours for Students

Cleveland Commons, Lizzie Murr Dining Room

3–4 p.m.

Information Session: Study Abroad in Ireland, Argentina, Australia, Mexico or the United Kingdom

Olin Hall, Room 129

4–5 p.m.

Food Justice Project: Pantry Sort & Build

St. Francis Cabrini Food Pantry

4–5 p.m.

Men of Color Association Interest Meeting

Glover Alston Intercultural Center

5–6 p.m.

Whitman College Tap Dance Club Weekly Meeting

Sherwood Athletic Center, Room 106

6 p.m.

Kehillat Shalom: Passover Seder

Cordiner Hall, Foyer

6–8 p.m.

Lecture: “Sex Workers, Sexual Violation and Legal Consciousness: How the Law Shapes Sex Work”

Olin Auditorium

6–8 p.m.

Whitman Events Board: Comedy Show

Reid Campus Center, Lower Level

7 p.m.

Visiting Writers Reading Series: Kevin Prufer

Hunter Conservatory, Kimball Theatre

Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.

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.

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