July Art Walk at the Western City Center
Bellingham, WA
July 5
Alumni Association
Alumni News
The WWU Alumni Association, AS Productions, and AEG Presents are presenting Double Major: Death Cab for Cutie and ODESZA on May 18 during WWU Alumni Weekend. These bright stars among our alumni are excited to return to Bellingham for Western. The bands will rock Civic Stadium for this homecoming...
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The WWU Alumni Association is pleased to recognize 14 alumni, a campus school alumna, and four Athletics Hall of Fame awardees. The following recipients will be honored at the 2019 Annual Distinguished Alumni Awards & Recognition Celebration:
LARRY “GO VIKINGS!” TAYLOR ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD LISA WOLFF SWANSON (’95)
Scan the crowd at a men’s soccer game at Western, and you’re likely to see Lisa Wolff Swanson cheering on the Vikings with her husband Brad. Brad is a former WWU men’s soccer coach, and Lisa is a former Viking women’s soccer player. Lisa is the consummate...
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Fairhaven College alumnus Jordan Riber (’04) has been on a long journey from Zimbabwe to Tanzania to Fairhaven back to Tanzania back to Bellingham, collecting stories and telling them in the way his parents taught him—on film. “My mother edited on a Steenbeck in the living room when I was a kid.” Growing up with film in his veins and Africa as his home made him a compassionate and resourceful storyteller. Riber applied to Western after his sister had started. “We had cousins who went to Western, and it seemed like a good place for me.”
After Western, Riber returned to Africa. He trained...
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WWU alumnus Steve Herrick, nicknamed “Papa Steve” by his adoring students, is a Whatcom legend. In his 44 years of teaching at Lynden High School, he has shepherded students past the honk and squawk of practice to find tone, style, and rhythm, creating memorable performances and a lifelong love of music.
Steve Herrick and Sean O’Loughlin
Herrick got his start teaching music at WWU, but even then he knew his real love was high school band. “Seems as though I always wanted to be a high school band director. I had made that decision by the third grade and worked toward that end from...
Programs & Benefits
“My time at WWU not only prepared me for my career but it exposed me to so many other opportunities in life. Having a lifelong connection to the Western community has enriched and enhanced my intellectual growth.”
—Kane Hall (’00), CEO Daylight Properties
—Kane Hall (’00), CEO Daylight Properties
Our Stars Don't Shine Alone
From the summit of Mount Everest to the depths of the ocean, Vikings everywhere are making a difference in the world. Our community is strong and growing. Here are some of the faces that make WWU special.
Ed Roddy (’84): A Champion for WWU Athletes
When it comes to Viking Spirit, Ed Roddy walks the talk. Winner of the 2018 Larry “Go Vikings” Taylor Alumni Service Award, Roddy is a tireless champion and the ultimate booster. His involvement in Viking Athletics for the past three decades has been critical to the success of Western students and alumni. He’s a season ticket holder who rarely misses a men’s basketball game, who attends all pre-season and post-season events, and even travels for away games.
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We Are Vikings!
We are innovators and advocates, collaborators and entrepreneurs, we are scholars and activists, we are Vikings! With more than 126,000 living Vikings around the world, our network is strong, and getting stronger with each graduating class.
Jesse Moore (’05)
Principal Consultant, Common Thread Strategies. Former speechwriter for President Obama.
“People coming out of Western don’t always feel compelled to jump out front, or grab a mic to announce that we are ready to lead. We’re people who step into a room or a workplace, who figure out what’s missing, and who can fill that void.”
Schuyler Telleen, (’04)
Emmy Award-winning Production Designer and Graphic Designer "Portlandia," "Mad Men," "Parks and Recreation," "Veep," "Captain Fantastic"
“I love Western. Traveling around the world as I’ve done many times and working in the industry in L.A., I’m always impressed at the valuation of my degree and how much it’s increasing. It’s just incredible.”
Vini Samuel (’84)
Mayor, Montesano, WA
“What Western does so well is shape students into community-minded citizens. I look at Western graduates, and almost all of them are involved in making their communities stronger.”