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This month’s public viewing of the stars will focus on several exotic Messier objects as the summer Milky Way stretches across the sky from the northeast to the southwest. The free viewing on Friday, Aug. 19, begins at sunset and lasts several hours at the ���ϰٿ� Observatory.

�±���ٳ��DzԳ�’s Center for Applied Technology (CATLab) joins forces with Salesforce to host the Impact Conference on Thursday, Aug. 11, in the Global Leadership Center on campus. Keynote speakers include Peter Coffee, vice president for strategic research at Salesforce, and Lupita Knittel, president of 7Mindsets, an education technology company.

A ���ϰٿ� researcher has won a grant to further his search for evidence of the presence of mysterious dark matter. The (NSF) has awarded a $200,000 grant to Ben Carlson, ���ϰٿ� assistant professor of , to continue his work on the , a particle physics laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland.

It’s globular cluster season at the ���ϰٿ� Observatory with this month’s viewing focusing on two conglomerations containing hundreds of thousands of stars. The free, public viewing of the stars is Friday, July 15, beginning at 7 p.m. and lasting several hours. Face coverings will be required at the event.

A tight-knit cohort of five ���ϰٿ� student teachers shared inspirational stories about their experiences in the classroom at an emotional Celebration of Teaching April 28 on campus. Linda Ngo, Sam Cordes, Hannah Boelter, Simon Janzen and Shae Caragher, who all earned California Preliminary Credentials, spoke at the event, held for the first time since 2019.

���ϰٿ� senior Chloe White earned the Etienne Gros Prize for Academic Excellence in Literature this summer after graduating from the French Honors program at the Institute for American Universities (IAU) in Southern France.

Paul Wilt, ���ϰٿ� professor emeritus of history, died June 23 at the age of 93. He is survived by his wife, Doris, and their four children: Tom, Marilyn ’74, Janet ’76 and Daniel ’84. A memorial service will be held at Shoreline Community Church, 935 San Andres Street, Santa Barbara, on Saturday, July 16, at 10 a.m. He has requested donations to ���ϰٿ� instead of flowers.

Brad Elliott, ���ϰٿ�'s long-time campus photographer, father of three and grandfather to four, offers this advice for fathers on Father's Day:

Work by four enormously influential Southern California artists and art professors, Ken Jewesson, Ciel Bergman, Irma Cavat and Florence “FiFi” Russell, will appear in three exhibitions July 7 - Aug. 6 in the with a free, public opening reception at the museum on Thursday, July 7, from 4-6 p.m.

���ϰٿ� alumnus Ramon Gupta '94, a corporate attorney with an active practice in Santa Barbara, has joined the ���ϰٿ� Board of Trustees. A partner with Mullen & Henzell LLP, Business & Real Estate Group since 1999, Gupta has taught business law at his alma mater since 2014. He will begin a three-year term at his first meeting in October.

Two ���ϰٿ� graduates and Augustinian Scholars, John Corbett ’22 and Kyle Mayl ’21, have won Fulbright Scholarships to teach English outside the United States. Corbett will serve in the Czech Republic while Mayl will be in Spain.

Santa Barbara resident Nadya Brown won Best of Show at the opening reception of the annual Tri-County juried exhibition, “,” at the . Brown, who was born and raised in England, won the $1,000 prize for her vibrant, dream-like painting “Kafka and the Snowglobe.”

Nearly 40 local high school students enrolled in an AP physics course visited ���ϰٿ� May 16 for a hands-on exploration into how the universe behaves. The event, “Understanding Physics from Galaxies to Particles,” was led by Ben Carlson, ���ϰٿ� assistant professor of physics.

((Due to mostly cloudy skies, tonight's public viewing has been canceled))

Following the breathtaking lunar eclipse earlier in the week, the ���ϰٿ� observatory opens to the public for its monthly event with the powerful Keck Telescope on Friday, May 20, beginning at sunset and lasting a few hours. Face coverings will be required at the event, which is co-hosted by the

���ϰٿ� has named its new program the ���ϰٿ� Downtown | Grotenhuis Nursing program in honor of David and Anna Grotenhuis, who, along with Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, have given generously and played a leading role in partnering with Cottage Hospital to see this dream become a reality.

Commencement speaker Michael Shasberger, between stints of conducting the ���ϰٿ� Orchestra, told the 2022 graduates they’d attain their greatest happiness when they discovered how to give away what they valued most. Coincidentally, President Gayle D. Beebe introduced Shasberger with news that the Michael Shasberger Student Scholarship Fund for Music.

This Mother’s Day, we celebrate Cynthia Toms, professor of global studies and kinesiology, whose personal experience helped solidify her deep desire to improve global development by keeping people healthy and giving them hope.

Each year, the ���ϰٿ� community celebrates the many ways that God has gifted our students academically by announcing and honoring the Outstanding Graduate Awards in each department during the prior to Commencement. The following are the Outstanding Graduates of 2022.

The abundance of accomplished artists from the Tri-County area is on full display at the annual juried exhibition in the ���ϰٿ� Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. ���ϰٿ� alumnus and hyperrealist painter ’01 juried the show, “Uncanny,” which is available May 19-June 18. A free, public, opening reception for the exhibition is Thursday, May 19, from 4-6 p.m. at the museum.

Michael Shasberger, who retires as the inaugural Adams professor of music and worship, delivers the address at Commencement Saturday, May 7, at 9 a.m. on �±���ٳ��DzԳ�’s Thorrington Field. ���ϰٿ� President Gayle D. Beebe presents ���ϰٿ� Medals to Steven A. and Denice D. Fellows for their tireless service and dedicated leadership in improving the delivery of healthcare.

Graduating political science major and ���ϰٿ� Student Association (WSCA) President Hannah Grierson argued her way to the top of the ���ϰٿ� Debate Tournament and earned $500 on April 23 in the Global Leadership Center. She argued against the topic of the United States implementing a universal basic income. Sophomore Eden Lawson, who recently won the David K. Winter Servant Leadership Award, came in second place, taking home $250.

James E. Taylor and Jennifer Moe Taylor, husband and wife, have teamed up to co-author a new book, “” (Cascade Books). The volume takes readers on a sacred pilgrimage to deepen their relationship with God.

Two ���ϰٿ� students won David K. Winter Servant Leadership Awards for showing vision, courage, humility, integrity and competence as leaders. Angela D’Amour, dean of student engagement, introduced the 22^nd annual awardees, Ebun Kalejaiye ’23 of Rancho Palos Verdes and Eden Lawson ’24 of Redlands, on .

A rising full moon will greet visitors to the ���ϰٿ� Observatory at the free, monthly public viewing of the stars on Friday, April 15, beginning at 7 p.m. and lasting several hours. Face coverings will be required at the event.

Michael Shasberger, �±���ٳ��DzԳ�’s Adams professor for music and worship, shares stories of musical exploration and perseverance during a pandemic at a free public lecture, “Making Music in the Age of COVID: Challenges, Opportunities, Risks and Meaning,” on Wednesday, April 20, at 5:30 p.m. in the outdoor patio of �±���ٳ��DzԳ�’s newest downtown Santa Barbara building, 29 W. Anapamu.

Keynote speakers David Brooks, Erin Meyer, Gayle D. Beebe, Marcus “Goodie” Goodloe, Shaylyn Romney Garrett and Robert Putnam share insights on effective and purposeful leadership at the 2022 Lead Where You Stand Conference June 1-3 at �±���ٳ��DzԳ�’s Global Leadership Center. Tickets to the three-day event, which cost $499, may be purchased at . Those who buy four seats, get one free. 

The ���ϰٿ� Fringe Festival returns with a four-day, student-led celebration of the arts April 21- 24, beginning at 7 p.m. in and around Porter Theater. About 80 students are acting, designing, directing or writing plays and poetry for the performance extravaganza themed “Unfamiliar Waters.” A four-day, all-access general admission pass costs $20; $15 for seniors/students. A one-day pass is $10 with no student/senior discount. Tickets may be purchased at .

Fifteen graduating ���ϰٿ� art majors make their presence felt in an exhibition April 7- May 7 at the ���ϰٿ� Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. A free, public opening reception for “Presence” is Thursday, April 7, from 4-6 p.m. at the museum.

The next time you drive to campus, you’ll discover beauti­ful new kiosks featuring sandstone, greenery and vine-covered trellises. ���ϰٿ� has widened each entrance and designed the kiosks to better protect the campus.

The 61^st annual �±���ٳ��DzԳ�’s Spring Sing, a student-performed variety show and competition between residence halls, was back and in person at the Santa Barbara Bowl April 1. It is the longest running tradition on campus and involves more students than any other college event.

The has welcomed ���ϰٿ� and 52 other new institutions into First-gen Forward, a program that recognizes colleges and universities committed to helping first-generation students thrive.

Kya Mangrum, assistant professor of English, has won a $9,900 Graves Award in Humanities research grant. A 2021 ���ϰٿ� Teacher of the Year, Mangrum is conducting research for a new book exploring how Americans remembered and wrote about slavery and the Civil War in the first five decades (1865-1915) following Emancipation and the end of the war.

Award-winning scholar and teacher examines the type of white Christian nationalism displayed at the U.S. Capitol attack in a free, public lecture Monday, April 4, from 7-8:30 p.m. at �±���ٳ��DzԳ�’s .

After a 10-year process, the (ACS) Committee on Professional Training voted in January 2022 to include ���ϰٿ� on the list of institutions approved by ACS. Effective immediately, the society will certify the degrees of ���ϰٿ� graduates who complete the requirements of the college’s Professional Track for Chemistry.

The ���ϰٿ� Observatory opens to the public Friday, March 18, beginning at 7 p.m. and lasting several hours. Face coverings will be required at the event. Due to the pandemic, this is the first time in two years the observatory has been open to the public.

The ���ϰٿ� Music Department handed out tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships to musicians and singers as part of its annual guild competitions. Corrie Bascom, a violinist from Minnesota, won the 10th annual Instrumental Guild Competition Feb. 26 and Hailey Somphone, a soprano from Fullerton, won the Vocal Guild Competition on March 5. Each will receive up to $10,000 in annual music scholarships funds (up to $40,000 for four years) to study at ���ϰٿ�.

Bestselling author Michael Lewis shared insight into his blockbuster books such as “Moneyball,” “The Undoing Project” and “The Fifth Risk,” at the 17th annual President’s Breakfast March 4 at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.

Religious believers who embrace accountability to God (or another transcendent guide for life) experience higher levels of three of the four variables of psychological well-being – mattering to others, dignity and meaning in their lives, though not happiness – according to a study from researchers with Baylor University, ���ϰٿ� and Hope College.

The ���ϰٿ� Music Department holds its 10^th annual Instrumental Guild Competition with six finalists performing for college scholarships on Saturday, February 26, at 7 p.m. in Deane Chapel.

The ���ϰٿ� Festival Theatre and , �±���ٳ��DzԳ�’s award-winning director and professor of theater arts, stage “The Miser, or the School for Lies,” Moliere’s funny, highly theatrical on-the-verge-of-the-absurd comedy Feb. 25-26, March 3-5 at 7:30 p.m., and March 5 at 2 p.m., all in �±���ٳ��DzԳ�’s Porter Theatre. Tickets are $10 for students and seniors, $15 for adults, and may be purchased online at westmont.edu/boxoffice.

�±���ٳ��DzԳ�’s 33^rd annual Mathematics Field Day, featuring seven Southern California high schools, is Saturday, Feb. 12 from 1-5:15 p.m. in Winter Hall. The awards banquet begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Global Leadership Center. The event, co-directed by ���ϰٿ� mathematics professors Anna Aboud and Russell Howell, features student teams from Cate, Dos Pueblos, La Cañada, Oaks Christian, Providence, San Marcos and Santa Barbara.

���ϰٿ� announces the appointment of Kimberly Battle-Walters Denu as the college’s new provost beginning August 1, 2022.

���ϰٿ� senior Lexy Gillette, a double major in physics and chemistry, will attend the University of Oxford in the fall after earning the prestigious John and Daria Barry Foundation Scholarship. The award, given to about 10 students a year from select institutions, covers tuition, fees and living expenses, also provides a stipend and research and travel allowances for at least two years. Lexy, who will pursue a doctorate in inorganic chemistry, is one of the first few recipients in the natural sciences.

The ���ϰٿ� women’s polo team, fresh off a 15-1 victory over cross-town rival UC Santa Barbara, rides into United States Polo Association Regionals on Friday, February 25, in Los Osos. The Warriors will face Stanford, who they beat earlier this season, Cal Poly, UC Davis, USC, UCSB, Oregon State, Montana State and Idaho State.

, bestselling author of blockbuster books such as “Moneyball” and “The Blind Side,” speaks with ���ϰٿ� president Gayle D. Beebe at the 17th annual President’s Breakfast Friday, March 4, 2022, from 7 a.m.- 9 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. Tickets cost $125 each and go on sale Friday, Feb. 4, at 9 a.m.

���ϰٿ� presents Aaron Copland’s great 20th century American opera “The Tender Land” January 28 and 30 at 7 p.m. at Center Stage Theatre in Paseo Nuevo. Purchase tickets, which cost $15 for general admission, $10 for seniors or military, at the Center Stage box office at centerstagetheater.org. Please visit the to view the latest COVID-19 requirements.

A national study examines the link between perceived relationship with God and mental health from a sample of more than 1,600 Americans. The research suggests that religious believers who relate to God in an uncertain or anxious manner are more likely to experience symptoms of psychological distress, including anxiety, paranoia, obsession and compulsion.