Michael Pese and Tupe Smith enter the Nesbett Courthouse with their son Several Whittier residents from American Samoa accused of illegal voting were arraigned in an Anchorage courtroom on May 2 (Marc Lester / ADN) Dozens of people rallied outside the Anchorage courthouse Friday in support of a family of Whittier residents from American Samoa being arraigned on charges of illegal voting in a case that may have reverberations for a national effort to extend full citizenship rights to people born in the U.S State prosecutors have charged the Whittier residents with illegally voting in local elections contending that because they were born in the territory of American Samoa they are not citizens but nationals and don’t have the right to vote Prosecutors say the family members misrepresented themselves on paperwork The family members — ranging in age from their 20s to 60s — are facing felony charges some of which come with a term of up to 10 years in prison On Wednesday, the Whittier City Council passed a resolution calling for the state to amend the state constitution to allow citizens of U.S territories to vote in local and state elections and “reaffirming its support for equal voting rights” for citizens of the U.S The cases represent the first time American Samoans have been prosecuted “solely on where they happened to be born,” said Neil Weare, the co-founder of Right to Democracy a national nonprofit that advocates for the rights of people living in U.S Attorneys for the group are representing Tupe Smith the first American Samoan family member to be charged with voter fraud and attorneys from the group flew to Alaska for the arraignments people gathered for a prayer and sang “Lo Ta Nu’u,” a traditional song celebrating Samoa before taking a group photo and walking into the Nesbett Courthouse together nine members of the family made a first court appearance and entered not guilty pleas Another member was out of the area and is set to be arraigned next week Several defendants were appointed public defenders after they said they couldn’t afford a private attorney The cases reveal how American Samoans are treated differently one of the people charged and a Whittier volunteer firefighter Pese said he and his family hadn’t expected “this much impact,” but were glad for the support is not only to defend the criminal case against him but to see American Samoans allowed to vote way longer than the state of Alaska has been a state,” he said Pese said that his family has lived in Whittier for more than a decade in 2023 was the first to be charged after she ran for school board The issue has caused “unintended reverberations” in Whittier who also said he attended the rally in Anchorage on Friday as a citizen in support of the family “The large presence implied there was some attempt at intimidation of our community members, and it was unsettling,” he said. In Whittier, more than half of the schoolchildren have parents who are American Samoans, Blair said. “The fear and the unknown — yeah, it’s inevitable it gets to the children," he said. After Friday’s arraignment, the family was headed home to Whittier when they came upon a collision on the Seward Highway near Indian, Weare said. Pese, a trained first responder, jumped out and stopped to help the victim until paramedics arrived. Michelle Theriault Boots is a longtime reporter for the Anchorage Daily News. She focuses on stories about the intersection of public policy and Alaskans' lives. Before joining the ADN in 2012, she worked at daily newspapers on the West Coast and earned a master's degree from the University of Oregon. Opens in new windowOpens in new windowOpens in new windowADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTMost read by subscribers1 Ten people from Whittier charged with illegal voting made initial court appearances Friday — a routine procedure in a case that has the potential to be anything but That gives them the unique status of being U.S A group called Right to Democracy is championing their case “If they had been born instead in another U.S territory — like Guam or the Virgin Islands or the District of Columbia — or Alaska facing criminal legal peril today,” said Neil Weare Right to Democracy advocates for people born in U.S territories and is part of the legal team representing a previous Whittier defendant: Tupe Smith She was arrested in 2023 and charged with illegal voting and related felonies after she won election to her local school board Her challenge is before the state Court of Appeals last fall Alaska State Troopers investigated Smith’s husband and other members of their extended family in Whittier The state brought fraud and perjury charges against the 10 defendants last month told officers they thought they could vote in state and local elections but not for president The case could draw a national spotlight for reasons that go beyond election outcomes in Whittier It is already wrapped up in a larger constitutional question about whether people born in U.S territories have a birthright to citizenship Weare sees that as a central issue in the Whittier cases and said it may be part of the defense “It is the state's burden to prove every element of the alleged offense and one of those elements is that they're not a citizen of the United States,” he said “We don't believe they'll be able to prove that under the Constitution.” The case has a different import for right-wing bloggers it’s a widely held belief among supporters of President Trump that non-citizens voted in massive numbers in 2020 The Whittier case doesn’t fit the stolen-election narrative well Many of the defendants didn’t vote in presidential election years winning 74 votes — more than double the vote total of Joe Biden At least one of the Whittier defendants is an ardent Trump fan Michael Pese is Tupe Smith’s husband and accused of voting in 2022 and 2023 He said he loved the town of Whittier and loved serving as a volunteer firefighter there I don't know if I want to stay back in Whittier Prosecutors say the state built the case against Pese and the other defendants after receiving an anonymous tip that non-citizens were voting in Whittier LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio What’s happening: A 6.5-mile stretch of Whittier Boulevard — from Lockheed Avenue to Valley Home Avenue — is changing hands The small section around the 605 Freeway will still be under Caltrans control because of the freeway infrastructure you’ll see the city handle maintenance and emergencies The Whittier Police Department will respond to issues on the stretch instead of county sheriff’s deputies the city may take steps to redevelop the road Some context: Whittier’s side of the boulevard grew popular in the ‘40s It’s the historic site for landmarks like the Paradox tree and a citrus packing house It’s also where the iconic Whittier Theater once stood. What’s next: The California Transportation Commission is expected to approve the deal on May 15 for more about the changing of the guard and the history of the boulevard Mayor Joe Vinatieri said it’s a historic win for Whittier “This is the original path from San Diego to San Francisco Up to Santa Rosa for all the missions in California.” “ We have seriously discussed relinquishment on at least two previous occasions with the first being in the ‘90s and the second in the early 2000s,” said Kyle Cason The deal fell through primarily because Caltrans was offering only $2 million to $4 million to a reserve fund for Whittier to use for maintenance That figure has since risen to nearly $17 million Whittier will be responsible for fixing things like center medians Cason said ownership will help the city improve traffic and planning “ We don’t have to go to Caltrans to ask to add a third lane or any of those types of things to do work at an intersection Since the road will be under local control you’ll also see Whittier police respond to accidents instead of county sheriff’s deputies The deal doesn’t include the area west of Lockheed Avenue that’s within city boundaries because Caltrans wants to retain  control of the 605 interchange area The building was admired for its Spanish architecture which included red tile roofing and archways The site was damaged in the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake and later demolished There’s still a plaque to commemorate it near the Walgreens at Whittier Boulevard and Gretna Avenue Alumni of all ages are invited to reconnect with classmates and forge new connections with fellow Poets these events are more than just a reunion — they’re designed to strengthen the bonds that unite the Poet family “There’s something powerful about bringing Poets together in familiar and unexpected places,” said Director of Alumni Relations Ana Gutierrez ’96 “It’s not just about nostalgia — it’s about community and celebrating the lifelong impact of a Whittier education and energy that define the Poet4Life alumni experience.” RSVP Here To learn more about how to get involved with alumni events, visit the alumni relations page, email alumni@whittier.edu or call 562.907.4222 Have a good story idea? Share it with us. Whittier College is committed to ensuring the accessibility of its web content to people with disabilities. We strive to meet W3C WAI’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, Level AA conformance. To report an accessibility issue, a website problem, or submit feedback, please submit a Website Feedback Form (KABC) -- Authorities are looking for three men after an attempted robbery and deadly shooting at a marijuana clinic in Whittier The incident happened shortly before 2 a.m according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department they found a 32-year-old man had been shot Investigators say all three suspects fled the location in a dark colored vehicle Anyone with information is urged to contact detectives at (323) 890-5500 and Malika Tadesse ’27 were celebrated for their achievements at an awards ceremony held earlier this month with President Kristine E Dillon ’73 and other local leaders in attendance “I am absolutely honored to receive the Ruth White Scholarship,” said Calder a biology major with minors in chemistry and public health from York “It has empowered me to continue pursuing my degree and to uplift other intelligent For Meyer-Draffen, who hails from Huntington Beach and designed her own major in radio and television broadcasting through the Whittier Scholars Program the grant is especially meaningful given the organization’s mission "The Soroptimists are such wonderful people and I am proud to be a part of their community," she said Tadesse is an international student from Addis Ababa double majoring in economics and business administration with concentrations in international economics and international business She added that the award “not only lightens my financial burden but also motivates me to continue striving for excellence in my academic and leadership journey I’m truly honored to be supported by a community that uplifts women and believes in our potential.”  White joins Whittier from Northern Illinois University where he served as an assistant coach overseeing tight ends and fullbacks He comes with experience coaching in Divisions I His ties to Southern California and Whittier College run deep He was part of the Poet coaching staff from 2004 to 2006 under former Head Coach Greg Carlson and completed his master’s degree at Whittier in 2007 while serving as a graduate assistant coach His firsthand experience as both a student and a coach positions him well to understand Whittier College’s values This is more than just football — it’s about building a culture of excellence in athletics I look forward to working with our students and supporters to reestablish a proud football program that will represent the Whittier College community.” President Dillon emphasized the broader impact of White’s return and the sport’s reinstatement: “Coach White’s leadership will not only shape a competitive football program but also help reignite school spirit This is an exciting new chapter for Whittier College.” The program’s relaunch, slated for the 2026 season, has been made possible by dedicated alumni and grassroots fundraising efforts Chair of the Whittier College Board of Trustees shared his enthusiasm: “This is a defining moment for Whittier College athletics we are confident that Poet football will thrive once again — bringing energy to our campus As excitement builds for the return of Whittier football White and his staff are set to lay the foundation for a program that honors the past while forging a new era of success White’s first official day on campus will be Feb Learn more about Coach White and his professional trajectory here To support the football program’s ongoing fundraising effort, visit: Whittier.edu/giving/football 20% of Whittier College students utilize the pantry which records more than 1,000 individual visits annually Support for the Poet Pantry came through a generous grant from PIH Health Whittier Hospital PIH Health Whittier Hospital has supported several campus initiatives including the Purple and Gold Golf Tournament “PIH Health Whittier Hospital looked at what we were doing here at the College and asked ‘What can we do to help?’” said President Kristine E The grant was made possible through the experiential real-world learning that regularly happens in classrooms across campus Students in Professor Jonathan Burton’s Introduction to Professional Writing course received mentorship on grant writing from Whittier College senior grant writer John Bak and then practiced their skills on an actual grant proposal to PIH Health Whittier Hospital “In addition to the gains made in terms of mitigating food insecurity and making the use of the pantry a more dignified experience students made real gains in their professional skills and should all add not only ‘grant writing’ to their resumes but ‘successfully funded grant writing’” Burton said Assistant to VP and Dean of Students & CARE Team Member Frances Romo shared powerful stories from students who have benefitted from the pantry moving some members of the audience to tears “We are proud to say that we’ve successfully removed the stigma that was once associated with using a food pantry,” Romo said and it is more than just about providing food — it’s about fostering a sense of community The Poet Pantry has become an additional space where students can come together including adding cold storage to allow it to offer perishable goods The Whittier Area Community Church also donates many food items a program like the Poet Pantry wasn’t even imagined,” said Dillon Now we are — and that’s what Whittier is all about.” In addition to her academic pursuits, the social work major from Atlanta has embraced leadership roles both on campus and in the local community I learned the value of hard work and community often balancing family expectations with my personal and academic goals,” she said Palacios Delgado has served as lead student ambassador for admission, first-generation coordinator for the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) and vice president of the Phi Alpha Theta Honors Society She has also honed her professional skills as a school social work intern for the East Whittier City School District she’s setting her sights on continuing her passion for advocacy and child welfare We asked her a few questions about her experience as a Poet and her plans for the future The celebrations are sponsored by the Office of Equity and Inclusion and recognize the APIDA and LGBTQ+ communities during Commencement season These celebrations are open to the whole community — friends and more — to come together in a shared space and honor graduates and those who helped them reach the completion of their degrees The following are the selected alumni speakers for each celebration OD ’96 is the chief business officer at Ocular Therapeutix and has over 20 years of experience focusing on global development and commercialization of drugs and technologies advancing ophthalmic care Saroj earned her bachelor of arts in biochemistry from Whittier College followed by a bachelor of science in optometry and a doctorate of optometry from the University of California Robert Allarte ’16 is the chief of staff for Long Beach City Councilwoman Megan Kerr while Cody Allarte ’16 is the assistant emergency manager at the City of Anaheim Robert earned a bachelor of arts in political science and Spanish literature and language while Cody received his bachelor of arts in business administration Chaznae Walker ’06 has worked at the I Have A Dream Foundation in Los Angeles for almost 20 years Beginning her journey as a program coordinator her dedication has led to her latest promotion to the role of executive director Walker earned a bachelor of arts in political science and excelled in collegiate basketball Brenda Gonzalez '12 is a strategic communications who has worked with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services as well as former Vice President Kamala Harris when she was a senator and attorney general Gonzalez earned her bachelor of arts in political science at Whittier before earning a master’s degree in strategic public relations from the University of Southern California The celebrations are organized, planned, and coordinated by students. Questions can be directed to the Office of Equity and Inclusion at oei@whittier.edu. For more information, including time and location of celebrations, visit Whittier.edu/commencement/precommencementactivities An attorney and former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Sanders became the first Rhodes scholar from Whittier College on Dec He was only the second Black student in the history of the entire program which selects talented students from around the world to study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom Sanders said he owes his career trajectory to attending Whittier during the Civil Rights Movement With Los Angeles hosting the Democratic National Convention in 1960 the Lakers basketball team moving to California and Whittier hosting exchange students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities “I formed my solid intention to go to law school and to become a political activist and lawyer at Whittier College,” he said “That environment spawned that intention that held up through my post-college experiences His journey will come full circle as Sanders returns to his alma mater as the keynote speaker for its 122nd Commencement.  Sanders was student body president and an All-American football player while at Whittier During his three years as a wide receiver on the varsity team he caught 93 passes for 1,703 yards and scored 21 touchdowns he returned to Whittier to serve on the board of trustees The experience of being a young Black man on the board was formative “It’s human to learn how to address and converse with people at a level that respects their position in life and that’s something I never forgot,” Sanders said “I’m thankful to my family and to Whittier College for not fostering that sense of superiority that so many colleges do.” Born in Watts in 1942 as the youngest of four children Sanders always wanted to go to a small liberal arts college The Quaker values and spirit of the community supported Sanders and he cherishes the memories made on campus He also values the soft skills and interpersonal skills he picked up at the College and applied as a Rhoades scholar have gotten the Rhodes Scholarship since me and have done really well,” Sanders said “The diversity did not sacrifice the quality.” Whittier also taught Sanders how to navigate a world that wasn’t necessarily built for students from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds His advice to other students in his shoes is to be confident especially if everybody in the room says ‘We want to hear what Stan has to say.’ You can’t say ‘No I’m not qualified to deal with that.’ And I never did … The most important thing an individual can do is to aim high It doesn’t really matter whether you think you can make it Aim to do it and reorganize your life to achieve that goal at a higher level The outcome will be much better than if you settle for something less.” Sanders will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters reserved for individuals with outstanding convictions Stanley Sanders ’63 to address the Class of 2025 at Whittier College,” said President Kristine Dillon ’73 “As we celebrate the accomplishments and aspirations of our graduating seniors I know his thoughtful perspective and deep commitment to justice will resonate powerfully and reflect the values we hold dear as Poets.” For more details about the Commencement, visit Whittier.edu/commencement. The revitalized program will build on the College’s long-standing tradition of excellence creating new and enhanced opportunities for exceptional student-athletes to thrive This comeback was made possible through the unwavering support of Whittier alumni whose grassroots fundraising efforts raised more than $814,000 Their dedication mirrors the recent successful revival of the men’s lacrosse program underscoring the deep commitment of Whittier’s alumni to supporting the College and enriching its athletic legacy “We are thrilled to welcome football back to Whittier College,” said President Kristine Dillon “This program has been an integral part of our history and offer prospective students another compelling reason to join the Poet family The funds raised will serve as a foundation to hire a head coach and recruit athletes for the fall 2026 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Division III season The College is committed to a “Bring Back Better” approach giving coaches time to rebuild and strengthen the program for future student-athletes involving participation from alumni representatives “This isn’t just about bringing back football; it’s about doing it right,” said Ron Gastelum Chair of the Whittier Board of Trustees and donor “We’re committed to building a robust program that focuses on the holistic development of our student-athletes I can already envision the stands filled with fans To support the ongoing fundraising effort, visit: Whittier.edu/giving/football “This partnership underscores our commitment to creating unique high-impact opportunities for our students,” said Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management Ken Woods ’84 “By opening pathways to advanced nursing and physical therapy programs we are preparing our students to meet our communities' critical health care needs and ensuring they have access to rewarding Mount Saint Mary’s will offer priority admission to five Whittier students who meet the ABSN prerequisite requirements and five students majoring in kinesiology covering their Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service application fee Mount Saint Mary’s will provide a $2,500 scholarship to nursing students and a $5,000 scholarship to physical therapy students admitted to the programs “I am excited to support these students on their journey toward becoming compassionate skilled professionals in high-demand fields ultimately contributing to the health and well-being of our communities,” said Pre-Health Program Director Melanie Householder “It’s an extraordinary opportunity for students interested in health care to gain the experience and credentials they need to succeed in fast-growing fields.” For more information and to apply, visit whittier.edu/academics/kinesiology/msmu April 8, 2025 by The state of Alaska has charged 10 U.S. nationals in the small community of Whittier with voter misconduct and perjury. The charges say the defendants were born in American Samoa, which makes them nationals but not citizens. Alaska law allows only U.S. citizens to vote. The case is sure to get attention, because non-citizen voting has become a hot-button issue nationally. President Trump has claimed, without evidence, that widespread voter fraud was a reason he lost the 2020 election. The state began investigating the Whittier case in late 2023. “There was an anonymous call that came to the Division of Elections about non-U.S. citizens that had registered to vote, who were voting,” said Alaska Deputy Attorney General John Skidmore. The charges say all 10 defendants voted or tried to vote in Whittier City elections or for the regional school board. Some are also alleged to have at least tried to vote in primaries. Mathew Pese, 32, is among the few alleged to have made an attempt, or actually voted in the 2020 general election. A Facebook account that appears to be his has a lot of religious posts and several that praise or celebrate Trump. He did not respond to a Facebook message for comment, nor did several other defendants Alaska Public Media attempted to contact through Facebook. The charges say Pese told investigators that he remembered his wife had once said he couldn’t vote because he wasn’t a citizen. Other defendants said they thought they were allowed to vote in local elections but not for president, according to the charges. Troopers investigated by looking at the list of all 288 registered voters in Whittier and determining which were born outside of U.S. states. Skidmore said it’s important in any democracy to ensure that only eligible voters cast ballots. “We’re not interested in anyone’s race, ethnicity, political background — none of that stuff matters,” Skidmore said. “We’re simply looking at the laws that say, ‘This is how you determine who is supposed to be voting. This is how you determine who isn’t.’ And when we get complaints of people that shouldn’t be voting, that’s what we look into and investigate and, where appropriate, file charges. Every year the state gets a few allegations of illegal voting and has charged about five cases in as many years, Skidmore said. “If you think about all of the folks across the state that vote in any given election, to have this few charges filed means by and large, it’s not something that we find happens,” Skidmore said. “Most of the investigations that we conduct result in determinations that charges are not appropriate to be filed. But in those cases where we do find sufficient evidence to say that crimes did occur, then we will file charges, as we have here.” Each defendant has been charged with at least one perjury charge, a Class B felony that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, though Skidmore said it was too early to know any conviction would result in jail time. The defendants have not been arrested but have summonses to appear in court. Trump swept Whittier in the divisive 2020 election. He got 74 votes, more than twice the vote total of Joe Biden. KTOO collaborates with partners across the state to cover important news and to share stories with our audiences Top Alaska stories delivered to your inbox every week Copyright © 2025 KTOO Public Media Tlagóo! We\'re rolling out some improvements to the layout and design of KTOO.org. Read more The City’s Traffic and Parking services presented the projects to a City Council committee last week A resident-driven program is bringing 49 new traffic calming projects to Minneapolis in 2025 While the City’s Traffic and Parking Services chose traffic calming projects across the city the Whittier neighborhood is getting improvements along more than one street After looking through traffic calming suggestions submitted by residents, the City chose 120 traffic calming ideas to integrate into 49 projects, now listed on the City’s traffic calming website The requests were scored on a system that is limited to City-owned streets that are not high-injury streets or planned for reconstruction There were 380 out of 820 requests that were eligible for construction The City’s traffic calming projects run a few blocks and most commonly include traffic circles or speed humps Ward 10 is getting multiple traffic calming improvements: projects are planned for Aldrich Avenue two spots on Blaisdell including at 22nd Street An interactive City map highlights the 2025 traffic calming project areas People can also leave feedback on transportation concerns Loring Park will see traffic calming along 14th Street W where people have already commented on the City’s map: “Cars never stop at the stop sign where they are supposed to even when pedestrians are crossing” and “Cars roll through this stop sign more often than not.” The City Council’s Climate & Infrastructure Committee heard a presentation from the City’s Traffic and Parking Services on April 17 The City has already begun holding open houses for the traffic calming projects and will offer opportunities for online feedback Ben Brasser with Traffic and Parking Services told the committee The Whittier open houses were held on April 14 and 15 Residents interested in submitting traffic calming requests for 2026 can do so through Aug An aspiring physical therapist from Baldwin Park, Gonzalez has spent the last four years pouring her energy into academics, athletics, and community. She will graduate with a double major in kinesiology and Spanish and a minor in French In addition to her three years on the track and field team Gonzalez is a member of three honor societies: Phi Epsilon Kappa Her work at the Career Center introduced her to important mentors who supported her ambitions and encouraged her to stay true to herself Reflecting on the full arc of her time at Whittier “It very much became a place dear to my heart Who would have thought I would make such close connections with fellow students and alumni who I know have helped me shape the person I am today?” Whittier College is highlighting seniors with something to say Check back every Friday for the latest installment in this series Studies show that students from financially insecure backgrounds are less likely to graduate from college and get a degree, but schools like Whittier can make a real difference in their lives. To calculate these scores, U.S. News analyzes factors including graduation rates for federal loan recipients who are the first in their families to attend college and graduation rates for students who receive federal Pell Grants awarded to students whose household income is less than $50,000 Whittier was also named one of the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the nation and is included in the top 100 best value schools list for national liberal arts colleges “While we don’t look to outside rankings to affirm that the educational experience we offer is transformative for our students’ futures it is always gratifying when others confirm what we see,” said Whittier College President Kristine E “Our mission is to translate highly personalized experiential learning into real-world opportunities and career readiness and we work closely with families to ensure access and affordability As a proud Hispanic and Minority Serving Institution with a significant first-generation cohort it is especially encouraging that our commitment to inclusive excellence and great value continues to earn praise.”  Whittier also appears in The Princeton Review’s Best 390 Colleges: 2025 Edition and among Washington Monthly’s annual top 100 liberal arts colleges, as well as in the top 35 for public service Have a good story idea? Share it with us. More Two east-side neighborhoods – Houston Whittier/Hayes and Greenfield Park/I-75/McNichols – have been selected through a highly competitive process to be the City’s next two Solar Neighborhoods The addition of the two neighborhoods would create another 61 acres of solar arrays this would bring to 165 the total number of acres in the mayor’s Solar Neighborhoods initiative The purpose of the initiative is to take vacant blighted land and put it to use generating enough clean energy to power 127 City municipal buildings as part of the City’s efforts to address climate change These include all police and fire stations Houston Whittier/Hayes and Greenfield Park were selected from five remaining finalists after Gratiot-Findlay Van Dyke-Lynch and State Fair were selected as the first three Solar Neighborhoods in Phase One the Mayor announced that all Phase 1 neighborhoods had signed their agreements with developers and approved final landscape designs that included decorative fencing along with flower meadows and/or urban agriculture within their solar arrays “Detroit is taking real action to fight climate change while removing blight and investing in long-neglected areas,” Mayor Duggan said.  “Now two more neighborhoods in our city know that they have not been forgotten.”  While this completes the Solar Neighborhoods selection process the three finalist neighborhoods not selected at this time for solar arrays (O’Shea and Trinity/ Pickford) would be leading candidates if future solar arrays are sought and if the neighborhoods are still interested Home energy efficiency upgrades for 106 adjoining owner-occupied homes There are 106 documented owner-occupied homes in the areas adjoining the new solar fields.  The homeowners selected the boundaries of the adjoining zones.  Those 106 homeowners will receive home energy efficiency upgrades ranging from $15,000 to $25,000 (depending on the number of solar acres).  The eligible home improvements are energy efficiency upgrades to the homes These homeowners who stayed will get the double benefit of having the most blighted areas replaced by solar fields and will have their neighborhood homes upgraded with new investment "It's great to see the city moving towards renewable energy and moving on issues related to greenhouse gases and at the same time making sure homeowners living in these neighborhoods receive some direct benefits," said Houston-Whittier resident Sandra Turner-Handy.  "Not only will we replace blighted land with new solar areas we will help design we also will receive significant energy efficiency upgrades to our homes."  All Phase 2 owners of owner-occupied homes have already entered into written agreements for voluntary buy-outs by the City.  In the 61 acres in Phase 2 the extensive neighborhood and legal outreach have identified only 11 owner-occupied homes All 11 homeowners have indicated their desire to move from the neighborhood and all have signed option contracts for an agreed-upon price.  Renters in the Phase 2 area will receive the cost of relocating and 18 months free rent in their new home Condemnation will be used to acquire the property of landlords and vacant landowners who will be paid fair market value for their property pursuant to Michigan law "I am grateful for this opportunity for my neighborhood even though I will be moving to a new neighborhood to help make it happen," said Greenfield Park resident Ervin Mays who currently lives inside the planned solar array "I have been treated very well in this process and look forward to new beginnings made possible for my neighborhood and myself Two solar field developers selected – each will build 3 solar fields with approximately 100 acres Following an extensive bid process during Phase 1 the City identified two highly qualified developers to build Detroit’s solar fields The City is now expanding on those existing contracts to add 1 neighborhood to each developer one of the nation’s leading solar developers has been selected for the highly anticipated Phase 2 projects to advance clean energy solutions in Detroit Phase 1 of this endeavor will bring 63 acres of solar fields to the Gratiot/Findlay and State Fair neighborhoods while Phase 2 will see the addition of 19 acres in the Houston-Witter/Hayes community these projects represent a significant step forward in sustainable energy innovation and environmental stewardship Lightstar is an independent power producer (IPP) that stands at the forefront of the clean energy transition Lightstar has delivered on its mission to develop and own community solar energy systems that create lasting benefits for people With over 1 gigawatt (GW) of projects completed or in development across the United States Lightstar is redefining what solar energy can accomplish which is operating more than 30 solar fields across Michigan – the largest being 250 acres in Lapeer – has been selected to build the 40-acre solar field in the Van Dyke/Lynch neighborhood in Phase 1 and 43 acres of solar fields in the Greenfield Park neighborhood in Phase 2 Several non-profits have worked as advocates with the neighborhood groups throughout this process and will continue to work for those neighborhood groups through the entirety of the process The City of Detroit will maintain ownership of all the land and will lease it to the developers “I am pleased that this project is coming online and will soon be producing cleaner greener energy for Detroit,” said Detroit City Councilmember Scott Benson “This project will help combat climate change provide home improvements within the impact areas  This is positive change has been driven at the neighborhood level with residents leading and participating in every step.” “The Detroit Climate Strategy is an ambitious plan to address the imminent realities of a changing climate,” said Councilmember Latisha Johnon “An integral part of the strategy calls for our city to transition to clean Implementing solar farms will go a long way toward meeting this goal while providing significant community benefits and minimal displacement of our neighbors The Department of Neighborhoods and the Office of Sustainability did a good job engaging the community in the selection process which I confirmed when meeting with my District 4 constituents.” Councilmember-at-large Mary Waters stated: “I am elated to see this project expand across the city helping Detroit to lead in the Green Energy revolution Creating a more resilient and environmentally friendly power grid helps Detroiters get more reliable power while protecting our environment These solar developments are just one of the ways we are working in city government to help improve the lives of residents while making our city ready for the future?” Funding for the Project – Made Possible by Tax Credits from the Inflation Reduction Act Mayor Duggan explained the reason city is undertaking the solar power project now is that it only became financially viable because of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.  “President Biden reduced the costs of large-scale solar projects like Detroit’s by 30% through the automatic tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act,” the Mayor said.  “Communities across America need to stop talking about fighting climate change and start to act.  Under the new law large-scale solar projects make good financial sense.”  The IRA continues to be one of the main reasons the City can undertake this solar project Capital Costs will be paid by the City of Detroit’s Utility Conversion Fund.  This is a long-standing fund dating back to the days when the city operated its own power system.  That fund is legally required to be used for energy conversion A total of $21 million for the upfront costs between Phase 1 and 2 for acquiring and clearing the land will be paid from the existing fund Net operating costs are projected to increase $1.7 million per year.  The City of Detroit currently spends nearly $3.7 million per year within the boundaries of the five blighted solar field zones across several departments: 1)      Constant illegal dumping and trash pickup 2)      Mowing and maintenance of overgrown lots and abandoned houses 3)      Police and fire runs 4)      Street maintenance the City projects the costs of the Phase 1 and 2 solar fields as follow: Annual operating cost                             $8.3 million Renewable energy savings offset          ($2.9 million) City department cost reductions           ($3.7 million) Savings from solar fields                        $6.6 million Total Net Costs                                         $1.7 million “We have seen property values and income tax revenues grow dramatically in other neighborhoods where the city has made investments,” Mayor Duggan said.  “I’m confident our $1.7 million a year investment in these long-forgotten neighborhoods will produce a real recovery in these communities.” Solar Fields required to be returned to the City as greenfield sites when no longer generating power the Solar Fields will operate for 35 years generating solar power.  Whenever their useful life as solar fields comes to an end the contracts require the developers to remove all of the solar equipment and return the property to the city as a green field "Governments have a fundamental responsibility to take action to improve quality of life address climate change and ensure clean air for future generations," said the city's Director of the Office of Sustainability "It's exciting to see Detroit leading the way in clean energy."  the Mayor’s office has transmitted several documents to City Council for approval.  Those include: A group of community-based neighborhood solar partners has been assisting residents through this process 1.       Green Door Initiative 1.       EcoWorks 2.       D2 Solar 3.       MI Interfaith Power and Light 4.       Peace Tree 5.       Sustainable Community Farms 6.       Walker-Miller Energy 7.       Rescue MI Nature 8.       Worldwide Management Services Corporation/Communities Power 9.       Ryter Cooperatives A few times a year, physics professor Glenn Piner would pack up his telescopes and drive out to Joshua Tree National Park for a weekend of star-gazing “Star parties were extra-magical,” Scurr said “We’d go out where there was no light pollution and watch meteor showers and shooting stars.” was looking forward to graduate engineering work at the University of Southern California but these events sparked a love of the outdoors that he’s now getting to explore while working as an engineer at Turner Construction — one of the nation’s largest and most respected construction management companies The road from Joshua Tree to Zion had many twists for Scurr, but they all started when he enrolled at Whittier. He loved physics and engineering, so he was attracted by the 3-2 program Whittier has with USC He could focus on physics at Whittier for three years then transfer to USC to dig into engineering getting a head start on his master’s degree at the same time who brought students into his research and encouraged them to seek internship opportunities Scurr took that advice to heart and dove into physics clubs and off-campus groups like the Associated Schools of Construction It was through events like ASC’s intercollegiate competitions that Scurr fell in love with the practical fieldwork of construction “We would stay up for two to three days in a row immersed in a super-condensed version of the real-world contractor bidding process.” He soon came to the attention of Turner Construction a 123-year-old corporate icon in the field of large project management He scored back-to-back internships and then He’s currently finishing up two rewarding projects: an expansion of the emergency and urgent care wings at Emanate Health Queen of the Valley Hospital in West Covina and a complete renovation of the utility plant at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills His job is to serve as a liaison between the Turner corporate engineering team and all of the subcontractors in the field as they build out any given project adapting to whomever I’m speaking with,” Scurr said “and those came from being well-rounded and exposed to people studying all sorts of fields at Whittier He plans to stay with Turner for many years and is excited by the prospect of constantly taking on new challenges with exciting new projects he’s eager to pack his camping gear and get back out into the wild one of nature’s most awe-inspiring feats of engineering Head Coach Mark Jensen '00 and his Whittier College men's basketball staff have been recently recognized as SCIAC Men's Basketball Coaching Staff of the Year while Head Coach Kristen Dowling of the Whittier College women's basketball team was also recognized as the head of the 2024-25 SCIAC Coaching Staff of the Year Dowling's teams have now yielded two SCIAC Coaching Staff of the Year awards as the combined staff swept the SCIAC coaching awards for basketball During her seven years at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Dowling's staff was once named staff of the year in 2014-15 — the year the Athenas made it a perfect 16-0 in conference play under the tutelage of Dowling and assistants Keyla Morgan and Lizzie Scriven '23 and that number is all the more significant when considering the road taken to arrive here Jensen and the Poets embarked on an epic journey en route to this year's historic achievement and season After spending more than a decade as the top assistant under Head Coach Rock Carter '89 Jensen took over as the permanent head coach in 2017-18 and there's been no shortage of reasons for that Jensen brought Chris Dalley '07 back on staff and added Jabari Lewis Whittier's Director of Wellness & Recreational Sports Both coaches contributed heavily to the Poets becoming the SCIAC's most improved defensive team Jensen added two more names to the staff that should be familiar to longtime SCIAC basketball viewers: Larry Zucker and Jack Roggin Roggin was a key part of several Chapman University teams that contended for the SCIAC Championship in recent years someone who has been around the SCIAC block the Poets' offensive efforts became more and more reliant on the play of senior guard Aamari Smith who led the SCIAC in scoring as a junior back in 2023-24 As Smith took on more offensive and defensive responsibility the Poets' collective play began to reach new heights with each passing game Smith would go on to lead the nation in scoring by nearly two points per game more than the next-highest scorer and become Whittier's first-ever Josten's Trophy Finalist they reached the SCIAC Postseason Tournament for the first time under Jensen and in hosting the 4-5 matchup against Pomona-Pitzer Colleges earned the program's first-ever SCIAC postseason victory Jensen and the Poets then went on the road and gave SCIAC co-regular season winner California Lutheran University all they could handle 2024-25 was arguably the most successful season in the recent history of the Whittier College men's basketball program Jensen and his staff also produced a First Team All-SCIAC/D3Hoops First Team All-Region player in Smith and a Second Team All-SCIAC player in junior wing Chine Nwanevu Photos by Tony Leon/Action West Photography 2025State prosecutors have charged 10 Whittier residents from American Samoa accused of illegally voting in local and state elections with perjury and voter misconduct — cases highlighting the unique citizenship status of American Samoans the state of Alaska charged the Whittier residents — all members of an extended family — with voting illegally in multiple recent elections saying that because they were born in the U.S they are not American citizens but instead are nationals The state contends the defendants misrepresented themselves as U.S but those born in American Samoa are considered U.S The recent cases put Alaska on the forefront of a national debate about the citizenship status of American Samoans “This is, to our knowledge, the first time any state has prosecuted American Samoans for any crime based really solely on their place of birth,” said Neil Weare, an attorney and co-founder of Right to Democracy an organization that advocates for reform to laws related to the U.S None of the 10 people charged were available for comment this week Right to Democracy contends that because American Samoans are born on U.S under the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution they have a constitutional right to be recognized as citizens The prosecutions are only about upholding the current law the Alaska Department of Law criminal division chief “If people don’t like the laws and think they should be changed there’s a process for doing that,” he said The charges are not the first time the state has prosecuted members of the family for voting-related crimes the state filed charges against a Whittier woman who ran for school board in the community and won Election officials found Smith was born in American Samoa and filed voter misconduct charges against her Smith was arrested in front of her children She was booked at the Anchorage jail before posting bail Then, last September, a group of Alaska State Troopers descended on the tiny Prince William Sound town, interviewing some members of an American Samoan family related to Smith. “We were targeted,” Smith’s husband, Michael Pese, told Alaska’s News Source at the time. Pese was among the 10 people charged this month with voter misconduct. It was a stunning display of force for such an investigation, said Mara Kimmel, the director of the ACLU of Alaska, which has been monitoring the case. The investigation and prosecution were the result of a complaint, Skidmore said. State agencies investigate reports of voter fraud or misconduct every election cycle, he said. “We probably get a handful per year,” Skidmore said. “It’s a small number that we actually find evidence that people violated criminal law.” Skidmore said that the state was simply upholding election integrity. “When somebody has violated the law, that’s what we’re concerned with,” he said. “We don’t look at ethnicity, we don’t look at race, we don’t look at political background. None of that stuff matters to us. What matters is that the laws in place are followed.” The cases are important for American Samoans in Alaska, said Tafilisaunoa Toleafoa, the executive director of Pacific Community of Alaska. American Samoa has been under the control of the United States for 125 years, and American Samoans have among the highest rates of service to the military, and yet are not citizens, Toleafoa said. “You pay allegiance to a country that does not see you as equal,” Toleafoa said. The majority of Samoans over about 20 years old in Alaska are likely from American Samoa and therefore U.S. nationals, said Toleafoa. According to 2020 U.S. census data, about 2.5% of Alaska’s overall population is Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian. Much confusion has surrounded the voting status of American Samoans in Alaska for years, Toleafoa said: People born in American Samoa are eligible for many benefits, including the Permanent Fund dividend, which leads to automatic voter registration, Toleafoa said. American Samoans can also receive U.S. passports. And some say they had been advised they could vote in local elections, but not national elections. The state should have conducted an education campaign, said Weare. “There’s a lot of reason people are confused, but rather than conduct an education campaign to address the confusion, they’re arresting people in their homes ... and seeking, with these new filings, up to 10 years in jail,” he said. The incoming first-year class hails from 22 states and 27 countries with its enrollment up approximately 45% from last year so walking around and meeting everybody is great,” said first-year Mia Lopez of Las Vegas a third-year international transfer student from the United Kingdom studying political science said he was excited for his first week of attending school in America and to meet his fellow students “I’m going to learn loads of skills from going to a completely new country and completely new culture,” he said The President's Convocation and Light of Learning in Harris Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 18, launched this semester’s orientation program. This powerful, decadeslong tradition marks the formal beginning of the Poet experience President Kristine Dillon ’73 quoted the school’s namesake poet John Greenleaf Whittier: “Success is failure turned inside out.” “College is a time for delving deeper into new fields and new ideas Your explorations and interactions won’t always be exciting But I encourage you to dig deeper into those unfamiliar ideas until you reach at least a respectful relationship with both ideas and people Remind yourself of this especially when you find different perspectives and new knowledge coming from others quite different from yourself.” The old tradition of signing The Rock also returned Monday after a hiatus Silver signatures now adorn the landmark’s fresh coat of purple paint and the occasion was memorialized in a class photo “I'm excited to just see who's in my classes and my favorite part has been being a part of that culture and strong community.” Wednesday saw the unveiling of the Poet MoWheel on the Upper Quad and more as they got a peek at the new institutional staple The concession cart aims to bring vibrancy to campus by offering snacks and drinks during music performances Poet MoWheel also serves as a fundraising tool with proceeds from items sold going to the student club that “rents” the cart for the day a third-year biochemistry major and swimmer from Chino Hills noticed the energy on campus as he grabbed treats from the Poet MoWheel very happy to see how much Whittier has changed since our new president got here,” Dykier said “I’m looking forward to seeing what else Whittier will put on.” There are currently no upcoming/recent events Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Here are the stories of a couple of couples falling in love and sharing their traditions The Pomponios met in 2005 on the second floor Stauffer Hall and connected over their shared fandom of the Los Angeles Chargers was on the football team while Charlotte was an English major who spent time outside of class on the cheer team Anthony proposed to Charlotte on the Whittier campus in January 2018 next to their shared brick on the Founders Walkway Now living in Palm Desert with their sons Rocco and Maverick they plan on opening a weightlifting gym for youth Watching the Chargers is still a favorite pastime of the couple the Pomponios have become season ticket holders “Passing on this tradition with our two sons and watching them become fans of the Chargers has been so fun and fills our hearts with pride,” said Charlotte “We can’t wait to also bring our sons to a Whittier football game!” Ho and Livits are the duo behind the Blogilates fitness brand They met during their third and fourth years as students but it's who you can't live without,” Ho said of knowing that Livits was “the one.” The couple will take at least one major vacation year — called a “mini-moon” — that allows them to reconnect “Being able to take time away and just focus on things that aren't the business is so necessary to ensure that our relationship keeps being deep,” Ho said bonding over a group assignment and deciding to see a movie with friends after working on the project Amanda asked if it was a date and the rest is history.” The couple moved to Wisconsin in 2017 and both work in the pharmaceutical industry They married in 2018 in Los Angeles so that friends and professors from Whittier could attend they celebrate their anniversary by visiting one of Wisconsin’s iconic supper clubs “We sometimes cheat and find other times to visit during the year so our total visited is higher than six,” Mathew said leave a lasting mark with a personalized Founders Walkway brick — a tribute to the people and moments you cherish most Save $200 with our special Valentine’s Day offer Add another for someone special like children Bricks will be engraved in early May. Your purchase of a Poet brick is a tax-deductible gift to the Whittier Fund. Don't miss this chance to create a forever memory on campus! Learn more and order now: Whittier.edu/bricks Questions? Contact Kelli Bronson at kbronson@whittier.edu or 562.907.4209 Have a good story idea? Share it with us He will return to campus next week to share his journey and insights into a career path that has awarded him two World Series championship rings Perez grew up in Whittier, and the combination of proximity and financial aid such as the John Greenleaf Whittier Scholarship made enrolling at Whittier College an easy decision who majored in business with concentrations in marketing and finance Perez joined the William Penn Society and served on the Program Board and Associated Students of Whittier College Senate “I didn't really know exactly what I wanted to do at that point,” Perez said and I still use both my analytics background and the marketing background.” Between his second and third years of college, he got a summer internship with the fan-run website Dodgers Nation he was a full-time employee running the website and social media accounts and writing news articles “It was really a crash course,” Perez said Perez became editor-in-chief of Dodgers Nation after graduation then in 2018 he received an internship with the New York Mets as a marketing and communications associate It was his first time living outside of California Perez soon jumped on an opening at the Dodgers starting as a social media coordinator back in LA in 2019 “I went from collecting autographs as a kid to working with the biggest names in baseball and building TikTok videos with them,” Perez said Perez credits the small classes and close relationships with professors at Whittier for giving him the soft social skills to succeed One tip he has for undergraduates is to apply for the job you want — even if you don’t check off every box — and grow at work while teaching yourself new skills “You can learn anything nowadays if you really want to I was learning Photoshop every day when I was at the New York Mets.” To hear more advice and anecdotes from Perez MAYNARD – Hard to spot a glum face in the aftermath a lively crowd and Senior Night festivities all added to the cheerful atmosphere for both teams All that was missing for Riley Whittier was a victory “What can you do?” said the Advanced Math and Science Academy senior, carrying a hand-carved plaque commemorating her achievement from an hour earlier Whittier scored her 1,000th career point late in the first half Friday night, but her landmark moment was overshadowed by a resilient Maynard team. Shannon Kelly, one of three Tiger seniors honored after the game, swished a short jumper after a wild battle under the basket with .5 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 48-all Kelly (18 points) made the go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime as well part of Maynard’s 57-53 victory as the Eagles lost for just the third time this season “Even though we didn’t come up with the win it was a good night overall,” Whittier said Whittier finished with a game-high 25 points and needed 13 to reach 1,000 when the night started Her first hoop was a 3-pointer before she made a pair of baskets in the paint and two free throws left her four points short A three-point play left her a point away before she was fouled with just under two minutes left in the first half She flashed a sheepish grin while striding to the foul line then took a deep breath before the referee bounced her the ball she spun the ball in her hands before another quick bounce Her shot splashed through the net and a group of visiting fans held up signs to punctuate the grand accomplishment nine sets of arms displayed white cutouts that formed '1-0-0-0 R-I-L-E-Y' “It was really exciting to get my 1,000 points It was nice to have it out of the way so I could focus on the game I’m very disappointed that we didn’t get it “At least we got one thing to celebrate.”  had a premonition about how the night would unfold ‘you’re going to get it on something stupid like a free throw.’ He was right about that He also called the amount of points I was going to get Whittier sank a 3-pointer with a minute and 20 seconds remaining in regulation to put AMSA (10-3) ahead 48-46 before the frantic finish Lilly Braddix (9 points) secured what looked like a game-sealing rebound for the Eagles but the Tigers forced a turnover and called timeout with 14.5 seconds left After Calleigh Currier (12 points) missed a pull-up jumper from the top of the key Leah Rivers-Wright's putback attempt rimmed out Currier ripped down another offensive rebound for Maynard and threw up a wild shot while falling to the floor Kathryn Stachowicz grabbed the miss and quickly threw it to Kelly at the baseline for the game-leveling shot that caused the home student section to explode The Tigers (10-4) outscored AMSA in the four-minute OT 9-5 to earn the victory “We didn’t box out as well as we should have,” AMSA coach Joe Ciolino said of Maynard’s game-tying basket Congratulations to them; they played a great game.”  “I’m friends with a lot of girls on the other team We could have grabbed the rebound; I didn’t box out.”  Whittier not only became just the second AMSA girl to reach 1,000 points, she passed Arin Smalls’ previous school record of 1,009 points, set in 2017 to become the program’s all-time leading scorer the game was briefly halted as the captain from Marlborough was presented with the basketball and posed for photos with her parents – one at a time mom Kate emerged for a quick snap before it appeared Riley was headed back to the team huddle to resume the game But dad Steve eventually rushed onto the court for his keepsake moment “My dad said he was buried (in the crowd) and it took him a little while to get out there,” Riley said but even the losing coach was pleased with how most of the evening went “We don’t typically play in front of a crowd like this and with a 1,000-point scorer – which brought out more people,” Ciolino said Tim Dumas is a multimedia journalist for the Daily News He can be reached at tdumas@wickedlocal.com had never been to America before settling in on campus her first year Though she had always wanted to see the world she didn’t consider studying internationally and attending Whittier until she met former Vice President of Advancement Elizabeth Robison Zou — then a senior in high school — was visiting her hometown of Xiamen the same time Robison was traveling to collaborate with Chinese universities The two met at a dinner function and Robison encouraged Zou to apply The College’s support for international students was instrumental as Zou navigated her way in a new country and made new friends The tight-knit environment and close relationships with classmates and professors helped her feel welcomed “That was a good start for me to actually understand the US culture.” The Whittier Scholars Program was another tool that allowed Zou to find her calling the program’s customized pathway creation meant she could major in urban planning and international business while minoring in Chinese Zou immersed herself in her studies while diving into other cultures abroad. In her second year, she studied urban planning in Berlin followed by a hands-on experience in Copenhagen, Denmark, in her third year. She capped these adventures with a two-week class with Business Professor Jeffrey Decker in China showing her classmates the best of Beijing “I have to thank the Whittier Scholars Program as well as the international office because they really opened up this opportunity for me to pursue what I was passionate about,” Zou said adding that she has made lifelong friends across majors and class years earning a master’s in regional planning from Cornell University She worked as a manager at the Centre for Liveable Cities a division of the Ministry of National Development where she was the account manager for China Partnership and also focused on research publications Zou has been a consultant at the World Bank Group since 2022 and capability development projects at the Singapore Water Center collaborating with local and international government agencies in the water sector to ensure sustainable water management practices for future generations worldwide and I'm really excited about it,” Zou said “Water is not always the priority of people's minds her advice to Whittier students is to not be stagnant “You have to embrace the diversity that's around you,” Zou said “Always be open to opportunities and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone The installation of Whittier College’s 16th President will take place from 5-6 p.m The ceremony will include an academic processional and remarks by the new President on the College's future “Sometimes a leader appears in a very difficult situation that brings all the right expertise and leadership skills to deal with the challenge,” said Whittier Board of Trustees Chair Ron Gastelum ’68 we found ourselves in need of such a leader to work closely with the Board of Trustees and the faculty to restore confidence in Whittier College as one of the best small liberal arts colleges in the country Dillon’s first job after graduating from Whittier in 1973 was supporting the college's student retention efforts and new student orientation. Last year, as interim president, she invested in staffing and resources to increase enrollment, recruited new leadership in fundraising and alumni relations, developed a Short-Term Strategic Plan, and launched the Whittier Now! initiative coming full circle in her commitment to serve the College “​​The Whittier College Alumni Association is thrilled to formally welcome Dr Kristine Dillon as our new president,” Chair Rachel (Homel) Rice ’96 said Dillon was dean of academic services and student affairs at Tufts University from 1998-2002 and a senior student affairs officer at the University of Southern California from 1985-1998 She served on the Whittier College Board from 1994-2012 and chaired its Enrollment and Student Life Committee from 2002-2012 She returned to the board in the spring of 2023 before becoming interim president “Kristine Dillon’s installation as president of Whittier College is truly a cause for celebration,” said Professor Deborah Norden who will lead a moment of silence during the ceremony “Kristine brings with her not only a deep understanding of the mission and history of the College but the energy and commitment to allow this beautiful institution to thrive I look forward to watching this college soar under her adept leadership.” The ceremony will be followed by a brief, festive reception. All members of the Whittier community are encouraged to register by Oct. 11. Visit Whittier.advancementform.com/event/homecoming2024/register and check the corresponding box to sign up for it and other Homecoming events Following the announcement of Head Football Coach Cory White MA ’07 to lead the team White was formally welcomed into the Poet community Friday at Club 88 The reception featured remarks from President Kristine Dillon ’73 and others — including Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri “We are excited to announce this new opportunity for local high school students starting college in fall 2025 that will also benefit businesses and public entities,” said Whittier College President Kristine Dillon ’73 “As we welcome a 45% larger incoming class this fall and celebrate a significant increase in philanthropic support we are proud of this latest opportunity to strengthen and build partnerships with schools and companies in Whittier and our region.” funded by $5,000 from the City and $5,000 from the College will be awarded to eligible local high school students who apply for the Whittier Civic Scholars Program (WCSP) and are accepted based on specific criteria The scholarships may be renewed yearly as long as awardees continue to meet the criteria including participation in Whittier's civic life Recruitment of the program’s first 10-person cohort – composed of current Whittier students who graduate from high school in spring 2025 and enroll in Whittier College in fall 2025 – will begin this fall. Details on eligibility and the application process are available at Whittier.edu/financialaid/scholarship/wcsp student scholars will benefit from shadowing local leaders and mentors across nonprofit They may also explore additional internship opportunities offered by local enterprises enhancing their WCSP experience while supporting the City’s goals for strengthening local workforce development “We are excited not only to provide financial support for the scholarship but also to be part of a comprehensive program that prepares student scholars from Whittier College for leadership roles in our community,” said Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri “The Whittier Civic Scholars Program affirms our commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals who are likely to remain in our community after graduation and contribute to Whittier’s continued growth and vitality.” A vacant office building in Downtown Whittier is set to make way for new townhomes from MW Investment Group according to a newly published environmental study named the Comstock Place Townhouse Project would rise from a roughly .826-acre property at 12826 Philadelphia Street which also has frontage on Comstock Avenue to the east and four-bedroom townhomes in addition to 59 parking spaces KTGY is designing the Comstock townhomes which are depicted in renderings as a series of contemporary three-story structures Plans show the buildings would be arranged around common driveways and walkways Construction of the townhomes will require the approval of a vesting tentative tract map The site sits a short walk to the west of a series of city-owned properties also slated for redevelopment with commercial uses and housing Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Threads / Instagram Inducted during Poet Homecoming this class joins 193 individual Purple & Gold Hall of Famers They have each uniquely added to Whittier Athletics' legacy whether on the field as athletes or off the field as administrators and community leaders Michele Callaway-Hernandez's career was marked by First Team All-SCIAC honors and multiple NCAA Division III Nationals appearances She became an All-American by her junior year and helped Whittier's cross-country and track teams reach new heights Callaway-Hernandez pursued a career in education and now serves as an English language specialist in Salinas Tony Fimbres found success in both baseball and basketball After starting his college career at California State University he transferred to Whittier in 1990 to prepare for law school Fimbres is a prosecutor in Riverside County He has spent more than 15 years coaching youth sports and continues giving back to his community A distinguished professor of Hispanic studies David Herzberger became a familiar face at Whittier after his wife David quickly became a "superfan" of Whittier Athletics He and Sharon often hosted teams at Wardman House fostering close connections with student-athletes remains a passionate supporter of Division III athletics and the life lessons they impart Sharon Herzberger's tenure as Whittier College president from 2005 to 2018 saw a significant boost in the prominence of Whittier Athletics Sharon recognized the value of sports in shaping well-rounded students the college expanded its NCAA programs and athletic recruitment resulting in athletes comprising over 30% of the student body by 2018 Sharon continues to support Whittier Athletics from afar A three-sport athlete at Lynwood High School Ron Klepfer's athletic prowess led him to Whittier Klepfer represented Team USA in the 1959 Pan American Games Klepfer’s post-athletic career included 38 years of teaching in East Whittier he resides in Huntington Beach with his wife and enjoys spending time with their grandchildren Mike McBride has made immeasurable contributions to the campus community McBride also helped establish the current softball program in 1979 He has served as a coach and team historian for more than 40 years shaping the lives of countless student-athletes McBride is involved with the Whittier College Institute for Baseball Studies further cementing his legacy as a champion of both academics and athletics and McBride taught “Baseball in Literature and Film” at Whittier for many years he had an early passion for making sure girls grew up with the same opportunities on a diamond that boys had enjoyed for generations Among his points of emphasis over the years has been perspective It’s an opportunity a lot of people don’t have in other parts of the world.” Taking his place among former Poets softball players in the Hall of Fame McBride relishes the number of Whittier alumni who have become coaches themselves they’re spreading [the influence],” he says “creating opportunities for other young women on their way up have been married for 56 years and live in Whittier Mary Pacheco (Walthers) displayed an early passion for softball she balanced academics and athletics with determination Her college career at Whittier College began in 2006 where she quickly made her mark on the softball field Pacheco was named Freshman Female Athlete of the Year and earned First Team All-SCIAC honors in her freshman Her accolades culminated in receiving the Louisville Slugger Award in 2009 Pacheco earned a master's degree in psychology from California State Polytechnic University she is a licensed marriage and family therapist living in Rancho Cucamonga with her husband — Jack Goodwillie & Frank Murtaugh contributed reporting The East Whittier City School District is asking voters to approve a property tax increase to fund $97 million in renovation and repair projects At least 55% of voters need to approve Measure C for it to pass Official title on the ballot: East Whittier City School District Measure C A "yes" vote means: The district can borrow $97 million to construct new buildings repair and renovate existing public schools A "no" vote means: The district cannot borrow $97 million to construct new buildings The East Whittier City School District serves about 7,800 students across 13 schools The district seeks money to remove asbestos and lead pipes; fix deteriorating roofs and ventilation systems; and upgrade classrooms A bond is basically a loan that a school district takes out and which property owners in that school district pay back through property taxes If at least 55% of voters approve Measure C the East Whittier City School District can issue up to $97 million in bonds to finance specific school facilities projects LAist asked the district to name its top priorities for bond funding The district estimates the bond would cost property owners that live within the school district's boundaries an average of $30 per $100,000 of assessed value each year There’s also a possibility that the East Whittier City School District could get additional state funding if Prop Districts cannot spend bond money on employee salaries and are required to commission independent audits of bond spending and Bond Citizens Oversight Committee member Emily Hanna are among those who have submitted an argument in favor of the bond to the L.A When California voters approved the creation of the lottery the law required 34 cents of every dollar to fund education In 2010 lawmakers changed the rules giving the lottery the mandate to “maximize” funding for education critics of bonds often say the cost to property owners is too high and question why school districts with declining enrollment need money for construction when they’re serving fewer students but it should be judicious because it raises property taxes at the local level,” said Susan Shelley “It increases the debt burden on future budgets because bond payments have to be made ahead of current needs in the budget.” The Association has not taken a position on specific local bonds other than LAUSD’s $9 billion Measure US (no) and on Proposition 2 (also no) Shelley said voters weighing school bonds should carefully consider how the school spent previous bond funding and the plans for future projects “You should have confidence that the priorities are right,” Shelley said say no and make [the district] come back to you with a better plan.” No individual or group submitted an argument in opposition to the bond to the L.A State law lays out several accountability measures for local school district bonds While districts identify projects that could benefit from improvements that list is not a guarantee of which projects will be funded There are often years of community meetings and permitting between the passage of a bond and the start of construction though minor renovation projects could be completed sooner The bond authorized by Measure C would be paid back — with interest — through local property taxes Member support made these voter guides possible Our election coverage is focused on you: helping you understand the results of these races and their impact on our everyday lives you need a source of trusted reporting that will hold those in power to account and shine a light on issues important to our communities LAist reporting and voting guides are here for you But we need to hear from you now with your support to know that this work we’re doing is important We cannot do this essential work without your help We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you At a time when the need for local journalism has never been greater Member support — your support — is what will sustain a free press in Southern California so please be here for us now with a donation to power our trusted local reporting Step up right now and make the choice to give Because that’s exactly what it is — a choice If readers do not choose to step up and donate the future of fact-based news in Southern California will not be as strong LAist will remain a voice you know and trust Game Recap: Baseball | 3/20/2025 9:28:00 PM Thanks for visiting The team won 1-0 in its first match on Sept Head Coach Shea Harwell is optimistic about the Poets' performance and credits the success to the recent rebuilding of the program and usually we only carry around 30,” Harwell said “But we brought in 25 new athletes into the mix such as fourth-year sports management major and goalkeeper Anthony Chavoya also strengthened the team due to extra off-season practice Chavoya trained in the spring with Irvine Zeta FC II, a feeder team to Irvine Zeta FC The parent club competes in the third-division pro league National Independent Soccer Association He made his professional debut in March’s US Open Cup against Ventura County FC and he continued to make almost 20 appearances with the team over the season “They're very structured,” Chavoya said of his time with Irvine Zeta FC II who made Chavoya realize he wanted to pursue soccer “It’s something you can always play everywhere.” Harwell said Chavoya — who everyone else on the team calls “The Dragon” — has the most minutes played of Whittier’s goalies “His discipline and his example for the younger guys have been great,” Harwell said “His consistency and general demeanor have been outstanding.” Senior Night — the last home game of the year to cheer on Chavoya and the other Poets — is at 7 p.m Paul Sanchez reports on third grade students at Whittier Elementary School in Great Falls who are now published authors: Report a typo SALT LAKE CITY — Out of all the cool schools we've been to this one has the "whittiest people" because Whittier Elementary in Salt Lake City is our Cool School of the Week "This is such a cool school because you get to learn and the teachers are so nice," said one student leader we work together," said school principal Dr you see the beautiful original school sign from 1910 but upstairs music students performed a well-planned medley "We love the 5th and 6th grade music students here because we get to sing twice a week in Salt Lake City so they really make progress and get good quickly," said one music teacher In another classroom downstairs students are doing hands-on science "This science is really special because the students it sparks their curiosity doing hands-on science," one science teacher said "We get to learn about different phenomena and explore them." "I love science because it's really cool and you can learn a whole bunch of stuff," added one student In the gym you'll find what I call the definition of a cuteness overload — 2nd graders dancing to a piano The program is in collaboration with Tanner Dance through the University of Utah and students at Whittier Elementary get time at school to dance and learn "They get to embody what they've been learning in the classroom so they're learning American symbols and they get to dance out American symbols," said one 2nd grade teacher As great as the learning that happens during the school day is at Whittier Elementary "They mostly just play their friends and have fun doing it but we try to teach them some lessons about strategy and tactics," said one parent volunteer I get to play with my friends and my dad is a volunteer," added one student Granite Credit Union surprised two very deserving teachers with a donation: Special Education teachers Dr "You two are so passionate and dedicated to caring about these students you do so much we're thrilled to be here with you and honored to give you this recognition," said Granite Credit Union Marketing Director "Teaching is a work of heart so when you do what you love every day and someone recognizes that it's just overwhelming you can email nominations to GoodDayUtah@Fox13Now.com or fill out the nomination form The Blogilates brand — founded by Cassey Ho ’09 and later joined by her husband Sam Livits ’08 as chief operating officer — launched an apparel line in Target last month and other gear that have been on shelves since 2021 with a prominent display “It was the biggest order we ever fulfilled,” Ho said “Target really believed in the product and put us at the front of the store That is rare and not offered to a lot of different people or brands.” The fresh clothing takes their Popflex line and redesigns it for affordability. Shoppers can expect familiar versions of tried and true favorites, like the Ballerina Skort popularized by Taylor Swift. It took a year of hard work to make the deal a reality and it is a testament to how far the couple has come Livits said they didn’t hire their first employee until roughly 2015; before 2019 they have 28 full-time employees along with 40-50 contractors Ho can focus more on the creative fashion side of the fitness industry “It's about creating something for me and for women's bodies that is not only functional but beautiful and makes you feel beautiful,” Ho said I have been making Halloween costumes and prom dresses — I have to express my creativity through designing clothes.” Part of the success comes from listening to clients on social media Ho is personally behind the Blogilates account often incorporating it into designs as she creates outfits they have to be cognizant of not focusing on negative comments and know when to step away said one of the biggest lessons they’ve learned over the years is to balance hard work with time for themselves next week we'll have a little more time,’ but the reality is there's never going to be more time,” Livits said “Finding time for yourself in the moment is really important.” Ho has also learned to take chances, as evidenced by her switch from pursuing a biology degree and career in medicine to launching a YouTube channel. She said Whittier gave her mentorship from professors and the necessary soft skills to be an entrepreneur. Her advice to Poets echoes that journey you know that maybe this wasn't the right path “If you think of every mistake or failure as a learning opportunity you're getting somewhere further along,” Livits added “I am delighted that Ken is continuing his important work on behalf of the College,” said President Kristine Dillon ’73 “He is a richly experienced enrollment executive and has already been a key figure in our efforts to reach and recruit a strong class of future Poets.”  Woods launched his career at Whittier in the late 1980s in the offices of admission He later spent more than 25 years at the College Board fostering strategic relationships within the higher education enrollment sector most recently as executive director of higher education services and strategic accounts Over the course of his distinguished career Woods revamped the College Board’s higher education membership model to expand relationships engaged with national conferences addressing higher education enrollment issues and innovated new admissions strategies both regionally and nationally he served as director of regional admissions at the University of Denver and director of college counseling at St "I am honored to be named Whittier’s Vice President of Strategic Enrollment Management,” said Woods “I have received such a warm welcome back to campus and have witnessed firsthand the passion and commitment of the Poet community I am excited to build upon the progress we have made and look forward to furthering our efforts to attract and support a diverse and dynamic student body." Woods earned his bachelor’s in social science and business administration from Whittier He received the Key to the College in 1988 and served on the alumni board of directors from 2002 to 2005 Whittier College is committed to ensuring the accessibility of its web content to people with disabilities. We strive to meet W3C WAI’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, Level AA conformance. To report an accessibility issue, a website problem, or submit feedback, please submit a Website Feedback Form.