A lot has changed at Seattle Pacific over the years, but one thing that has pretty much stayed the same is the Falconettes, the female service and leadership organization that is the oldest student club on campus.
Alumnae and current members of the organization recently celebrated 90 years of serving the Seattle community and supporting other campus women at their Spring Tea event.
Incoming Falconettes President Savannah Peppler ’28 said one of her biggest takeaways from the celebration was “getting a small taste of the sweet faithfulness of God” through a 90-year legacy of women who “pursue the Lord and serve others together.” That legacy has created bonds that span generations, something Falconettes Board President Karen Jacobson Newbill ’67 expressed simply: “I just feel like you’re all my sisters.”
“For those of us on the alumnae board, having these wonderful young women come to dinner at my house every couple months has been such a blessing. I love to see how God is working in each one of their lives,” Newbill said.
Peppler echoed Newbill’s sentiments about the wonderful intergenerational connections that the meetings have fostered: “One other moment I can think of was my first meeting with the alumnae board that I attended. At the end of our meeting, we took time to go around the whole table and share how things were going and ask for prayer. From there, we were able to pray and encourage one another and that was such a beautiful moment. I look back on that moment often as a time where I truly felt the presence of the Holy Spirit so strongly.”
“I cannot even describe it but to say that I felt honored to experience such a moment. I am deeply grateful for the way the Falconettes have welcomed me and shown me the love Jesus has for me,” she continued.
As stories were shared across generations, attendees reflected on how much has changed over the decades. Glenda Braun ’68 serves as the Alumnae Board’s mission secretary and laughed as she described the opportunities available to women during her time at SPU.
“When I was at SPU, you could be a secretary, nurse, or teacher,” she said. “Those were kind of our options.”
Today’s Falconettes pursue majors and careers that span countless fields, reflecting both the growth of the University and the expanding opportunities for women. Yet despite these changes, the heart of the Falconettes has remained the same.
Like the generations before them, the current Falconettes continue to usher at campus events, welcome guests, and serve at local Seattle nonprofits. These acts of hospitality reflect the organization’s enduring commitment to serving others with humility and care.
“We were the most active gals on campus,” Braun said.
That spirit of service extended far beyond campus. Over the years, many Falconettes carried SPU’s mission around the world as missionaries, educators, and ministry leaders serving in countries such as Japan, Thailand, Kenya, and the Dominican Republic.
Braun admits that missions have changed a bit over the years. “A lot can be done from here,” she added.
Even as ministry evolves, the heart of the Falconettes remains the same: serving others. Peppler hopes future members will continue to embrace that calling.
“I hope that future members of the Falconettes will be able to fully understand the joy that comes when you are able to serve others. It has taken me a long time to fully grasp that, but I am slowly learning more and more about becoming more humble and putting others before myself. It fills you with a sort of freedom when others become more, and you become less,” she said.
The celebration also became an opportunity to preserve the Falconettes’ rich history. With help from the library, Braun shared discoveries from SPU’s archives — yearbooks, scrapbooks, and meeting records that tell stories of resilience and faith.
As old photographs circulated and memories filled the room, one truth became clear: the Falconette legacy is not defined by traditions alone. It is defined by generations of women who lead with grace and serve with purpose.
Peppler said, “The history of the club is so beautiful to me, and it encourages me to see the way that the Lord has been working so faithfully for so many years. I am proud to be a Falconette and I am excited for all that is to come!”
Ninety years after the first Falconettes began serving at SPU, their legacy continues through today’s students and alumni alike. The faces have changed, and the world has changed, but the mission remains.
“I pray that we would have hearts that are hospitable and ones that welcome our neighbor and the stranger, not only at SPU, but for the rest of our lives. Above all else I hope that every Falconette would graduate understanding how much Jesus loves them just a little bit more! I have experienced this time and time again and it is truly one of the greatest gifts I carry,” Peppler said.
The Falconettes’ story is still being written — and the sisterhood remains as strong as ever.
