More than 650 people gathered on campus in February for SPU's 66th Homecoming and Family Weekend.
Here are some memorable highlights from the weekend:
Academic departments hosted nine academic reunions. The School of Business, Government, and Economics announced their alumni of the year. Alumni of the School of Psychology, Family, and Community attended a live taping of the SPU Voices Podcast. The School of Theology invited Professor Emeritus Les Steele to share about “The Life Cycle of the Theologian,” while the School of Health Sciences’ nursing alumni enjoyed refreshments and heard updates about their program.
Activity groups hosted five reunions across campus. Among them, the service-minded Centurions gathered and celebrated Wes Anderson ’67, the 2020 Roy Swanstrom Distinguished Centurion. Baseball alums held another reunion after a successful one last year. The Falconettes, SPU’s female service organization, gathered for their annual tea, and Multi-Ethnic Programs hosted their second reunion. See photos of these events.
SPU Voices Podcast host Amanda Stubbert led a live recording of the podcast, where she chatted with SPU professors about what Christian faith means at SPU. Faculty on the panel included Professor of Engligh Christine Chaney, Professor of New Testament Studies David Nienhuis, Assistant Professor of Psychology Jenny Vadich, and Professor of Business Ethics Kenman Wong. See photos from the event. The episode will air March 5, 2020, and you can stream it on spu.edu/voicespodcast or wherever you get your podcasts.
SPU STUB hosted a talent show showcasing amazing student music and dance performances. Congratulations to the first-place winners Ante Up SPU, and to the 2020 People of Promise Award recipients Hailey Echan, Charis Doi, Aseda Bekoe-Sakyi, Serina Dawa, Pierce Salave’a, and Shelby Perkins. See photos from this event.
Students in the Theatre Department performed their winter mainstage production, Urinetown: The Musical. The musical hilariously critiqued the legal system, capitalism, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, municipal politics, and musical theatre itself.
Seattle Pacific honored four outstanding SPU graduates for their professional success and commitment to service at the annual Alumni Awards Dinner. The awardees included Co-Alumni of the Year Alissa Shattenberg ’00 (founder of Madagascar’s Sarobidy Maternity Center) and Jamie Shattenberg ‘99 (international director of Eden Reforestation Projects for Madagascar), Medallion Award Honorees Terresa Davis ’07 (co-owner of five Seattle restaurants) and Julieta Altamirano-Crosby (founder and president of WAGRO Foundation and member of the Lynwood City Council). Learn more about each of the recipients, watch their videos on YouTube and listen to their podcast episodes on the SPU website. Also, see photos from the event.
A big crowd cheered on both the women’s and men’s basketball teams as they played in Royal Brougham Pavilion. The women played Simon Fraser University, coming close to a win but falling short with a loss of 68-75, and the men played Concordia-Portland University, winning with a score of 91-55.
The 66th Homecoming and Family Weekend closed with a special Homecoming worship service at First Free Methodist Church. It was a fitting time to thank God and pray for our wonderful community.
If you couldn’t make it to this year’s Homecoming, check out the weekend’s photos online and join our online community, SPU Switchboard, to connect with fellow alumni, faculty, staff, SPU families, and friends.
