Westmont Magazine to Arrive in Mailboxes

Look for the spring 2018 Westmont magazine, which has been printed and is being mailed out in the coming days. Our magazine cover and feature story “Stronger Together” reflect the campaign of the same name for recovery efforts by Santa Barbara and Montecito after the devastating debris flow in January. In April, NBC’s “Dateline” segment “No Way Out” also highlighted Stronger Together. “Courage and Kindness” captures the characteristics of our staff, faculty and students who served on the frontlines of recovery in the days and weeks immediately following the twin disasters of fire and flood. The people on the cover embody Westmont’s response in the face of suffering and need.

Samantha “Sam” Masyr ’18, who graduates with honors in May with a degree in biology, is a certified emergency medical technician and is an auxiliary firefighter for the Montecito Fire Protection District. She handed out face masks, filled sandbags, and worked at information kiosks during the Thomas Fire and before the Montecito mudslides.

Christian “Chris” Hoeckley, director of the Gaede Institute for the Liberal Arts and assistant professor of philosophy, served on the Montecito Bucket Brigade, digging out parts of Casa de Maria, a Montecito interfaith retreat and conference center also used by Westmont programs.

Korbin Breeden ’20 was one of hundreds of volunteers as part of the Student Community Response Team (SCRT), created by Westmont students in the wake of the deadly Jan. 9 mudslides

Angela D’Amour, director of campus life, oversaw the logistics of the SCRT with the bucket brigade and Habitat for Humanity, and worked to dig out parts of a Montecito home.

Guillermo “Memo” Macias-Gil, a staff member in facility maintenance for Physical Plant, is a member of the Westmont Fire Brigade that was housed on campus to protect structures during the Thomas Fire.

To be added to the Westmont magazine mailing list, please contact Julie Rubio at jrubio@westmont.edu