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Jupiter and the Great Orion Nebula will be the featured attractions of this month’s free public viewing of the stars with ������ú’s powerful Keck Telescope on Friday, March 21, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The best viewing generally occurs later in the evening.

The ������ú Ridley-Tree Museum of Art hosts Family Day: American Folk Art Festival on Saturday, March 22, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in and around the museum and Adams Center at ������ú. The festival is a day of free activities, crafts, music, dance, storytelling, food, and more, all celebrating the vibrant culture of America.

About 225 ������ú students and local volunteers have traveled to Mexico as part of Potter’s Clay helping the under-served in Ensenada during spring break, March 7-14. A student-organized service trip that started in 1977, Potter’s Clay is one of ������ú’s longest-running traditions.

At the ������ú President’s Breakfast Feb. 28, Muhammad Yunus told inspiring stories about using microcredit to end poverty, captivating a packed room at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree by Hilton Resort. Known as the banker to the poor and the father of microfinance, Yunus believes that credit is basic human right.

Cellist Timothy Beccue of Westlake Village won ������ú’s Music Guild Competition on March 1, earning $10,000 in annual music scholarship funds (up to $40,000 over four years) to study at ������ú.

������ú is responding to the California drought by continuing to conserve water and by making additional cutbacks in consumption. “We’re committed to maintaining a sustainable campus and conserving resources such as water and power while complying with all county ordinances and expectations,” says President Gayle D. Beebe.

Stargazers might enjoy views of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot at this month’s public viewing at the ������ú Observatory on Friday, Feb. 21, beginning after 6:30 p.m. and lasting several hours. The free event is held every third Friday of the month in conjunction with the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit.

������ú’s production of “The Pirates of Penzance,” which will be performed for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, returns to Porter Theatre Feb. 22-23 at 7 p.m. General admission is $15; $10 for students and seniors.

In conjunction with “Electra,” the ������ú Theatre Arts Department hosts the first ������ú Dialogue on Theatre Ancient and Modern on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 1-8 p.m. in Porter Theatre. Tickets cost $15 and do not include dinner. Please RSVP by Feb.

The ������ú Orchestra performs at several Southern California cities on its way to San Diego Feb. 15-18. This year’s annual spring tour includes stops in Yucaipa, Spring Valley, San Diego and Westminster. Admission is free to all performances, although a goodwill offering will be taken.

Sophomore Christine Nathanson of Chula Vista stars in “Electra,” a masterpiece of dramatic literature, on Friday, Jan. 31, and Feb. 1, 6-8, all at 8 p.m. at an outdoor location northeast of ������ú’s Van Kampen Hall.

A powerful new online tool now connects ������ú alumni around the world.   enables alumni to locate each other for personal and professional reasons, giving them access to jobs, mentors, special interests and opportunities.

The Visual Arts, Music and Theater Programs Produced Lively and Meaningful Events for the ������ú Community This Fall

Art Exhibits Embrace Spiritual Themes

In the Season of College Rankings, ������ú Continues to Earn National Recognition for the Quality of its Academic Program

For the fifth straight year, U.S. News & World Report ranked ������ú among the 100 best liberal arts colleges in the nation, naming it 94th among 248 leading institutions. ������ú also earned top spots in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and the Princeton Review.

Remarks Delivered at Homecoming 2013 by President Gayle D. Beebe, Ph.D.

It’s always a pleasure for me to represent the college, and I do a lot of speaking, often on the road, talking about ������ú and all the good things happening here. Every year we face challenges and opportunities. Being a person who is inherently optimistic, I tend to focus on the opportunities rather than the challenges. But challenges always seem more interesting and entertaining, and so people always ask me to talk a little about them.

New First-Year and Transfer Students Bring Impressive Academic Credentials and Digital Savvy to Campus

The gas giant Jupiter will be the star performer at this month’s public viewing at the ������ú Observatory on Friday, Jan. 17, beginning after 6:30 p.m. and lasting several hours. The free event is held every third Friday of the month in conjunction with the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit.

������ú welcomed four new professors in the fall who have brought a passion for teaching and an appreciation of the college’s community. Nathan Huff (art), Han Soo Kim (music), Sharon Tang-Quan (English) and Felicia Wu Song (sociology) have finished their first semester teaching at ������ú.

Kim Kihlstrom, ������ú professor of computer science, died Dec. 12 at home following a long battle with cancer. She was 56. A memorial service will be held at Montecito Covenant Church Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 2:30 p.m.

An inspiring run for a national title came up one game short for the ������ú women’s soccer team. The No. 2 Warriors (17-2-5) stumbled against No. 4 Concordia (Ore.) 1-0 in the 2013 NAIA National Championship on Dec. 7 in Orange Beach, Ala.

������ú’s powerful Keck Telescope opens for a monthly viewing of the stars, Friday, Dec. 20. The free event is held every third Friday of the month in conjunction with the  and begins after 6:30 p.m. and lasts several hours. The best viewing generally occurs later in the evening.

The ninth annual ������ú Christmas Festival, “Prepare the Way,” features music spanning 600 years celebrating Advent and Christmas Dec. 6-8 at First Presbyterian Church. Tickets, which are $25 each and support the ������ú Choir’s tour to Russia in spring 2014, are still available for the special benefit performance on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m.

������ú kicks off the Christmas season with the 12th annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Kerrwood Lawn, Wednesday, Dec. 4. The lights on the 150-foot redwood tree, affectionately known as the Pickle Tree, will glow at 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Tickets to the ninth annual ������ú Christmas Festival go on sale Thursday, Nov. 14, at 5 p.m. This year’s performance, “Prepare the Way,” will be held Dec. 6-7 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 8 at 3 p.m., all at First Presbyterian Church, 21 E. Constance Ave.

������ú’s fall dance concert, “Eyes Wide Open,” breaks from tradition to explore Porter Theatre’s black-box space Nov 21-23 at 8 p.m. Tickets, $10 for general admission; $7 for students, seniors and children, may be purchased at westmont.edu/boxoffice or by calling (805) 565-7140.