BSU around the World...Summer Updates!!

Summer.

During Finals Week, one often wishes for summer vacation to arrive quickly, just so we can enjoy some serenity and have a moments peace.

Of course, what ends up happening seems like a scene out of Recess:

But more like this:

If you ARE anything like me, you spent most of the summer working, lounging around, and watching David Tutera and Cake Boss marathons on WE and TLC. 

BUT, more likely you were like these bunch of our members, exploring the country/world and generally doing more exciting things:

OLIVIA

"pictures :)
from man vs. food road trip with my friend Stephanie Hassel. We visited Brett Clark!
and my birthday"

Olivia with Stephanie, I assume...

...and Brett

Olivia turns 20

Aww, congrats!

SARAH

This recently graduated BSU alumnae just accepted her first job! I will be serving in a year long position as an Economic Research Project Coordinator at Sonoma County Economic Development Board in Santa Rosa, CA. I just bought a car and will be heading out on Sunday to become a California Girl! My job starts on July 15th.  My leadership and experience with the Black Student Union were certainly one of my strengths as an applicant and one of the reasons I was hired!  I will let you know how the job is going and of course I plan to visit Whitman sometime next year!

Best,

Sarah

We're proud of you, Sarah, and thrilled that you are doing well!

NICK 

Demonstrating the epitome of summer. No words are necessary: we know he had fun.

' Hope your summer was amazing!

BSU

The Last BSU Meeting, May 2010

Another beautiful day in Walla Walla brought our last BSU meeting of the school year. We had decided that since Finals Week (yes, capitalized) was upon us, it'b be best to have a last get together and enjoy each other's company while we still could.

The Girls and Yonas

Nick and Olivia decided to make use of one of the many attributes of the Glover-Alston Center--the kitchen--to cook up some deliciousness.

Bao-Tram is excited as Nick, Olivia and Allan stir up some goodies

As alway when we are together as a club, we were very comfortable around each other...telling stories, cracking jokes.

Tumi laughs at...with... Allan and Nick in the corner

There was even an impromptu dance party as Yonas, Robert, and Tumi had it out to Rihanna's "Rude Boy" blasting from Sarah's laptop! THAT was not to be missed--they're all really great dancers!

Listening to Rihanna prompted discussion about the theme of the next dance--there was a excitement for a Soca/Dancehall/Reggaeton-Caribbean theme and the logistics were already in the works.

We munched on Nick's treats with beef stew and had a blast. All good things come to an end, however, and soon we had to disperse and say goodbye to Sarah (at BSU meetings) one last time.

Thanks for the memories...

We had a great year at Whitman College and were looking forward to the next year when our new ideas could come to fruition. 

Until then!

Love, BSU

End of the Year Reception (a.k.a Goodbye Sarah Deming!)

As the school year drew to a rapid close last year, BSU still had a few events left to wrap up, primarily the End of the Year Faculty Reception Dinner. It was a beautiful and warm sunny day on the Whitman campus and at 4pm members began to head over to the amazing Baker Faculty Center to begin setting up.

Nick prepares for the slide show

Olivia, our computer technician for the evening

Bon Appetit was gracious enough to cater the event--the food certainly looked amazing and we all could not wait to try it!

The beautiful table settings

The anxious line for food

We invited more than 20 professors and many of them showed us the honor of attending! Among those I had the pleasure of meeting were Professors Noah Leavitt and Helen Kim of the Sociology department along with their beautiful son...

The Professors are intrigued by Tumi's scintillating conversation

...our Advisor Professor Nadine Knight of the English Department (left)....

Professor Knight and her colleagues are all smiles

... Professor Jacqueline Woodfork of History...

Olivia and Bao-Tram share conversation with Professor Woodfork

...and Juli Dunn of the Academic Resource Center.

Laetitiah and me with Juli

One of our main goals with this event every year is to network and form connections with staff and faculty on campus, along with creating awareness of Black Student Union on campus. We were proud with the huge success the afternoon turned out to be!

Allan speaks with a professor while Juli is animated in the background

Enjoying a conversation around the table

After everyone had sat down and was comfortable...

 Presidents Tumisang Mothei and Nick Chow gathered everyone's attention.

All eyes are on Nick and Tumi

After introductory remarks, the slide show put together by Olivia compiling photos from our events during the year is shown.

The show begins...

Then the moment our members were waiting for finally came: time to honor Sarah Deming! Sarah served as BSU President for two years and as Secretary in her last semester. She was involved in everything from a sorority to the Whitman Investment Company to the A-Team--a list too long to mention even here. We respect her and admire and truly miss her now that she's gone! She's off to bigger and better things and we we really to show our appreciation for her and all she's done for BSU! 

Earlier in the afternoon, Nick and I ventured off campus and bought Sarah two beautiful bouquets of rich red roses, complete with wrapping.

Nick and I smile for Sarah!

A beautiful card went around and all of our members wrote touching notes to Sarah about how much she means to them.

Nick and I presented the gifts to her in front of the crowd--she was very surprised and happy.

Sarah with her sucessors

To conclude the wonderful afternoon, all guests still remaining gathered on the grand staircase to take a photo to commemorate the day.

Thank to everyone who came and shared this day with us!

Love, BSU