2022 Year in Review
The Future at Westminster
2022 was a year of growth and celebration for Westminster College and our community. We watched grads compete at the Winter Olympics, celebrated the opening of new state-of-the-art facilities for students on our scenic campus, and announced the exciting transition to Westminster University in 2023.
This May, Westminster held the 2022 commencement ceremonies, honoring 392 undergraduate and 187 graduate degrees earned by our newest alums. The event was held on Dumke Field for the second year, bringing together graduates and their families to celebrate accomplishments and memories created as Griffins.
Among the members of the Class of 2022 are:
- 21 First Scholars
- 14 Veterans and ROTC
- 53 student-athletes
- 3 graduates with medical school acceptances
- 53 Honors College graduates
- 13 graduates awarded or nominated for fellowships
Welcoming the Class of 2026
At Convocation, Student Body President Brynlie Green Morris welcomed the Class of 2026 and encouraged them to say “why not” and be open to trying new things.
The newest Griffins hail from 4 countries and 27 states. Nearly 22 percent are enrolled in the Honors College, and 27 percent are the first in their families to attend college. They're also the first cohort in Westminster’s signature student experience—WestX. WestX provides students support throughout their college journey as they combine passions and academic programs into an individualized road map to career confidence.
Westminster on the Global Stage
We already know Westminster alums and faculty are making waves around the globe. This year saw our grads competing and winning medals at the Beijing Winter Olympics, directing award-winning documentaries, and leading initiatives to help adults finish their college degrees.
- Alum and National Geographic Explorer Shares Family Journey in Disney+ Documentary
- Alum Increases Opportunities for Adults to Complete Degrees
- Director’s Cut
- 8 Olympians from Westminster to Represent 4 Countries in Winter Games
- Inclusion Through Stories: Mountains from Asian Perspectives
- On a High Note
- Theatre Alum Joins Salt Lake Acting Company Writers
- Westminster Alum Advocates for AAPI Community with "Call Me By My Name" Project
- Alum Works to Keep Dogs Safe from Rattlesnakes
Rankings and Recognition
In 2022, Westminster was recognized for its academic excellence that’s available to all students, research-minded programs combating the effects of climate change, and hard-working students.
- #5 Best Value Schools (U.S. News and World Report, 2023)
- #12 Best in the West (U.S. News and World Report, 2023)
- A Best College in the West (Princeton Review, 2023)
Athletics
2022 marked Westminster’s fourth year as an NCAA II member institution. Six of our 17 teams or student-athletes qualified for the NCAA post-season competition, including women’s soccer, women’s cross country, women’s indoor track, men’s and women’s alpine ski teams, and men’s golf.
- 63 student-athletes completed their graduation requirements
- 54 student-athletes were named RMAC All-Academic, 3 All-Americans in skiing, and 40 RMAC All-Conference honorees, and several student-athletes also received conference player of the week recognition in 2022
- Men’s Golf had a qualifier for the NCAA Regional Championship (the first time in program history)
- Men’s and Women’s Alpine Skiing had the RMISA MVP, 2 Regional Champions, and Coach Chris Hendrickson was named RMISA Ski Coach of the Year
- Men’s Lacrosse was RMAC Co-Champions (8-3,5-1) and Westminster hosted the RMAC Tournament
- Men’s and Women’s Soccer both qualified for the RMAC Tournament, and Men’s Soccer advanced to the semifinals for the first time in program history as RMAC members
- Men’s and Women’s Cross Country competed in the NCAA South-Central Region Championships
Becoming Westminster
This September, Westminster’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to transition from college to Westminster University beginning Fall 2023. Westminster has grown from a small college preparatory academy in 1875, to a junior college, and then a 4-year baccalaureate institution in 1949. Since then, the college has increased the number of students, stature, activities, and academic offerings. University accurately describes what Westminster offers, how we are structured, and the core values that guide us.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
This year, Westminster’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion led academic programs and co-curricular offerings to create an inclusive environment where every student is challenged to think critically, is free to explore ideas, and is given the space to create a meaningful experience during college and beyond. The office also engaged with the community through the Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration, the Bastian Foundation Diversity Lecture Series, and the Executive and Emerging Perspectives in Diversity in Business, co-hosted with the Gore Giovale Center for Innovative Leadership.
- Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Tamara Stevenson Given Trailblazer Award
- Westminster College is a Living Color Utah Winner
- Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Tamara Stevenson's Message for Juneteenth 2022
- Westminster Pride Focuses on Queer Student Resilience and Joy
- Westminster’s Chief Diversity Officer Named to Utah’s MLK Human Rights Commission
- Westminster’s 2022 Unsung Hero Awards
- Dr. Tamara Stevenson's Remarks for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- President Dobkin's Remarks for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Expanding Our Performing Arts
In September, Westminster College celebrated the grand opening of Florence J. Gillmor Hall, the newest facility on campus. This new expansion allows Westminster to better serve its performing and visual arts students through state-of-the-art classrooms, rehearsal, performance, and display spaces.
Wildlife at Westminster
Wildlife can often be spotted around Westminster’s campus, but this year brought a special addition: a raven’s nest with 5 eggs. Two ravens started constructing a nest on the fire escape of a building during a mid-April snowstorm. Thanks to their convenient nest location, we were able to share a peek into the life of ravens with the world through a live stream.
Connecting with the Community
The epic road-trip class hit the pavement for a semester-long journey across the West. Eighteen people piled into a van and learned how to co-exist after over a year of isolation. They learned directly from landscapes, ecosystems, and people who live, work, and study across the American West.
Alumni Relations threw a big ol' party where we were able to revisit and dance together. Westminster’s signature reunion event was a huge success with alumni, professors, and current students reconnecting over tailgates, dinners, and dancing in Richer Commons.
This year's Westminster Thinks Big welcomed speakers to campus to address what access means to them. Topics ranged from making the outdoors accessible, success in higher education, rethinking how we see the world, and more.
In March, community members and friends of Westminster came together on One Westminster Day to raise $225,446 across 1,337 donations, funding projects that support scholarships, food justice, programming, public health research, financial wellness, and more.
Westminster College has a long tradition of honoring distinguished alumni. In April, the Westminster Alumni Board welcomed students, alumni, and community members to come together and honor the 2022 award recipients for their positive impact in our diverse and changing world through their careers or volunteer service to their communities.