Converse Hall surrounded by green trees on a sunny day

2024 Year in Review

Reflecting on Westminster's History

As we prepare for Westminster University’s sesquicentennial celebration in 2025, we also reflect on a year of remarkable achievements in 2024. Westminster opened a new building dedicated to integrated wellness, announced the addition of new mountain sports athletics teams, and saw students participate in exciting NASA-funded solar eclipse research, showcasing our dedication to innovation and discovery.

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Class of 2024

This May, Westminster held the 2024 Commencement ceremonies, honoring 216 undergraduate and 105 graduate degrees earned by our newest alums. The event was held on Dumke Field, bringing together graduates and their families to celebrate accomplishments and memories created as Griffins.

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS FROM COMMENCEMENT

graduating students dressed in cap and gowns walking in a group

 

three people hugging at commencement

Among the members of the Class of 2024 are:

  • 12 First Scholars
  • 13 Veterans and ROTC
  • 52 student-athletes
  • 39 Honors College graduates
  • 1 Fulbright Foreign Student Program Applicant
  • 4 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program Applicants
  • 1 Harry S. Truman Scholarship Program Applicant
  • 1 Harvard Summer Venture in Management Program Applicant

 

Welcoming the Class of 2028

Convocation is a time-honored tradition that marks the beginning of the academic journey for first-year students. President Beth Dobkin marked the day as a time of great anticipation and energy.

The incoming class of 2028 includes over 250 first-year and transfer students from 28 states. The new transfer students come from 35 different colleges and universities, while first-year students have graduated from 141 high schools worldwide. And nearly 30 percent of the incoming class are the first in their families to pursue higher education.

blonde-haired female walking in a group of students holding her hands up.

1926 student body standing in front of Foster Hall

150 Years of History

For 150 years, Westminster University's dedication to distinctive and innovative education has been a hallmark of our success as a premier comprehensive institution. Join us at events and festivities throughout 2025 and commemorate our long tradition of excellence as we honor our past, celebrate our present, and move into our future.

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT CELEBRATING 150 YEARS

 

Westminster's Worldwide Impact

We already know Westminster students, alumni, and faculty are making waves around the globe. This year, we saw them receiving prestigious scholarships and awards, authoring books, competing at the Paralympics, and more.

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aerial photo of Westminster University in the Salt Lake Valley

 

Converse Hall

Rankings and Recognition

In 2024, Westminster was recognized for its academic excellence and value, research-focused programs, and support for veterans and military dependents.

  • #2 Best Value Schools (U.S. News and World Report, 2024)
  • #11 Best College for Veterans (U.S. News and World Report, 2024)
  • #81 Top Performers on Social Mobility (U.S. News and World Report, 2024)
  • Recognized for Bachelor of Science in Nursing

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Women running in a cross country race.

Two volleyball players holding awards.

Six skiiers holding a purple Westminster flag on a snowy mountain.

Griffin Athletics

2024 was an exciting year for Westminster Athletics. RMAC Tournament-qualifying sports included men’s and women’s soccer, cross country, golf, lacrosse, track and women’s volleyball. Our alpine ski teams competed in the NCAA Championships and Snowboard in the USCSA Championships. 

  • 52 student-athletes graduated.
  • 238 NCAA student-athletes finished the 2023 fall semester with a combined GPA of 3.44. Of those, 71 student-athletes named RMAC All-Academic, two All-Americans in skiing and 28 RMAC All-Conference honorees, and several of our student-athletes received conference player of the week recognition this year.
  • Westminster led the way among the RMAC’s 15 member institutions with an impressive seven Brechler Awards throughout the academic year. The RMAC Brechler Awards recognize the conference’s best team grade-point averages for each of its 22 NCAA-sponsored sports for each academic year. The Griffins claimed the top GPA in women's basketball, men's cross country, men's golf, women's golf, men's lacrosse, women's indoor track and field and women's outdoor track and field. Westminster's women's golf program achieved the top GPA in the conference with a combined 3.840 GPA.
  • Student-athletes completed 720 hours of community engagement.
  • Men’s Soccer (8-6-5) finished 4 of 11 in RMAC standings, lost in quarterfinal 1-2.
  • Women’s Soccer (10-6-2) finished 4 of 13 in RMAC standings, lost in quarterfinal 1-0.
  • Volleyball qualified for the RMAC Tournament as the 8th seed (top 8 teams), a first for the program since joining the RMAC and NCAA Division II and becoming post-season eligible in 2018.
  • Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track attained personal records during their fall and spring seasons. 
  • Men’s Lacrosse was the RMAC Co-Champion (11-3) and fell in semifinal of the conference tournament.
  • Women’s lacrosse (6-9) finished 4 of 6 in RMAC standings and lost in semifinal of conference tournament. 
  • Men’s golf finished 6 of 8 and women’s golf 7 out of 11 at the RMAC Championships.
  • Westminster's ski teams placed in the top 10 in the slalom and giant slalom at the NCAA Skiing Championships.
  • Men’s and Women’s Snowboard finished #3 and #2 overall at the USCSA National Championships.

 

President Beth Dobkin holding large scissors alongside 5 supporters in front of the L.S. Skaggs Integrated Wellness center entrance draped with a purple ribbon.

A Commitment to Integrated Wellness


In September, Westminster celebrated the grand opening of the L.S. Skaggs Integrated Wellness Center, the newest facility on campus and a cornerstone of the university's commitment to prioritizing person-centered wellness. This innovative facility brings together a network of student support services, including Student Health Services and the Counseling Center.


LEARN MORE ABOUT INTEGRATED WELLNESS AT WESTMINSTER

 

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 make a meaningful experience during college and beyond. The office also engaged with the community through the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration the Bastian Foundation Diversity Lecture Series.

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13 panel members standing on a stage.

Dr. Michael S. Bassis.

Remembering Michael S. Bassis

Westminster remembered the life of Dr. Michael S. Bassis, who served as the sixteenth president of the university between 2002 and 2012.

Read More About the Legacy of Michael S. Bassis


Six adults sitting at a wooden table decorated for Westminster Weekend.

Connecting with the Community

Alumni Relations threw a big party where grads could learn from each other and celebrate together. Westminster’s signature reunion event was a huge success with alumni, professors, and current students reconnecting over the L.S. Skaggs Integrated Wellness Center grand opening, tailgates, dinners, and dancing in Richer Commons.

In February, community members and friends of Westminster came together on One Westminster Day to raise more than $227,000 across 1,582 donations, funding projects that support scholarships, food justice, programming, public health research, financial wellness, and more.

Westminster University has a long tradition of honoring distinguished alumni. In April, the Westminster Alumni Board welcomed students, alumni, and community members to come together and celebrate the 2024 award recipients for their positive impact in our diverse and changing world through their careers or volunteer service to their communities.