The Class of 2014

This Sunday, we will watch our four seniors graduate.  No class of women has ever achieved as many swimming milestones as these four.  The class of 2014 is responsible for 4 individual Whitman records and one or more of them was a member of each of the five Whitman record relay teams.  On top of that, Claire Collins became the first NCAA All-America award winner for our women's team, and Melanie, Claire, and Keller were all members of the NCAA "B" standard qualifying 200 medley relay team.  Claire also holds an NWC all-time record in the 100 breaststroke.  All-in-all, our four senior women are also responsible for 11 Whitman all-time top-10 times.
On top of their landmark achievements in the water, we will miss them for their leadership and incredible ability to inspire their teammates--all while also receiving accolades for their academic and extracurricular endeavors.  The guidance, work-ethic, poise, and collaborative spirit that these fine women brought to Whitman and our team elevated each of us.  Their legacy will live on for years to come!

Now, for a little bit about each of our soon-to-be graduates...

Ellen and Claire

Ellen Banks, from Pasadena, California, is majoring in Anthropology.  This summer, she is going to return home to Pasadena to coach rec-league swimming before moving to New York City where she will be teaching math at Connelly Middle school, an all-girls, inner-city school on Manhattan's Lower East Side, for two years.

Claire Collins, from Burlingame, California, is majoring in English.  Claire is pursuing her Masters in Education through the University of Notre Dame's Alliance for Catholic Education.  She will spend her next two summers in South Bend, Indiana, taking classes at Notre Dame, and will be living and working in Southern California during the school year, where she will be a middle school language-arts teacher at St. Michael's School in Los Angeles.  She will graduate from her program in two years and then plans to pursue a career in education.

Keller at NWC Champs, 2014

Keller Hawkins, from Nashville, Tennessee, is majoring in Religion.  Keller is moving back to Nashville and will spend her summer working for Project Transformation Tennessee, a non-profit which she has been involved with for many years.  In August, Keller starts working towards her Masters of Divinity at Vanderbilt Divinity School.  She plans to focus her studies on the intersection of gender, sexuality, and religion.  She hopes to become an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church.

Melanie and Jenn 

Melanie Notari, from Bellevue, Washington, is majoring in Politics.  Mel will be spending the summer here in Walla Walla, working and preparing for the LSAT.  She hopes to pursue a career in law and will be taking the next year to work, travel, and apply for Law School.

Keller, Claire, Ellen, and Mel after NWC Championships in 2011

Congratulations, Class of 2014!  We are extremely proud of each of you!