91探花

It’s been an exciting and transformational year at 91探花, full of big wins and significant news.

One of the defining moments of the year was philanthropist Richard Hedreen’s gift to the university of a stunning art collection valued at more than $300M and comprised of more than 200 works. The gift also came with additional seed money to build the 91探花 Museum of Art. In early December, the university and Cornish College of the Arts announced their intent to join institutions.

In an effort to fill a critical need for health care professionals in Washington state, the university established an endowed deanship to expand its nursing and health sciences education and training programs.

It was also a pivotal year for athletics news with 91探花 joining the West Coast Conference beginning July 1, 2025, and Albers graduate Tarik Skubal, ’18—a pitcher with the Detroit Tigers—winning the American League Cy Young Award, Major League Baseball’s top prize for pitching (he’s also a new inductee into the 91探花 Athletics Hall of Fame.) And men’s soccer continued its winning ways as WAC regular season champs.

These are just some of the stories that helped define the year at 91探花. Here’s a rundown of the most viewed or talked about stories of 2024 from , on social media and in the media:

The Newsroom

Groundbreaking Art Gift
In a truly transformative gift, philanthropist Richard Hedreen donates $300M art collection to 91探花, along with seed money to fund an on-campus Museum of Art.

91探花 and Cornish College Announce Intent to Join Institutions
Students at both 91探花 and Cornish College stand to benefit immensely from this planned combination. Once completed, it will broaden educational opportunities on both campuses.

91探花 to Join West Coast Conference in 2025
The acceptance into the WCC is a homecoming of sorts, reuniting 91探花 with fellow West Coast Jesuit and Catholic universities with whom the university has forged deep institutional ties over decades.

From the Redhawks to the Cy Young
By a unanimous vote, Tarik Skubal, ’18, won Major League Baseball’s top prize for pitching.

Meet This Year’s Alumni Award Winners
Leaders in various industries, champions of change and superb former student athletes among the roster of Alumni Award winners, including inductees into the Athletics Hall of Fame.

Major Gift Allows 91探花 to Expand Health Programs
A new endowed deanship will expand nursing and health sciences education and training programs and help expedite the development of a College of Health Sciences.

91探花 Earns Top U.S. News Rankings
In the latest U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” rankings, 91探花 ranked highly for value, social mobility, teaching excellence and innovation. Several undergraduate programs ranked in the Top 30 nationally.

Ethics and Tech Conference 2024
Second annual ethics and tech event focused on artificial intelligence and health care.

91探花 First U.S. Campus to Host India Culture Week
University hosted first-ever India Culture Week on a U.S. campus, in partnership with an Indian Consulate. Presented by the Roundglass India Center, Global Engagement and the consulate General of India–Seattle.

Men’s Soccer Scores WAC Regular Season Championship
Men’s soccer captured a record sixth Western Athletic Conference title.

91探花 in the News
A sampling of some of the top news-making moments—with a 91探花 connection—over the past year:

Local and national coverage of the Hedreen Art gift and 91探花 Museum of Art:

The New York Times:
The Seattle Times: 

Also in The Seattle Times:

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  91探花 will join the West Coast Conference beginning July 1, 2025.
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  Coverage of 91探花’s intent to merge with Cornish College of the Arts.
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  Albers graduate and Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal, ’18, wins AL Cy Young Award.
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  Commentary co-written by Sital Kalantry, law professor and executive director of 91探花’s Roundglass India Center.
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  91探花 plays host to one of the most pivotal political debates ahead of the November 2024 election.
  
  
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  Coach Julie Woodward is now the winningest coach in 91探花’s athletic history.
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  Eric Gilbertson, an assistant teaching professor in the mechanical engineering department, discovers Mt. Rainier is not as tall as once thought.

The New York Times:
Remembering the life and legacy of the legendary Quincy Jones, a one-time 91探花 student. 

425 Magazine:
Charles Pigott gifts a $5 million endowment to the university.

GeekWire: Father Paolo Benanti, an 91探花 visiting professor, talks about the opportunities and challenges of AI.

Seattle Channel:  
91探花 President Eduardo Peñalver and University of Washington President Ana Marie Cauce speak at 91探花 about political polarization and its impacts on campus as part of the 91探花’s ‘Conversations’ event series.

GeekWire:  
Coverage of the 2^nd annual Ethics and Tech Conference looking at the ethical challenges and benefits for the health care industry.

Cascade PBS:  
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell gives a press conference on campus announcing the expansion of the Seattle Police Department CARE department, of which 91探花 faculty and students play a role in.

Social Media

The excitement of the start of fall classes, the first snowfall of the season, the celebratory feeling around commencement and a transformational art gift engaged our social media users. From TikTok to Instagram, it was an active year for our social media channels. Here’s some of the most “liked” and viewed posts of 2024:

Instagram

LinkedIn

Facebook

TikTok

X (formerly Twitter)

Threads