Family Chirps - News and Info for Pomona College Families

❤️🖤💚 Today we recognize Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and honors the ongoing pursuit of freedom, equity and justice.

As we reflect on its significance, we celebrate the stories & voices that continue to enrich our communities & shape our shared future.

Pomona College’s historic Bridges Auditorium is being restored.

Thanks to a $1 million gift from the Timken Foundation, conservators will restore the auditorium’s iconic Zodiac ceiling mural, repairing decades of wear and preserving one of campus’s most recognizable artistic treasures. 🎨

The restoration is part of a broader effort to prepare "Big Bridges" for its centennial in 2031 and ensure future generations can continue to enjoy this landmark space.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/4guWkUN

🏆 2026 Blaisdell Distinguished Alumni Award Honoree: Dr. Pamela Schaff ’76

Dr. Schaff brings together medicine, literature and the humanities to change how future physicians listen to and care for patients.

A professor at USC’s Keck School of Medicine and a leader in narrative medicine, she continues to show how stories can deepen empathy and improve care.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Schaff, and read more about her unique liberal arts journey: https://bit.ly/4gfoXoT

Remembering Hoyle Schweitzer ’55, the Pomona alumnus widely recognized as the “Father of Windsurfing.” 🌊

Together with his wife, Diane Schweitzer '56, Hoyle helped transform a garage invention into a global sport that brought millions of people onto the water. Their impact on sailing and windsurfing earned them induction into both the National Sailing Hall of Fame in 2020 and the Pomona-Pitzer Athletics Hall of Fame in 1984.

Read about Hoyle’s remarkable life of innovation, adventure and service: https://nyti.ms/4aVTfcL

𝗣𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟯–𝟮𝟱.

Save the date! Join us for a weekend of celebration and a chance to experience life at Pomona alongside your Sagehen. 💙 Registration details coming soon!

Sagehens gone global! 🌍

Greetings from Northumberland, England! Pomona College Professor Ken Wolf is currently leading alumni, families and friends on a 10-day journey through Scotland and England.

Together, the group is exploring the historic Kingdom of Northumbria, experiencing firsthand the landscapes, landmarks and stories that shaped early medieval Britain. We look forward to seeing more photos from their travels!

Our 2026 Alumni Award Honorees have made an impact in countless ways.

From professional achievement and community impact to dedicated service to Pomona College, this year's honorees represent the many ways alumni make a difference.

Hear their stories and reflections on YouTube: https://bit.ly/4vHROqt

Congratulations to Ka Kiu (Kyle) Lau ’25, who has been selected as a Schwarzman Scholar and will pursue a master’s degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

After helping lead the Sagehens on the field, signing professionally with Hong Kong Premier League club Lee Man, and representing Hong Kong internationally, Kyle now begins a new chapter focused on global leadership.

Read his story: https://bit.ly/4efuR6W

🏆 Julius Torres Kellinghusen ’16 is the 2026 Inspirational Young Alumni Award Honoree.

From helping bring clean water to rural communities in Panama as a Peace Corps volunteer to researching workplace wellbeing for humanitarian workers, Julius has dedicated his career to improving lives through service, advocacy and public health.

Today, as a professor in the College for Community Health at Montclair State University, he continues to advance health, dignity and wellbeing for vulnerable communities and the people who serve them.

Join us in congratulating Julius! Read more about his inspiring journey here: https://bit.ly/3S3L

No scrolling. No distractions. Just conversations & community 😌

Pomona’s Luddite Club offers students a weekly tech-free space to unplug from social media, reconnect with each other and rethink their relationship with technology.

Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4g7GL59