New Westminster Young Trustee Named
In his welcoming remarks at this year’s May 12 commencement exercises, Chairman of the Westminster Board of Trustees John M. Panettiere ’59 ΦΔΘ, from Alex City, Alabama announced the appointment of a new Young Trustee to the Board.
“I am pleased to announce that our newest Young Trustee is graduating senior Natalie Corrigan, a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority from Hawthorn Woods, Illinois,” said Chairman Panettiere.
He called on Natalie to stand and be recognized, and she received a warm reception from the crowd.
Every year at this time a graduating senior is nominated to serve as a Young Trustee on the Board. This Young Trustee works with the other Board of Trustee members to support the College, stay active in the Westminster community, and share the perspective of being a new alumni member.
This Young Trustee serves for a two-year term and is an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees’ student life committee, enrollment committee, and other committees as determined by the Board Chair. Corrigan’s term will officially begin on July 1, 2018.
A business administration major, Corrigan’s leadership experience is extensive, including serving as a resident advisor and senior resident advisor with Student Life, as well as vice president of the Panhellenic Council during her senior year. An Illinois native, Corrigan has also spent the past four years as a Special Olympics coach for Special Olympics Missouri in Jefferson City, where she coaches adult athletes in volleyball, softball and track & field.
“In my 15 years of working in higher education, Natalie Corrigan is a student who is wise and composed beyond her years,” says Bomani Spell, Westminster College vice president/dean of Student Life. “She has dedicated the past three years working tirelessly in Student Life, compensating for employee turnover and being a true professional.”
Corrigan has earned a reputation in Student Life for her ability to get things done and, according to Spell, has voluntarily taken on just as many tasks as she is assigned simply because she wants the best for Westminster and her fellow students.
“I truly could not have persevered through this academic school year without the support and guidance of Natalie,” Spell adds.
Linda Creech, an emeritus member of the Westminster Board of Trustees, has known Corrigan for three years and recognizes the instrumental role she has played in student retention through the various organizations in which she is involved, thanks, in large part, to her reliable and thoughtful approach to students.
“Natalie will provide a well-rounded outlook from the student viewpoint due to her diverse experiences with many different students…” Creech says. “She is kind and respectful of other viewpoints but will not be silent if she feels as though there is an aspect of a problem that has not been fully discussed before reaching a solution that is accepted by all parties.”
The selection process for next year’s Young Trustee will begin in the fall of 2018, and the entire campus community will be invited to nominate deserving students from the Class of 2018 for the honor. Nominated students will be notified and encouraged to submit a formal application for review by the president of the College, and the Board of Trustees will select the next Young Trustee.
