The Commons: A gathering place for Seattle University faculty and staff

Seattle University's first-ever Red Tie Celebration was a rousing and rollicking success as 400 supporters gathered to support SU's student-athletes and honor legendary alumnus Jim Whittaker, '52.

Whittaker, pictured here to the left with Bill Hogan, director of athletics, became the first American to summit Mount Everest 50 years ago this month.

Chaired by Anne ('87) and Matt ('86) Moran, the event, which included a lively auction, raised nearly $250,000 in gross revenue to support SU's athletics program.

Visit Go Redhawks to learn more about the Red Tie Celebration, including a photo gallery.

Enjoy these scenes from the School of Law's Commencement ceremony, which took place May 18 at KeyArena. Congratulations to SU's newest graduates!

Here are some of the shots taken by University Photographer Chris Joseph Taylor at the ninth annual Spirit of Community Celebration on April 30.

Thanks to John Foster, S.J., of Matteo Ricci College for sharing these great pictures of spring at SU!

More than 150 students, faculty and staff gathered in the PACCAR Atrium to support the "Lend a Leg" campaign on April 4.

Participants, including Albers Dean Joe Phillips, pictured in the foreground, rolled up a pant leg in solidarity to honor landmine survivors, call attention to the issue of landmines and their devastating effects throughout the world and urge decision-makers to take action.

Since the International Land Mine Treaty was initiated 14 years ago, 165 nations have signed on; 36 countries, including the United States, have yet to sign the treaty.

The cause is near and dear to SU. Tun Channareth, a leading voice in the campaign against landmines, received an honorary doctoral degree at Seattle University's graduate commencement ceremony in 2011.

SU's participation in the "Lend a Leg" effort was coordinated by Albers student groups.

Seattle University women's soccer head coach Julie Woodward and two of her student-athletes, Stephanie Verdoia and Renae Russell, traveled to Belize over spring break for a service trip sponsored by Seattle University's Professionals Without Borders (PWOB). The group volunteered at Liberty Children's Home, an orphanage for children who were abandoned, abused or afflicted with HIV. 

This was the third consecutive year PWOB journeyed to work with Liberty Children's Home, building upon and repairing water filtration systems they had previously constructed during past trips. The filtration systems have allowed residents to repurpose laundry water for use in the garden and to clean pig pens, which helps provide food for the children. The team also helped add security improvements to the home. 

"Our (trip) was an amazing, humbling and beautiful experience," said Woodward. "Being able to share it with Steph and Renae was extremely special and continued to remind me what a great place Seattle U is, not just for student athletes, but our campus community as a whole. We were able to help others, meet some wonderful people and experience another country's culture. It is something I will never forget." 

You can read more about the trip here.

- Mollie Hanke