In brief: Name changes after graduation

Whitworth College will have its last official graduation ceremony May 19-20.

The school will officially change its name to Whitworth University July 1.

More than 600 students will receive bachelor’s and master’s degrees in two separate ceremonies.

Bill Robinson, president of the school, will be the keynote speaker during the graduate commencement ceremony May 19 at 10 a.m. in the Cowles Auditorium on campus.

Dale Soden, professor of history at the school, will be the undergraduate commencement speaker May 20 at 3 p.m. in the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.

The baccalaureate service will be May 20 at 10 a.m. in the Whitworth Fieldhouse. Dave Hillis, the executive director of Tacoma’s Northwest Leadership foundation, will preach during the ceremony, and 12 members of the Act Six Leadership and Scholarship Initiative will be honored.

For more information, call the registrars office at 777-4548.

Whitworth plans spring concert

The Whitworth Wind Symphony will present a spring concert, “Fanfare” Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Cowles Auditorium on campus, 300 W. Hawthorne Ave.

The group will perform music from local composers – “Uncommon Journey” by Brent Edstrom, associate professor of music at Whitworth, and “Lament to a Fallen Friend,” by Robert Spittal, professor of music at Gonzaga University.

Admission is $5. It is free for students and seniors.

For more information, call 777-3280.

Author Lamott to read, sign

Anne Lamott will read from her work Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Cowles Auditorium at Whitworth College, 300 W. Hawthorne.

Lamott is the author of “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life,” “Hard Laughter,” and “Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith.”

After the reading, Lamott will sign her books and visitors will have an opportunity to buy them.

For more information, call 777-3253.

– Lisa Leinberger

Downtown

Mothers will be honored

Volunteers of America and The Inlander will present the ninth annual “I Remember Mama” Luncheon Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Skyline Ballroom of the Red Lion Hotel at the Park, 303 W. North River Drive.

More than 100 low-income, senior and disabled women who would otherwise be alone on their special day, have been invited. This year’s theme is “An Afternoon in Paris.”

The ladies will enjoy fine dining, entertainment, flowers, gifts and companionship.

If you would like to make a donation in honor of your mother, call 624-2378, or visit www.voaspokane.org.

– Lisa Leinberger