What a Year (In Review)!

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

News & Stories
2024

The best news and newsmakers of 2024.

It’s been an exciting and transformational year at Seattle University, 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 Seattle University 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 Seattle University 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 SU 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 Seattle University. Here’s a rundown of the most viewed or talked about stories of 2024 from The Newsroom, 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 Seattle University, along with seed money to fund an on-campus Museum of Art.

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

Seattle University to Join West Coast Conference in 2025
The acceptance into the WCC is a homecoming of sorts, reuniting SU 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 SU 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.

Seattle University Earns Top U.S. News Rankings
In the latest U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” rankings, SU 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.

Seattle University 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.

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

Local and national coverage of the Hedreen Art gift and Seattle University Museum of Art:

The New York Times: Seattle University to Receive $300 Million Art Collection
The Seattle Times: Seattle University gets $300 million gift of art — among largest in history

Also in The Seattle Times:

Seattle U joining West Coast Conference, will leave WAC behind
Seattle University will join the West Coast Conference beginning July 1, 2025.
Seattle University, Cornish College of the Arts plan to merge
Coverage of Seattle University’s intent to merge with Cornish College of the Arts.
Seattle U grad Tarik Skubal wins AL Cy Young Award
Albers graduate and Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal, ’18, wins AL Cy Young Award.
Kamala Harris and the future of Indian Americans in politics
Commentary co-written by Sital Kalantry, law professor and executive director of SU’s Roundglass India Center.
Sparks fly at debate over initiative to repeal WA’s carbon market
Seattle University plays host to one of the most pivotal political debates ahead of the November 2024 election.
Seattle U women’s soccer coach Julie Woodward has become winningest Redhawk
Coach Julie Woodward is now the winningest coach in SU’s athletic history.
Mount Rainier is shrinking and now has a new summit
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: Quincy Jones, Giant of American Music, Dies at 91
Remembering the life and legacy of the legendary Quincy Jones, a one-time Seattle University student.

425 Magazine: Retired Paccar CEO Gifts $5M to Seattle University | Wellness
Charles Pigott gifts a $5 million endowment to the university.

GeekWire: 'Stay human': Pope Francis' AI advisor on the opportunities and challenges posed by latest tech Father Paolo Benanti, an SU visiting professor, talks about the opportunities and challenges of AI.

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

GeekWire: Tech ethicist on why health care isn’t ready for ambitious AI overhaul
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’s dual dispatch police alternative is expanding citywide
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell gives a press conference on campus announcing the expansion of the Seattle Police Department CARE department, of which SU 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
Gen Z edits the Campus Tour Script

Giving roses away on Valentine’s Day reel

We’re Redhawks, of course….

LinkedIn

First Day of Classes

Glimpses of soon-to-be grads

Hedreen Art Gift

Facebook

Hedreen Art Gift

Admitted student posters

Snow on campus

TikTok

When we’re back in Seattle, we feel it