On May 20, we celebrated Seattle Pacific University’s 125th anniversary with a gala at Fremont Studios. We’re so grateful for all our incredible Seattle Pacific alumni who are “engaging the culture, changing the world” both close to home and around the world.
Highlights of SPU’s 125th Anniversary Gala
As hosts Kristen Tetteh ’06 and Skip Li ’66 interviewed notable SPU alumni and shared about the University’s history, guests dined on Tom Douglas cuisine and watched musical performances by the band Joseph, a group of three accomplished SPU graduates.
How Seattle Pacific Graduates are Changing the World
From health care to youth development, from business to the arts, here are some of the many incredible Seattle Pacific alumni making a positive impact on our world.
Sharon Okamoto ’76 and Seattle Urban Academy
At Seattle Urban Academy, youth who would otherwise struggle to graduate from high school receive personalized academic, social, and spiritual support — support that has led to a 95 percent graduation rate for SUA seniors. In addition to Principal Sharon Okamoto, who received her bachelor’s, master’s, and principal certificate from SPU, four of the school’s six teachers are Seattle Pacific graduates.
Tim Hanstad ’85 and Landesa
As co-founder and senior advisor of Landesa, Tim Hanstad works to secure land rights for the world’s most impoverished, with a particular focus on strengthening land rights for women. He sees land ownership as a key structural way to address poverty, and has noticed particular success when women are empowered to support their families and communities.
Eugene Peterson ’54: A Conversation With Bono on the Psalms
Before alumnus Eugene Peterson talked about his time at SPU and shared what inspired him to write The Message, guests watched him meet and discuss the Psalms with Bono at Peterson’s home.
Seattle Pacific University: 125 Years in the Making
It all started when a few acres of land were donated to start a school. Here’s a look back at over a century of Seattle Pacific history.
Jeff Hussey ’85: Tempered Networks and Cybersecurity
After growing F5 Networks into a $7 billion international company, Jeff Hussey moved to a new tech startup: Tempered Networks. The cybersecurity expert is SPU’s 2017 alumnus of the year.
A Night in Photos
As guests dined on Tom Douglas salmon and listened to performances by the band Joseph, drone footage filmed in the center of Lake Union was projected onto screens that ran the full length of the room. Later in the evening, videos of moments in Tiffany Loop, Martin Square, and across campus were projected on the screens, bringing everyone closer to SPU.
In Your Words
We spoke with some of the guests at the gala to hear what they love about SPU.
Don’t miss out on any of the action. Watch the entire gala, including performances by Joseph and interviews with some of our incredible alumni.