By FāVS News Staff
Record $3.8M Gift Boosts Catholic Education in Walla Walla
In a groundbreaking move for Catholic education in Eastern Washington, Nazareth Guild, a support organization for Catholic schools in the Spokane Diocese, announced its largest ever donation of $3,807,166. The anonymous donation will fund the construction of a new building for Assumption Catholic School in Walla Walla, providing a modern facility to serve the current community and attract new families.
The gift signifies the donors’ belief in the value of Catholic education and their desire to witness the impact during their lifetime, according to a press release. Scheduled to break ground in Spring 2025, the new school will symbolize “hope and continued commitment to excellent faith-based education in the region.”
Tolkien Expert to Speak on Christianity in ‘Lord of the Rings’
Whitworth University has announced that literary biographer Joseph Pearce will deliver this year’s Simpson-Duvall Lecture.
Pearce will present “The Christianity of The Lord of the Rings” on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. in Whitworth University’s Weyerhaeuser Hall. Pearce, an expert on J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, has authored over 30 books on Christian literature and figures. The free public lecture is part of Whitworth’s Speakers & Artists series. A book signing will follow the event.
Free Online Course: Understanding Domestic Violence
YWCA-Spokane is offering a free virtual training session on intimate partner domestic violence on June 27 from 2-3:30 p.m. Titled “DV 101: Recognize. Respond. Refer,” the class will cover topics such as defining intimate partner violence, debunking myths, identifying potential indicators, and providing guidance on how to help those affected.
Participants will also learn about YWCA Spokane’s free and confidential services and the role of YWCA advocates. Registration is required to receive the link for this informative 90-minute session. Those interested can register and find more information here.
Local Students Honored in Holocaust Writing Contest
The 18th annual Eva Lassman Memorial Writing Contest has announced its winners, focusing on the theme “Young Heroes of the Holocaust.” High school students from East Valley High School swept the top three positions, with Kayden Yowell’s “Shadows of the Holocaust” taking first place. In the middle school category, Xitlali Ramirez from Libby Center won first place with “Legacies of Resistance: Sara Fortis and Sonia Orbuch.”
The contest, organized by the Spokane Community Observance of the Holocaust Planning Committee, challenged students to explore the actions of young Europeans who saved Jewish lives during World War II, including Spokane’s own Carla Peperzak. Participants from 16 schools across the Inland Empire submitted essays and poems for the competition.
