A professor emeritus, Gothold served as director of choral activities at Whittier College from 1977 to 2003. Beloved by the Poet community, he will be remembered fondly for his passion for teaching and devotion to his students and the community. Gothold frequently returned to campus to reunite with fellow classmates and former students. He was on campus most recently in October for Whittier Weekend 2018, attending the choir reunion and leading dozens of his former students in song. During the 2013 choir reunion, his former students bestowed upon him a special award in recognition and appreciation to his dedicated service and unwavering leadership to music appreciation.
This new scholarship will support undergraduate students who are pursuing a music major or minor or who are vocalists in the Whittier College Choir. The current $50,000 endowment will support one student annually, and Warner’s hopes his gift will inspire others to help grow this fund in order to support additional students in the future.
Scholarships are an important tool for Whittier College to attract and retain talented students like current choir member Emma ‘24. “Choir has always been a safe place of calm in a very chaotic life," she said. "There is nothing that promotes comfort and human connection so much as making music with other people.”
In addition to honoring his friend, this endowed scholarship is also a nod to the ways that Whittier College has enriched Warner’s own life. He credits values he learned at Whittier with shaping his life, such as always striving to improve oneself along with enhancing the communities where one lives and works.
