Image of three students standing shoulder to shoulder and smiling together, the indoor space of the Market Depot Square can be seen in the background, including a hanging Bellingham city flag.
by: WavelengthPosted on:

Western Paints B’ham Blue, Told in Photos

Fourth-year students Matt Braun, Antonia Goldman and Tianna Patrick in the Depot Market indoor space. Joe Addison // AS Review

Correction issues 10/15: Matt Braun’s name was misspelled.

Story and Photos by Joe Addison

Western hosted the annual Paint B’ham Blue on Sept. 25. Starting in Red Square, students gathered before marching downtown in a parade led by local band Analogue Brass, the Associated Students Executive Board of Directors and WWU Cheer.

At the end of the parade, alumni and their families cheered on students as they passed into the Bellingham Herald parking lot. A banner hung off the side of the Herald building and pens were available for students to sign it. 

Below the parking lot at the Depot Market Square a stage was set up. Local businesses had booths and stalls set up inside the Depot Market’s indoor area and along the outside, for students to visit. Students, alumni, families and community members explored the booths and businesses set up around the square. 

Railroad Avenue runs parallel to the square and was closed for the event, allowing for food trucks and WWU Racing to set up in the road.

AS Board President Lani Defiesta and University President Sabah Randhawa both delivered speeches before the Herald sign changed color.

“Paint B’ham Blue is a wonderful part of the way we welcome students to Western, and help get them connected to the greater Bellingham community, fostering a sense of belonging and community is a crucial part of a successful student experience, and Paint B’ham Blue helps us extend that sense of belonging beyond the boundaries of campus from the start,” President Randhawa said, in an email provided by the Alumni Association after the event.

Fireworks launched off the roof of the Herald building following President Randhawa’s countdown and the color of the Herald sign changing to Western blue.

The Western Alumni Association, who organized the event, estimated that 2400 students were in attendance and 340 alumni and community members participated in the event.

Image of hundreds of Western students gathered in Red Square, the Fisher fountain is on the left hand side.

Students gather in Red Square prior to the start of the parade.

Image of six members of the band in a circle, some are playing their instruments, some are talking between themselves.

Analogue Brass who led the parade, warms up while students gather in Red Square.

Image of six WWU cheer team members in a small semi-circle, five are sat on the edge of Fisher fountain in Red Square one is standing, they are all laughing and smiling.

WWU Cheer hanging out by the fountain in Red Square before the parade.

Image of five of the AS Board of Directors, four are holding a large banner in front of them which reads: “Paint B’ham Blue for WWU.” Lani Defiesta is in front gesturing towards the banner.

The AS Executive Board led the parade, from left to right Selome Zerai, Adah Barenburg, Grace Drechsel, Lani Defiesta and Yesugen Battsengel.

Image of hundreds of students walking down High Street, they are taking up both sidewalks and the center of the road.

High Street filled by students following the parade downtown.

Image of an alumni smiling and ringing a bell above their head.

Alumni cheering and ringing bells as students enter the Herald building parking lot.

Image of the large banner which students were invited to sign their names on the lower half of the banner is obscured by students signing, the banner reads: “Home of the Vikings”.

Students sign their names on the large banner attached to the side of the Herald building.

Image of students signing the large “Home of the Vikings” banner.

Students signing their names on the large banner which reads “Home of the Vikings.”

Image of a student getting the back of their hand stamped, and the large line of people behind waiting to scan their Western ID cards and access the event.

Students receiving stamps on the backs of their hands after swiping their Western ID cards to access the event.

Image looking towards the Herald building the WWU racing car is in the foreground where a young community member is being shown around by the team.

WWU Racing shows a young community member around the car before asking if they would like to climb inside.

Image of students dancing with their hands in the air on the stage, a few of them are blurry as they are jumping up and down.

Students jump on the stage before the stage crew removed them.

Image of students packed close together dancing in the square, lights can be seen from the stage and the Herald sign can be made out as the daylight has faded.

Dancing in front of the stage, waiting for the fireworks to start.

Image of Railroad Avenue closed off from cars and filled with people lining up for food trucks and milling around in between.

Students and food trucks fill the closed block of Railroad Avenue, adjacent to the square.

Image of a student held above the heads of the crowd, many hands from the crowd are supporting them. The daylight is almost completely gone, the stage is well lit and silhouettes the crowd-surfing student.

A student crowd-surfing before the fireworks.

Image of the Herald building with fireworks being launched from the roof, people in the crowd are lit by the light from the fireworks.

The color change of the Herald sign from red to Western blue is celebrated with fireworks.

Image of three people smiling with arms around each other, the individual in the center has a knitted viking helmet hat.

Alumna Anna Schorr and fourth-year students Natalie VanDiest and Sarah Bahzab, enjoying the event with a few of the freebies given away by the university and other businesses.

Image of the Herald building with the large lit sign on top illuminated blue, the stage is in the foreground where a musical act is getting set up to perform.

The Herald Building’s famous sign lit up blue behind the featured musical acts of the night.