Largest Commencement in Bethel History

About 570 students received diplomas in May, making Bethel’s 63rd commencement the largest graduating class ever. Mishawaka Mayor Jeff Rea addressed the nontraditional students and the Rev. Dwight Robertson of Kingdom Building Ministries spoke to the traditional and graduate program students.

Nursing Celebrates 25 Years; Largest Pinning

The school of nursing graduated 113 students — the largest class in history. The school also celebrated its 25th  anniversary with first dean Joyce Newman-Giger as the keynote speaker during the pinning ceremony.

Celebrating 40 Years  of NACCAP

Nearly 400 admission professionals from across the U.S. and Canada attended the North American Coalition of Christian Admission Professionals (NACCAP) annual conference at Bethel College June 6 – 9. This year NACCAP celebrated its 40th anniversary as an organization for Christian admission professionals at the undergraduate, adult, graduate and high school levels.

Bethel Receives Energy Efficiency Grant

Bethel recently received nearly $100,000 in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) for energy efficiency upgrades to their facilities. Four buildings on campus will receive lighting upgrades, while the boiler equipment in Shupe Hall will be replaced. Energy Monitoring Equipment will also be installed for greater energy management.

Bethel Athletics Golf Classic a Success

The 18th annual Bethel College Athletics Golf Classic was held June 28 at Knollwood Country Club in Granger, Ind. The event is held to help underwrite the costs of teams travelling to national postseason competitions.

Missionary Church Quiz International

Bethel College awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships to quizzers involved in the Missionary Church Quiz International Finals held in July.  Competitors, ranging from 12 – 20 years old, memorized and studied the books  of I and II Corinthians. The college has  hosted the event for more than 12 years.

Bethel Earns Record Spot in U.S. News Media Group

Bethel earned the 16th spot among the Midwest’s Best Baccalaureate Colleges in the 2011 edition of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News Media Group. That’s up four spots from last year’s rank and the highest ranking Bethel has ever received from the media group. In the Midwest category there are 94 schools. Nationally there are 319 schools in this category and overall Bethel came in at 40, putting it in the top 12 percent of the Best Baccalaureate Colleges.

2010 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

Eric Brand (’02, men’s basketball), April (Allison) Russell (’01, softball/volleyball) and AJ Whitehead (’01, women’s basketball) were inducted into the Bethel College Athletic Hall of Fame on Sept. 13. The Hall of Fame gives special recognition to former Bethel players and coaches who have excelled in their respective sport, with emphasis on Christian values, moral character and personal integrity as a primary part of the selection process.

Prairie Lab Planted

This past spring the Jimmy F. New Foundation provided a $2,200 grant  for the purchase of seed to plant a  prairie on six acres of the college’s  property located off Lowell Ave. Assistant Professor of Biology Katie W., Ph.D., says, “We will be using the prairie for instruction in environmental science, botany, ecology and ecological research techniques, as well as undergraduate research projects.” She also hopes to use the prairie as an outreach to local schools.