Alumni Weekend is fast-approaching. Come celebrate 65 years of Spirited Connections on campus October 26 and 27. Enjoy a variety of events from reunions, sports, a classic car show and an alumni dinner with Bethel’s 2012 Alumni Award recipients. Read more about them below.

Eduardo Ferreira (’02, ‘04)

Outstanding Young Alum

Eduardo Ferreira (’02, ’04) of Hollywood, Fla. is receiving the 2012 Outstanding Young Alum Award from Bethel College. This award is given to recognize an alum who has made significant contributions to society and/or has made significant professional advancement early in their career.

Ferreira graduated from Bethel College in 2002, with a B.A. in sports studies, earned his MBA in 2004, and completed a program at Harvard Business School. He joined 1st Source Bank’s Aircraft Financing Division as VP – International Lending Manager in 2007. Since that time, Ferreira has developed an improved portfolio for both clients and the bank and has seen it grow fivefold.  He specializes in the selling of aircraft loans for private use aircraft (corporate and executive level jets, turbo props and helicopters) particularly in Brazil and Mexico. A quick learner, he has advanced rapidly in the industry. The European publication “Corporate Jet Investor” recently recognized 1st Source Bank with the 2012 Latin American Financier Award.

Jerry L. Thacker, (’72) Ed. D.

Alumnus of the Year

Jerry L. Thacker, (’72) Ed.D., of Mishawaka, Ind. is receiving the 2012 Alumnus of the Year Award from Bethel College. This award is given to recognize an alum who has made outstanding achievements in their community, church, vocation and/or alma mater.

Thacker graduated from Bethel College in 1972 with a B.A. in education; earned his M.S. in 1975, his Ed.D., in 1987, and completed the executive program on negotiation at Harvard Law. Thacker has dedicated his life to public education with the goal of encouraging student academic success. He was recently named the 2012 Indiana Superintendent of the Year for his work in the Penn Harris Madison School Corporation. Under Thacker’s leadership, the P-H-M Corporation has been rated as an “A” district by the state of Indiana (2010), it’s schools have been recognized as “Indiana Four Star Schools” (2011), and has received “National Blue Ribbon Schools” recognition and honorable mention in the “American School Board Journal” (2012).

Eric Stults (’02)

Professional Achievement Award

Eric Stults (’02) of Middlebury, Ind. is receiving the 2012 Professional Achievement Award from Bethel College. This award is given to recognize an alum who has outstanding professional achievement in a certain field of expertise.

Eric Stults graduated from Bethel College in 2002 with a B.A. in business administration. While at Bethel, Stults pitched for the Pilots Baseball team, leading the team to victory in the 2002 NCCAA Division one national championship. Following graduation, Stults was drafted by the L.A. Dodgers minor league team in 2002. He made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 2006. In 2010, he was sold to the Hiroshima Tokyo Carp, signed a minor league contract with the Rockies and then moved to the White Sox. Stults has pitched for the San Diego Padres since May of this year where he ended the season with an 8-3 record and a 2.91 ERA. For his career in the major league Stults has a record of 16-13 with a 4.15 ERA.

For more information about Alumni Weekend 2012, visit our website.