Around Campus

Bethel Students Merge Finance and Ministry
Bethel’s chapter of Enactus (entrepreneurship, action, us), a national business club with a focus on merging service and economics for the betterment of the community, teamed up with RETA (Reason Enough to Act) in Elkhart, Ind., to present a seminar on financial foundations to mothers in need. The goal was to reinforce the basics of saving, budgeting and increasing income. Through the generosity of Teacher’s Credit Union, each mother had the opportunity to begin a savings account and earn 25 percent interest. In addition to working with the Mother’s Club, Enactus is making an impact in the community through tutoring programs, Feed the Children and working with low-income churches.

Newsboys Visit Bethel
In October, Bethel served as the venue for a concert featuring popular Christian bands like Newsboys, Building 429 and Luminate. The concert was sponsored by WFRN radio and coincided with a campus preview day, allowing prospective students the chance to visit Bethel and receive a free ticket to the event.

Students Go Bald for St. Baldrick’s
Nearly 40 students and faculty shaved their heads to raise more than $2,000 for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. Sponsored by Bethel’s Student Council, Cristine Bakke (’14) coordinated the event with several other student volunteers. In addition to shaving heads, students also wrote cards for children who are cancer patients at Memorial Hospital. See photo below.

Early Childhood Program Expands
An agreement between Bethel and Ancilla College now allows for an easy transition for students to transfer a two-year associate degree in early childhood from Ancilla to Bethel’s four-year bachelor’s in early childhood. “I’ve set up articulation agreements with Ivy Tech and other organizations in the past, so this is merely an extension of our program growth,” says Rebecca Wilson, Ed.D., professor of education. Bethel’s Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education began in 2009 and has grown from nine students to 56 students in three years.

Alumni Weekend Dedications
Last October, administrators held dedication ceremonies for several areas on campus. The first was the Dr. Albert J. Beutler Hall of Fame, located inside the Wiekamp Athletic Center lobby. Dedicated in honor of Bethel’s third president, who was also the first men’s basketball coach in 1958, this area provides an updated space to showcase excellence in athletics.

Bethel’s fourth president was honored next at the Dr. James A. Bennett Patio, located just behind the Dining Commons. It features multi-level dining spaces and offers a scenic view of campus, overlooking the ponds.

The last dedication was for the new, 60-seat amphitheater, located on the south side of the Dining Commons. It is designed for use both as an outdoor classroom and small performance site. It features sculpted stone seating and beautiful landscaping and has been a popular spot for students to gather and connect with friends. See photos below.

2013 Commencement
Senior Vice President Dennis Engbrecht, Ph.D., will speak at the nontraditional student ceremony on May 4 and the Rev. William Hossler, president of the Missionary Church, will speak at the traditional and graduate student ceremony on May 5.

Bethel Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Bethel’s center for intercultural development (CID) and multiethnic resource team (MERT) offered activities for faculty, staff and students in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Classes were canceled for half a day, and staff and faculty were able to attend a sponsored activity of their choice. Events included chapel, viewing and discussion of the film “The Great Debaters” and a concert.

Bethel Hosts STEM Career Fair for Local High School Students
On March 7, local high school students attended a career fair where they met with professionals in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) related careers. They also had the opportunity to become familiar with Bethel’s campus and interact with science and engineering majors. Sheri Campeau, instructor of engineering, worked with the STEM Academy at Penn High School to coordinate the event.