Bethel Hosts 96 Employers at Career Fair (1)
The Center for Career Development and Global Engagement hosted 96 employers, including 24 alumni employers, for its annual spring Career and Internship Fair on March 15. About 250 students took advantage of the opportunity to talk with employers about available full-time jobs, part-time jobs and internships.

Communication Classes Serve Community (2)
Students from the Foundations of Communication class, led by Assistant Professor of Communication Theo Williams ’99, organized a fundraiser for Mara Rough, a local woman in need of a new wheelchair. The class exceeded its goal of $15,000 and its efforts were promoted by the South Bend Tribune and WNDU-TV. In another effort, students from the Persuasion class, led by Associate Professor of Communication Elizabeth McLaughlin, Ph.D., helped local business Resale to the Rescue with its marketing and promotion efforts to support local animal shelters. Because of the students’ work, Resale to the Rescuse was able to make its first $5,000 donation sooner than anticipated.

Third Annual ReFuel Conference Held (3)
In January, Bethel hosted the third annual ReFuel Conference for worship ministry teams and those who lead them. The event packed the auditorium of the Everest-Rohrer Chapel/Fine Arts Center with worship teams from around the region. The conference was organized through a collective partnership between Bethel College, Nappanee Missionary Church, Grace Community Church, St. Mark Missionary Church, Wakarusa Missionary Church, First Baptist Church of Elkhart, New Life Fellowship, Chick-fil-A and Sweetwater Sound. For photos, videos and conference highlights, visit Facebook.com/ReFuelConference.

Students, Faculty Plan for Unity Garden on Campus (4)
Bethel students, faculty and staff are working together to create a unity garden on campus, which offers “free to pick” produce to the community. Business students from the Bethel chapter of Enactus are helping with the project in several ways, including writing grant proposals. Thanks to their efforts, the garden received a $1,500 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Bethel Unity Garden, or BUG, joins more than 50 other area gardens affiliated with Unity Gardens, a non-profit group started by Sara Stewart ’09, a graduate of Bethel’s Master of Science in Nursing program and a 2013 recipient of the college’s Professional Achievement Alumni Award. Follow the BUG Facebook page (Facebook.com/BethelCollegeBUG) for updates on future events and volunteer opportunities.

Youth Pastors and Volunteers Attend Retreat at Bethel
In October 2016, the Lead Retreat for youth pastors and volunteers was held on Bethel’s campus. The event was made possible by Pastor Kelley Sewell and the team at Grabill Missionary Church, who received a grant for a leadership training retreat and partnered with Bethel to share the training with as many churches as possible. Youth expert Kent Julian was the keynote speaker, with breakout sessions hosted by Professor of Christian Ministries Terry Linhart, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Youth Ministry Robert Brandt, Ph.D., and teen therapist and speaker Paige Clingenpeel.

American Sign Language Club Hosts Fundraiser
In February, Bethel’s American Sign Language Club organized a fundraiser to benefit the Michiana Deaf Alliance. All proceeds supported the local Deaf community, helping to fund MDA projects and events that serve to educate and foster community support. Assistant Professor of American Sign Language Noah Buchholz showcased his talents as a storyteller and his passion for creating ASL stories and poems that communicate the beauty of Deaf culture and the struggles of Deaf people.

Wellness Center Hosts Workshop for Mental Health Professionals
In March, the Wellness Center hosted a workshop for counseling, social work and psychology students, along with area mental health professionals. Titled, “Cultural Competency: Ethical Practice in Mental Health,” the event was led by psychiatrist, professor and author Elisa Bell, M.D. She presented on awareness of cross- cultural issues in mental health and helped attendees gain the ability to ethically and effectively practice across cultures.

Central District Youth Conference to be Held at Bethel
This summer, Bethel will serve as the location for the Missionary Church’s Central District Youth Conference (CDYC). Approximately 1,000 junior high and high school students attend the annual conference, and will have the opportunity to experience Bethel’s campus and interact with faculty and staff.

Partnership with Indiana Wesleyan Creates 4-1 International Health Program
Students in Bethel’s International Health program can earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in just five years by starting the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at Indiana Wesleyan University in their senior year. Bethel is one of the only Christian colleges offering a bachelor’s degree in international health, one of the most challenging and rapidly expanding fields in health care today. Graduates are highly sought by government agencies and non-profit organizations as they seek to improve health at the individual, community and national levels through various avenues, including safe water, food security, environmental sustainability, economic development and education. For more information, visit BethelCollege.edu/Biology-Chemistry.

Bethel Ranked No. 2 in the Nation as a Best Value Christian College
Bethel College is ranked second on the national list of “50 Best Value Christian Colleges and Universities.” The ranking was compiled by Christian Universities Online and highlights Christian schools with the best return on investment. “The cost of a degree is steadily increasing, and while overall ‘net price’ is not insignificant, a better tool would be overall net value when considering higher education on a budget,” says Christian Universities Online writer Anna Rebekah Orr. The methodology behind the ranking includes comparing each school’s graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio, retention rate, percentage of students receiving institutional aid and net price of tuition.

Education Department Receives Continuing Accreditation
The Bethel College Education Department received accreditation for all of its programs through 2023, based on the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) standards. All accreditation standards were met with no stipulations, which is a testament to the excellence of Bethel’s programs and faculty. “We are thankful for the rigorous accreditation process that helps us evaluate and reflect on our programs,” says Education Department Chair Kristie Cerling, Ed.D. ’96. “It is also affirming to receive this validation of the quality of our candidates who enter the community as excellent educators prepared to make a difference.”