Hoops and Hot Dogs
Sweet and Greet
Jean and Ray Whiteman at Sweet and Greet

Hoops and Hot Dogs
We saw over 100 alumni and their families come back for Hoops and Hot Dogs during our basketball games Feb. 22, 2025. Families enjoyed free hot dogs and admission and walked away with Bethel branded ketchup and mustard bottles. It was also senior night for the basketball teams. Our lady Pilots lost to Taylor 71-78, but our men’s team beat Taylor 80-67. Both games were close and exciting to watch! Congratulations to Scottie Miller ’22 for winning our Grill Out Giveaway! Big thanks to everyone who entered our contest.

Sweet and Greet
On Feb. 14, 2025, we had a “Sweet and Greet” reception before Shawn Holtgren ’95, and Jennie Sophia ’02, performed “Broadway Love Letters.” Guests enjoyed cookies, cupcakes, sodas and a polaroid photobooth. We set up a memory lane with framed photos of Bethel couples, which was such a hit (3)!

Camps
We “Cooked up Memories” at our Missionary Church camps last summer, making stops at Prairie Camp in Goshen, Ind.; Ludlow Falls Camp in Ohio; and Mancelona and Brown City Camps in Michigan. Our alumni shared stories of meals together with roommates and professors and days spent working in the Dining Commons. They walked away with a cookbook written by Bethel faculty and staff. We also spent some time hearing from President Barb Bellefeuille and other Bethel leaders and prayed for our campus. It was such a joy to spend time at camp with each of you!

Homecoming
Homecoming this year was a day full of reunions on campus. On Friday, we honored our alumni award recipients for the year. Daryle ’70 and Brenda Doden received the Alumni of the Year award. Leah Schwartz ’03 received the Timothy Award for Outstanding Service. Our Young Alumnus of the Year was Cameron Nagle ’22. And finally, Brother Tim and Sally Erdel were named honorary alumni. Saturday morning started off with the Rise ‘n Run 5K with participants racing around campus before celebrating with custom Rise ‘n Roll donuts. Later that morning, our 2004 NADA dodgeball champions came back to campus for a dodgeball open gym back in Goodman. The Y2K era classes also enjoyed time visiting with each other over lunch in the Dining Commons. We wrapped up the day over food trucks during the men’s soccer game.

Daryle ’70 and Brenda Doden, Alumni of the Year
Leah Schwartz ’03, Timothy Award for Outstanding Service
Cameron Nagle ’23, Young Alumnus of the Year
Tim and Sally Erdel, Honorary Alumni
Dodgeball Reunion
Rise ‘n Run 5K


President’s Christmas Dinner
We kicked off the Christmas season with friends at the President’s Christmas Dinner. We deeply enjoyed this time visiting together before attending the Christmas concert. During the dinner, a first-year student, Atupele (Anna) Simenti, shared her story of how the Lord transformed her life and what brought her to Bethel. The Dr. John Moran Award was given to Rev. Dr. Bill ’66 and Margaret Hossler ’66. Lake City Bank received the Vern Sailor Award. The Dr. Stanley Taylor Award was given to Dr. Dave and Carol Schmidt. Rev. Dr. Laverne and Loretta Blowers ’97 received the Quinton Everest Award. Finally, the Woodrow Goodman Award was given to Octavian ’18 and Kelly Sayumwe ’18.

Dr. Bellefeuille speaks.
Rev. Dr. Bill ’66 and Margaret Hossler ’66
Patti McNarney, Lake City Bank
Rev. Dr. LaVerne and Loretta Blowers ’97
Carol and Dave Schmidt
Octavian ’18 and Kelly Sayumwe ’18