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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
BETHANY MAGAZINE
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Ministry and Scholarship Build Bethany Ties
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ethany College has a rich history that is rooted in the faith of the ELCA Lutheran Church. As Bethany continues to find ways to honor that heritage, we are thrilled to continue the legacy of Robert L. Nelson ’64 through a scholarship for students of the Central States Synod of the ELCA. Endowed by a gift from Robert L. Nelson and supported by the churches of the Central States Synod, this scholarship is available to any student who comes from a Central States Synod church, and who continues to be active in campus ministry during their time at Bethany College. Starting the fall semester of 2021 we were
able to award the Robert L. Nelson scholarship to Natasha Braun ’24 of Mulvane, Kansas. Growing up, Natasha was involved in youth ministry at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Haysville, Kansas. She attended all the youth group events she could, volunteered with the church as well as attended Camp Tomah Shinga. Natasha was very excited about the chance to attend a college rooted in Lutheran faith. While Natasha was in the process of deciding which college to attend, she fell in love with Bethany for the small campus feel and believes it will be the best environment for her to succeed. Since stepping foot on campus, she shares, “Classes have been great, and I have made more friends than I thought I would very quickly. Professors are great. Food is good!” Natasha enjoys putting much of her time into campus ministry. She enjoys that her experience at Bethany College has enriched her faith and granted her new insight and opportunities. If you wish to support this ministry, contact either Jacob Spilker ’15, Development Specialist, or Brenda Meyer, Director of Development.
’21 Articulation Agreements
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his past year Bethany College entered into articulation agreements with Garden City Community College, Hesston, the University of Saint Mary and Sterling offering a variety of opportunities for admission into nursing, graduate and doctoral programs. Garden City Community College students completing an AA or AS degree are guaranteed that their hours will transfer to Bethany, as enhancement to develop a relationship of productive relations between two schools. In time, future opportunities could extend to an agreed upon curriculum between similar departments in each school. These conversations would specify which curriculum at GCCC would earn an associates degree and what would then transfer to Bethany to earn a bachelor’s degree in that given major. GCCC President Dr. Ryan Ruda, worked closely with Mark A. Bandre’, Dean of Academic Innovation and College Registrar at Bethany to construct the contract. Interested Bethany students can now work with their academic advisor to fulfill requirements and be guaranteed admission to the Hesston BSN
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(Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program, as a result of an articulation agreement entered with Hesston College. It will be necessary that interested Bethany students complete 62 credit hours of liberal education and support courses with a cumulative grade point average of 2.50. Two different benefits result from the articulation agreement with the University of Saint Mary of Leavenworth. Bethany graduates holding an Exercise Science Degree can be admitted into the doctoral program of Physical Therapy or the Masters program in Athletic Training at the University of Saint Mary. Similarly, there is an identical articulation agreement in which Bethany students can graduate with an Exercise Science Degree and gain admittance into a Master’s of Athletic Training (MAT) program at Sterling College in Sterling, KS. Laura Jackson-Stenlund, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science and Exercise Science Department Chair says, “This agreement provides our students an excellent pathway into their future career goals.”
CAMPUS NEWS
BETHANY MAGAZINE
Dr. Harris Receives the 2021 Mortvedt Award
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obert Mortvedt was the President of Bethany College from 1953 to 1958. He was regarded as a distinguished teacher, scholar, and administrator. His family established the Mortvedt Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award to emphasize quality of teaching, encourage faculty in their pursuit of excellence, and to assist Bethany in nurturing an academic climate which fosters teaching at its best and enhances teaching as a profession. Congratulations to Dr. Mary Beth Harris on receiving the Mortvedt Award for 2020-2021 academic year. Unfortunately, COVID delayed the recognition of Dr. Harris’s successes. Why she was selected for this award is what she loves most about teaching. “I love teaching literature because playing with ideas and characters often gives students permission to ask and explore the big questions they have about life and its meaning, but in a way that relieves some of the tension or challenge of discussing difficult or sensitive topics. I also love
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teaching writing and showing students that it isn’t some magical ability some people are born with, but a set of tangible, meaningful skills that they can get access to and utilize to empower themselves. At Bethany, I also appreciate the ways my teaching connects to the wider mission and service to the college, how interdisciplinary supports our liberal arts mission or how developing programming like the Ascension Program allows us to support our students and show them they are capable of excellence,” Dr.Harris shares. Along with the honor of receiving this award, the most recent Mortvedt recipient serves as the chairperson for the selection committee for the next award. They are also given a $1,000 personal grant, and his/her department receives $500 to be used for enhancements to the department’s program. The recipient is announced annually before Commencement and their name added to the plaque in the Presser Hall lobby.
CAMPUS NEWS
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