BethelParent A newsletter for parents of Bethel University students
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Issue 53/Winter 2012
Family Weekend Strengthens Connections In late October, we enjoyed a beautiful, sunny Family Weekend. More than 700 parents and guests came to campus to connect with their sons and daughters. Fifty parents participated in the StrengthsFinder session, and approximately 150 parents came to the Prayer Breakfast in 3900 Grill. The Royals football team’s loss to St. Thomas couldn’t dampen spirits, as most parents reported that their highlight was “just spending time” with their son or daughter. One parent commented, “My husband and I were really impressed with the spiritual transformation workshop. Pastor Laurel is a dynamic speaker, and we were so blessed to hear how God is working in the lives of young people at Bethel. Not once have we regretted sending our four children to Bethel.” Make plans now to come to campus for next year’s Family Weekend happening Friday, October 26-Sunday, October 28, 2012. n
Homecoming 2011: “You’re a Part of the Story” Homecoming 2011 saw more than 2,000 alumni returning to Bethel to reconnect with friends, roommates, and professors—as well as to the larger Bethel story. The weekend kicked off with Homecoming Chapel, where students and guests heard a challenging message from Alumnus of the Year Mark Robertson ’75. The celebration continued with a variety of meaningful events, including tours of the former and current campuses, special gatherings for football and baseball alumni, a prayer breakfast with President Jay Barnes, a 5-K Run/Walk sponsored by the Bethel Student Association, and a presentation by former Professor Dan Taylor on “Creating a Spiritual Legacy.” More than 700 alumni celebrated their reunions on Friday and Saturday nights. Many of them also enjoyed the original musical My Name Is Daniel, performed and written by Jeremiah and Vanessa Gamble, both ’95 graduates. On Saturday, a full football stadium watched a hard-fought, last-minute loss to St. Olaf (30-28). “Homecoming was a successful celebration of what God has been writing for the past 140 years in the story of Bethel University,” says Linda Schubring, director of alumni and parent services. “We were reminded that we’re all a part of the bigger Bethel story and that Bethel is a part of each of our own stories.” Bethel Homecoming 2012 is scheduled for Friday, October 5-Sunday, October 7, 2012. n
Faculty Grants Enrich Classroom Experience Each year the National Alumni Board distributes $30,000 to faculty to provide them with opportunities to stay on the cutting edge of their professions and enrich academic instruction in the classroom. Grants are used for projects, conferences, equipment, and technology. When you contribute through the Bethel Fund or as part of your Valentine’s Day order (see enclosed flyer), your donations benefit your student’s learning. On behalf of the Bethel faculty, thank you for your support! Faculty members who have recently been blessed by your generous gifts include Chad Osgood and Sara Wyse. “I am in the U.K. working with the University of Hull’s sports rehabilitation program in Hull, England,” writes Chad Osgood, associate professor of physical education and head athletic trainer. “The funds from the alumni grant have allowed me to travel within the U.K. to further my experience in sports medicine and to attend Europe’s largest sports medicine conference in London.” Assistant Professor of Biology Sara Wyse comments, “As a result of the alumni grant funds, I was able to attend the first meeting of the Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research (SABER), where I presented my research focused on how we prepare graduate students for their role in the classroom. The conference put me in touch with leaders in the undergraduate biology research community and exposed me to research focused on how to improve the learning of our undergraduate students. Many of the presentations shared evidence-based ideas that I’ve already started implementing in courses here at Bethel.” n
Bethel’s Eagle Brick
by Tannie (Woods) Eshenaur ’80 and Wally Eshenaur ’80 “Bethel is bricks” was a common joke among students during my freshman year at Bethel. In 1976, the college buildings consisted of four block-shaped buildings covered with bricks. An addition to the fine arts building constructed during the previous summer was covered with the same brick, except that the brick factory in Galena, Ohio imprinted the top of each brick with an American eagle in recognition of the United States Bicentennial celebration. My dad, who was then director of the physical plant, arranged for one brick to be set on its side so that the eagle would be displayed as a reminder of this important celebration. Whether coming to Bethel for a reunion, returning to campus for a year from missionary service in Ethiopia, or recently bringing our third child, Hannah, to enroll as a student, our visits always include a check to see if the eagle is still perched in its place next to the expansion joint, visible from the skyway between what are now the Hagstrom and Clauson buildings. Over the years the eagle brick has been transformed into an “Ebenezer” for our family—a memorial stone that speaks to us of how God spreads His wings and catches us, carries us on His wings, protects us with a fierce love like an eagle protects its young, and renews our strength. The image of that eagle reassures us as we leave Hannah at Bethel to experience the next part of her faith adventure. We acknowledge that she is a gift to us, but she belongs to the Lord. We want to savor this season as she spreads her wings and moves into adulthood. We remain committed to our own spiritual growth so that we can engage our adult children at the deepest levels as together we follow Jesus. As parents, we’ve spent two decades, by God’s grace, laying the foundation for our children to discover who God wants them to be. Entrusting them to the Bethel community, we realize that many life-changing decisions will be made over the next four years. We commit ourselves to prevailing prayer as we anticipate the challenges and temptations our children will face. We’ll provide advice when asked and continue to communicate our love. And we’ll stand in awe as they soar on the eagle’s wings of God. n