[Skip to Content]

Student athlete named to All-America team

Senior defensive back Brandon Kaufman from Moundridge has been named to the 2007 American Football Coaches Association-National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-America Team for the 2007 season.

This past fall Kaufman led not only the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) but also the NAIA in interceptions, with nine picks for 209 yards and one touchdown in eight games on the season, a Thresher record. In addition, he is now the career leader at Bethel in interceptions, with a total of 23.

Kaufman was second in the NAIA in passes defended with 2.1 per game, and second in punt return yards with 17.8 per attempt. He also led the conference in punt returns, with 11 returns for 196 yards and one touchdown in eight games in the 2007 season.

Previously, Kaufman was named the KCAC football player of the year and was a unanimous and repeat selection by the KCAC football head coaches as a defensive back on the KCAC all-conference first-team defense honor team.

Alumni night Jan. 12

Alumni and friends of Bethel of all ages are invited to Alumni Night at the women’s and men’s basketball games against Sterling College, Saturday, Jan. 12, in Thresher Gymnasium.

Members of the Alumni Council will offer give-aways at the door as well as prizes at halftime. Meet your Alumni Council hosts, sign up for prizes, cheer the Threshers to victory and have fun with others that night!

And, if you graduated or attended Bethel within the past 10 years and are 22-32 years old or so, join other young alumni for the German buffet at Breadbasket Restaurant, 219 North Main in Newton, beginning at 5 p.m., then head to the games on campus. Members of the Young Alumni Committee will host.

Anyone who completed 24 credit hours or more at Bethel is an alumnus of the college, whether they graduated or not. Spouses are also invited to the festivities.

Start the new year with education day at Bethel

Get your questions on financial planning, digital photography, whole foods or that unusual lamp you inherited from Great-Grandma answered at the Bethel College Women’s Association’s (BCWA) education event on campus.

BCWA invites men and women to its annual Welcome to Education at Bethel (WEB) Day Saturday, Jan. 19, in the Fine Arts Center. WEB Day begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 12:30 p.m. Participants may choose two of the four different workshops offered.

Two music faculty members to perform in Midwest

Last January’s mini-tour in Colorado was so much fun, two music faculty decided to do it again, this time in Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Professor of music Karen Bauman Schlabaugh, piano, and assistant professor of music Richard Tirk, trumpet, will conduct several master classes and give recitals featuring 21st-century composers, including a new work by Los Angeles composer Jeff Kurtenacker.

Schlabaugh and Tirk will perform first in Yoder Recital Hall on the Bluffton (Ohio) University campus Sunday, Jan. 13, at 2:30 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public. They will hold a master class Monday, Jan. 14, from 4-5 p.m., also in Yoder Recital Hall. For more information, call (419) 358-3000.

Tuesday, Jan. 15, Tirk and Schlabaugh will perform in the Dalton Center Recital Hall at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Tirk’s alma mater. The concert starts at 8:15 p.m. and is free and open to the public. They will conduct a master class the following day from 5-7 p.m. in the recital hall. Call (269) 387-4667 for more information.

The tour concludes Jan. 17 with a free public performance at another institution where Tirk studied, Lawrence Conservatory of Music, Appleton, Wis. He and Schlabaugh will perform at 11 a.m. in the Lawrence University Chapel. The contact number for that event is (920) 832-7000.

The two musicians are also planning stops at several high schools, including Bluffton High School, in conjunction with their performances.

Upcoming Kauffman Museum events

Kauffman Museum’s next Sunday-Afternoon-at-the Museum presentation is scheduled for Jan. 13 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Joyce Lent, naturalist at Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita, will talk about “Birds of a Feather...” In a program for people of all ages, she will bring a live bird and share information about that bird’s life habits. Lent regularly teaches at one of the museum’s summer camps (Uncle Carl’s Camps).

Saturday, Jan. 26, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. is “Celebrate Kansas Day!” at the museum, with this year’s focus on Kansas weather. Children, youth and adults are invited to come for an afternoon filled with craft booths, demonstrations, a flea market, a silent auction and outdoor activities. Speakers include Wichita-area weather forecaster Mark Larson; Chris Kliewer ’97, Wichita, who will talk about the greening of Greensburg; and Raylene Hinz-Penner ’70, Topeka, who will moderate a discussion on the Dust Bowl days.

On Feb. 9, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 17, Kauffman Museum will host its annual Valentine Dinner fundraisers. This year the meals will be held at the museum to celebrate the return of the 257 year-old Teschemacher-Van der Smissen-Deknatel organ after restoration on the East Coast. After a hearty north European meal held in a specially decorated area of the museum, guests will be treated to a chamber organ recital. Organists include Greta Hiebert ’86, North Newton; Roseann Penner Kaufman ’85, Prairie Village; Alice Loewen Kreider ’41, North Newton; Ken Rodgers, Hesston; Karen Bauman Schlabaugh, Newton; and Chelsea Vaught ’07, Lawrence.

For more information, contact kauffman@bethelks.edu or (316) 283-1612.

Phonathon coming next month

Alumni Council and Young Alumni Committee members, staff and volunteers will call Bethel alumni Feb. 5-23 to invite them to respond to the college’s 29th annual phonathon. Donors may give to the Bethel College Fund (current fund) or a Bethel project of their choice.

This year’s phonathon flier will be mailed soon. Through personal stories, it illustrates how Bethel offers opportunities for students to use their gifts, serve others, do cutting-edge research, refine their talent and grow in faith.

Phonathon 2008 again includes an invitation to respond to a special challenge gift. Several alumni and friends have made a commitment to match — up to a total of $40,000 — all new phonathon gifts or increases in the amount given compared to 2007.

Alumni may use a response envelope to make a commitment or send a donation, may e-mail their response to alumni@bethelks.edu, or may give to the phonathon online at www.bethelks.edu/gift. Volunteers will make telephone calls to those who have not responded by Friday, Jan. 25.

Hosts sought for Spring class reunions

Mark your calendar now for Alumni Weekend activities, Friday-Saturday, May 23-24.

As part of the weekend’s events, the Classes of 1948, 1953, 1958, 1963 and 1968 will hold special reunion luncheons at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 24. Class members who are interested in hosting their alumni gatherings are asked to contact the alumni office at (316) 284-5251 or alumni@bethelks.edu.

Bethel staff will host a luncheon for the “Heritage Classes” of 1933, 1938 and 1943. More information will be sent to all reunion class members in spring.

The weekend also features other activities that are open to all alumni, including the annual Alumni Banquet and presentation of alumni awards at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 24.

Each May, classes celebrating their 40th, 45th, 50th, 55th, 60th, 65th, 70th and 75th anniversaries gather for special reunion luncheons the Saturday of Alumni Weekend. Those celebrating their 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th and 35th reunions are invited to gatherings the Saturday of Fall Festival.