June 2006

On May 21, Angela Carriker walked across the stage in Memorial Hall to receive her Bethel degree in social work, and her mother, Doña, came immediately after to receive her degree in nursing. The two were among 101 graduates who received their diplomas at Bethel’s 113th commencement.

This wasn’t the first time the two graduated together. Two years ago, Angela and Doña earned associate degrees from Colby Community College in their hometown. Both knew they would be going on for four-year degrees, and looked for a college that offered both social work and nursing.

For the past two years, they lived together in an apartment across the street from campus. They enjoyed being able to support each other in their studies and work, and even to borrow each other’s makeup on occasion, says Angela, even though it wasn’t easy to leave husband/father Gene Carriker and other family members behind in Colby.

The whole family illustrated its strong commitment to helping Angela and Doña finish their undergraduate education by showing up four generations strong for the nurses’ pinning ceremony on May 20 and commencement exercises the next day.

In one of the most competitive events at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Track and Field Championships, Jeff Buller, sophomore from Inman, placed third in javelin, which earned him All-American status for the second straight year. Fresno Pacific University, Fresno, Calif., hosted this year’s meet May 25-27.

A measure of the strong competition was the fact that Jeff’s third-place throw of 65.52 meters (214 feet 11 1/2 inches) would have won last year’s competition by almost four feet. The throw set a new Bethel record by more than seven feet, and scored Bethel above all other Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) schools plus all but two additional Kansas schools.

The top six placers in javelin threw personal records. The javelin generated enough excitement to be featured on the NAIA web site at http://naia.cstv.com/sports/m-otrack/spec-rel/052606aad.html.

Jeff placed fifth in last year’s NAIA championships. He is also two-time KCAC champion in the javelin.

When alumni contact the Advancement Office and say “I have a good idea for Bethel” or “I’ve just seen something from my graduate school that tugs at my sense of nostalgia,” staff members pay attention.

The most recent “good idea” that alumni suggested to Bethel is a Flash presentation. Photos and music combine to evoke memories of one’s college experience and suggest a gift to the school’s current fund.

Staff began looking at Flash presentations from other colleges and universities, noting that the photos and words used to describe experiences at these institutions tell a great deal about the lifestyle and values on each campus. What photos or words might illustrate life at Bethel and trigger memories? Staff combed the photo archives and thought about the stories alumni tell most often.

Bethel is in the beginning stages of redeveloping the Web site and would like your input. Please take a few moments to fill out a brief online survey and provide your thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of the current Web site and what you would like to see in a new site. Your input will help us better understand the needs of our internal and external communities as we move forward with the redevelopment.

The Bethel College Alumni Association Awards Committee invites alumni to submit nominations for the annual alumni awards: Young Alumnus, Outstanding Alumnus and Distinguished Achievement. Awards have been given to Bethel graduates annually since 1960.

The Young Alumnus Award recognizes character and citizenship, achievement or service rendered, honor and recognition received; the recipient should be 39 years or under. The Outstanding Alumnus Award is given on the basis of character and citizenship, service to church/community or college, or other outstanding achievements, honors and recognition. The Distinguished Achievement Award acknowledges character and citizenship, achievement in a chosen profession or vocation, and work of benefit to humanity.

The committee welcomes a broad range of nominees who reflect Bethel’s many programs and college experiences as well as achievement or service in a variety of areas. Send names with accompanying comments to Awards Committee, c/o Office of Alumni Relations, Bethel College, 300 East 27th Street, North Newton, KS 67117, alumni@bethelks.edu.

The Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (KIPCOR) has been busy with two statewide projects in 2007.

The Kansas Water Office provided grant funds to KIPCOR to develop a workshop on “Reaching Agreement in New Ways” for the Kansas Rural Water Association. The workshop was presented as a pilot at the annual meeting of the KRWA in Wichita on March 28. Additional workshops are scheduled throughout the state during the spring and summer.

As experienced mediators in Kansas, KIPCOR also received a grant from the Kansas Office of Judicial Administration to design and present a training for “mentor mediators,” a new designation by the Kansas Supreme Court recognizing mediators with sufficient experience and training to mentor new mediators. The training was first offered at the Heartland Mediators Association annual meeting on April 28 in Kansas City, Mo.

Inauguration of Barry Bartel ’84 as Bethel’s 13th president will highlight this year’s Fall Festival. The inauguration will take place in Memorial Hall at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8, during the Fall Fest weekend activities.

The annual Fall Festival fair on campus will take place on Saturday, Oct. 7. It will include reunions for the classes of 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991 and 1996. Volunteer hosts are needed for the gatherings. Contact the alumni office at (316) 284-5251 or alumni@bethelks.edu if interested.

Included in the entertainment will be Bethel jazz and vocal ensembles, a brass choir from Goessel USD 411, The Free Staters playing American music from the 1850s, the women’s vocal ensemble Full Circle, a Midian Shrine band, the Tropical Shores steel drum band, Azteca and Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers, a Suzuki violin and dance program, juggling and the traditional Schweitzer and Low German programs. This year the Newton Community Children’s Choir will be joined by the Remington Colt Singers from the Whitewater area and Santa Fe Singers from Newton to perform a vocal program for families.

Taste of Newton downtown on Thursday evening, Oct. 5, will kick off the annual celebration.

Watch the mail in late summer for a Fall Fest flier with complete details