March 2016

The newest face in Bethel athletics has a musical challenge in front of him.

Brad Shores, Haven, will recruit for and build Bethel’s first-ever scramble band, the only one of its kind in the state of Kansas.

He begins his position as Bethel’s athletic band director in mid-May.

A scramble band, or scatter band, is a particular type of field-performing band with distinct characteristics — most notably, scramble bands don’t normally march. The name comes from the way the band moves between formations — by running to each without using a prescribed path, called scrambling or scattering.

The band will also function as a pep band.

Shores, who has been named the Kansas Music Educators Association Outstanding High School Music Educator for 2015-16, is currently the middle-school and high-school band instructor for USD 312 in Haven.

He has been there since 2000, leading marching, pep, concert and steel drum bands as well as giving instruction in guitar and music theory. Shores is himself a steel-drum player.

Read more of this article.

Bethel opera audiences may have come to expect comedic or farcical productions — but not this time.

Nonetheless, the message of the deeply dramatic Iphigenia in Tauris is one of forgiveness and redemption, says music director Chris David Westover, director of instrumental music.

The Bethel music and theater departments will present Christoph Willibald Gluck’s lyric drama in four acts March 11 and 13 in Krehbiel Auditorium in Luyken Fine Arts Center.

The Friday performance is at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday matinee is at 3 p.m. Tickets are on sale in Thresher Shop in Schultz Student Center, or at the door, subject to availability.

The opera and the performance times differ from printed calendars.

Although start times are later than originally planned, Westover cautions: “Don’t come late for this opera. There is no overture — Gluck thought the overture was a convention that detracted from the drama, so he didn’t write them.” . . .

“The music is stunningly beautiful,” says Westover. “This was the favorite opera of both Wagner and Berlioz, and the reason they both gave themselves completely to music and started writing operas themselves.”

For Bethel’s Iphigenia in Tauris, there will be guest artists in the title role of Iphigenia and in the role of King Thoas.

Monica Schmidt will sing Iphigenia. A graduate of Haven High School and Bethel College (2011), she is the former language arts teacher at Moundridge High School and now teaches at Maize South High School.

She has studied at Canta in Italia, the summer voice and opera program that Wichita State University coordinates in Lucca, Italy.

Andrew Voth will sing Thoas. The Topeka native is also a Bethel graduate (2013) and is the vocal music teacher and choral director at Goessel High School.

Ryne Preheim, sophomore from Reedley, California, appears in the role of Orestes and Shekhinah Jones, sophomore from Salina, as Pylades.

Read more of this article.

The Bethel College cheerleading team has its first-ever conference championship.

The Threshers hosted the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Invitational Feb. 12 in Thresher Gym, finishing first with a score of 84.625, and topping teams from Kansas Wesleyan University, Ottawa University, Sterling College and University of St. Mary.

Because there were not at least six teams participating in the tournament, the KCAC champion does not earn an automatic bid to the national tournament. However, said Joseph Gogus, head cheer coach, “We have high hopes of earning an at-large bid because of our high score.”

The NAIA Cheer National Tournament is March 10–12 at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.

In “team cheer,” Bethel was first, followed by Ottawa, with 79.125, Kansas Wesleyan with 78.025, Sterling with 76.75 and St. Mary with 65.5.

In addition to winning the team competition, Bethel also dominated in the KCAC All-Star selection (awarded for individual excellence), capturing six of the seven spots.

Winning recognition were seniors Erin Doerksen, Newton, and Jenni Schrag, McPherson; sophomores Kendra Gonzales, Minneapolis, and Justin Haflich, Pretty Prairie; and freshmen Whitney Danbury, Killeen, Texas, and Nathaniel Ortega-Torres, Harker Heights, Texas.

Danbury tied for the highest score (18.33) with Elissa Bailey of Kansas Wesleyan.

A week later, on Feb. 19, the Threshers and 10 other teams competed in the NAIA South Cheer Qualifier at Oklahoma City University. With a score of 89.68 points, Bethel came in second to the host university, which had 92.85. Scores for the remaining nine colleges and universities ranged from 72.2475 to 86.7725.

Another Bethel forensics team member has qualified for the national tournament, while two others will now be taking additional events.

Bethel hosted the Kansas State Individual Events Tournament, better known as KASIE, on campus Feb. 20, and finished first for the day.

“The team did exceptionally well,” said Bethel head forensics coach Mallory Marsh, “with each student competing in at least one final round.”

Other schools at KASIE were Hutchinson Community College, Independence Community College, Kansas Wesleyan University, Kansas State University, Ottawa University and Sterling College.

Kendra Gonzales, sophomore from Minneapolis, was the tournament champion in Program of Oral Interpretation, which gave her what she needed to qualify that event for the American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament (AFA-NIET) in April.

She was also 3rd in Informative Speaking and 4th in Prose Interpretation.

Two freshmen, Candy Dao of Salina and Emily Kondziola of North Newton, each brought home state championships as well, in Poetry Interpretation and Impromptu Speaking, respectively, while also qualifying their second event to AFA-NIET. . . .

Read more of this article.

View profiles of the team members.

Another large class participated in the annual lamplighting for junior nursing majors at Bethel College.

The traditional ceremony, which recognized the Class of 2017, took place Feb. 20 in Krehbiel Auditorium, with 25 of the 28 class members participating.

Two members of the class had roles in the lamplighting service.

Following the processional, junior Michelle Aguinaga welcomed friends and family.

Geri Tyrell, director of nursing (pictured at right with student Rickey Rodriguez), spoke briefly on the meaning of lamplighting, a Bethel tradition that honors upper-class nursing students for their commitment to the profession . . .

Members of the Bethel College nursing class of 2017 honored at the lamplighting were:

• Michelle Aguinaga, Wichita
• Alexis Brewer, Prescott Valley, Arizona
• Hannah Brinker, Shawnee
• Heather Dovenbarger, Lindsborg
• Isaac Dunn, Fresno, California
• Trent Fynaut, Madera, California
• Rachael Harder, Augusta
• Hailey Heide, Wichita
• Russell Kramer, Wichita
• Janae Lawson, Wichita
• Lisa Loehr, Garden Plain
• Sarah Loehr, Garden Plain
• Falon McGovern, Benton
• Tana Myers, McPherson
• Shannon Neifert, Pratt
• Brooke Neumann, Sterling
• Holly Peters, Hesston
• Kaylyn Rhodes, Wichita
• Bryna Rietcheck, Bavaria
• Rickey Rodriguez, Port Saint Lucie, Florida
• Blake Samsky, Salina
• Morgan Schrock, Hesston
• Twila Smedley, Manter
• Carrie Wiegand, Salina
• Melissa Wimer, Smolan

(Absent were Taylor Adlesperger, Wichita, Delanie DeOrsey, Wichita, and Stephanie Duncan, North Newton.)

Read more of this article.

February was annual Bethel phonathon month, and alumni once again responded generously to the appeal mailed in January, or by making a commitment when recently called.

This year students, alumni volunteers and staff used a new, interactive computer program when phoning. It allowed them to enter responses directly into the database, not only financial commitments but updates of personal or contact information.

“Bethel appreciates the generosity of the many alumni who responded to this year’s phonathon,” said Pam Tieszen, vice president for institutional advancement, “and their patience as the college used a computer-guided process for the very first time.

“It took a bit longer to generate pledge reminders using the new system. Those who made commitments to give a specific amount or asked for a general reminder can expect confirmation by mid-March. We appreciate their flexibility as we refine the new method.”

Alumni who’ve not yet donated may do so by:

• sending a check (made payable to “Bethel College Phonathon 2016”) to the Bethel College Development Office, 300 East 27th Street, North Newton, KS 67117,
• giving online, noting that their donation is for the phonathon,
• or setting up a monthly credit card gift or bank auto-draft. Call 316-284-5250 or e-mail the Development Office for details.

“Creative learning is happening at Bethel,” Tieszen added, “including a new graphic design program; a literary studies internship; new campus ministries initiatives; field trips to Orthodox Christian churches, synagogues and mosques in Wichita; social work students heading to Dallas for a professional social work experience; new brass and string quartets; science abstracts accepted for a national conference in North Carolina; and plans for another business department trip to South America in January 2017. Donations from alumni and friends help make these opportunities possible.”

Bethel alumni and friends are invited to hear the Bethel College Concert Choir when it circles the plains during spring break, March 18-27, singing in Manhattan, Topeka, Kansas City and Ransom, Kansas; Beatrice and Lincoln, Nebraska; and Denver and Colorado Springs, Colorado. The tour will close with a home concert in Memorial Hall.

Details are on the tour schedule web page.

It’s March, and that means basketball madness — across the U.S. and at Kauffman Museum!

Check out the Bethel College and Newton High School basketball section of the current exhibit, Root for the Home Team: Building Community through Sports, on display through June 5.

Those interested in the many basketball highlights may:

• stand at the center jump circle from Newton High School’s Lindley Hall, where Bethel played its “home” games from 1947–1973.
• remember those short shorts! On display are men’s shorts circa 1980 as well as a revealing photo of the 1918 BC team.
• look overhead for KCAC championship banners from the 1955–56 and 1972–73 men’s team and the 1976–77 women’s team.
• view the signed NAIA ball from the 2002–03 Bethel men’s team, the most recent to go to the national tournament.
• learn about the first intercollegiate Bethel women’s team, which began in 1958 and went 27–1 over the next three seasons.
• contemplate the segregated past of Newton High basketball, which integrated in 1952.

Visitors are encouraged to add their own memories and stories to the exhibit.

Museum hours are:

9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Tuesday–Friday
1:30–4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Kauffman Museum invites alumni and friends of Bethel to sign up for two bus tours this spring:

Wichita Museums Celebrate Gordon Parks — March 29

Tour participants will visit three museums that are hosting concurrent exhibits of works by groundbreaking African-American photographer Gordon Parks. The trip will include guided tours at the Wichita Art Museum (WAM), the Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University, and the Kansas African American Museum.

The excursion includes lunch at WAM, a session with Bethel associate professor of visual art and design Rachel Epp Buller ’96 and time to interact with Wichita councilwoman Lavonta Williams. The day will close with a southern supper catered by Rachel’s Kitchen.

Cost per person for the Parks tour is $100 for museum members and $115 for non-members.

Knowing Naismith — April 21

Participants will travel to Lawrence to visit Allen Field House, Booth Hall of Athletics and the DeBruce Center on the University of Kansas campus. The latter displays the original rules for the game of basketball, written by game founder James Naismith.

After lunch at the Free State Brewing Company, the group will visit the Watkins Museum of History, then embark on a driving tour hosted by a historical interpreter portraying Naismith. “Dr. Naismith” will escort riders to a memorial in his honor, his own grave site and other Lawrence highlights.

Cost per person for the Naismith tour is $125 for museum members and $140 for non-members. Supper on the way back to North Newton is included.

For more information or to register for either of both tours, e-mail Andi Schmidt Andres or call 316-283-1612.

All grandparents of current students are invited to Grandparents Day at Life Enrichment, Wednesday, April 13.

The new take on two Bethel traditions is a collaboration between the long-running Life Enrichment Program and the Student Alumni Association (SAA), which offered the event independently for years.

Check-in will be 9–9:15 a.m. in the Luyken Fine Arts Center lobby, followed by three programs in adjoining Krehbiel Auditorium. At 9:30 a.m., John McCabe-Juhnke ’78, Bethel professor of communication arts, will share information about his 2014–15 sabbatical in Ukraine. At 10:35 a.m., Casey Schunn ’14 will present “Thresher Shop management and fashion show.” Bethel students in this year’s C. Henry Smith Peace Oration competition will speak at 11:30 a.m.

Registration in advance is requested. So that all grandparents of current students might receive an invitation and registration form, please e-mail the alumni office by Monday, March 14, if possible, with:

• the name(s) of the current Bethel student(s) and
• the name(s) and address(es) of their grandparent(s) and great-grandparent(s).

Current students are encouraged to join their grandparents for the presentations (no student registration necessary), and invite them to their classes during the day. Guests and students may also enjoy free time together at Mojo’s Coffee Bar; see a residence hall; and/or go to the art gallery, Thresher Shop or Kauffman Museum.

“Combining the past version of Grandparents Day with Life Enrichment gives folks new to campus the opportunity to interact with Bethel alumni and friends from the local community,” said Dave Linscheid ’75, director of alumni relations and SAA advisor. “It also allows retired people who live in the area and aren’t acquainted with Life Enrichment to experience it. They may want to keep coming in the future.”

Other guests are welcome to accompany grandparents who need transportation or assistance while on campus. Invitations and registration forms will be mailed out beginning in mid-March.

As spring approaches, Thresher Shop wants to move cold-climate clothing to make room for warm-weather wear. Purchase any hooded sweatshirt this month and you’ll save 20 percent on your entire order!

Stop by the shop — open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday in Schultz Student Center — or:

• view the items available at Thresher Shop online
• make your selections, including at least one hooded sweatshirt in order to receive the 20-percent discount on your entire order
• during checkout, enter FO854TCEU8V03 in the Coupon Code box before proceeding to the payment options

Pay by credit card or via PayPal. And, Thresher Shop can ship almost anywhere in the world.

If questions, e-mail the shop or call 316-283-2500 during business hours.