Enjoyable lunch with Bethanian and long time supporter Nancy Reed ('61) in Kingwood, Texas.

21 Bethany Students on PAC Academic Honor Roll

I would like to congratulate the 21 students who have achieved a listing on the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Academic Honor Roll. The PAC Academic Honor Roll recognizes student-athletes on varsity sports teams who have earned a grade-point average (GPA) of 3.6 or higher on a 4.0 scale during their semester of competition.

It is truly an honor to be listed as an exceptional student who excels both in the classroom and outside of it. In achieving this honor, these students have proved themselves as hard workers who value academic success as well as athletics.

Congratulations to these students on their academic-athletic performance this past spring semester. Please see the link below for a full listing of these honorees, and join me in congratulating them on their achievements.

http://www.bethanywv.edu/athletics/athletic-department-news/bison-place-21-2014-pac-spring-academic-honor-roll/

Special thanks to Trustee Ken Bado for sponsoring last night's Dallas Alumni and Friends event at La Cima Club on The Top of Las Colinas. Pictured with Ken (center) and me: Sven de Jong, Matt Bado and Bryan Criswell.

Nice visit with Laura Jacobs Sanders and John Sanders at last night's alumni and friends gathering at La Cima Club on Top of Las Colinas in Texas. Laura's aunt is long time Bethany softball coach Jan Forsty.

Wonderful visit this afternoon with former Bethany President Bill Tucker at his office in Fort Worth, Texas. After leaving Bethany in 1979, he was Chancellor of Texas Christian University for 21 years. He is currently Chancellor-emeritus. The painting in the background is Christman Manor at Pendleton Heights by Wes Wagner.

Bethany to host SCJ National Conference

I am pleased to announce that Bethany College, through the Department of Business, Communications and Media Arts, will host the biennial national conference of the Society for Collegiate Journalists (SCJ) on our campus, October 2-4.

With student journalists and teachers expected to attend from around the country, the conference will focus on latest industry trends and practices in journalism, media, broadcasting and related fields. The conference will be held in conjunction with the 53rd annual Communications Week of guest speakers and presentations and the John Keresty Lectures in Journalism featuring distinguished Bethany alumni and guests. Bethany’s chapter of SCJ is one of the oldest honoraries on our campus with outstanding students inducted each year. Along with Dr. Mort Gamble, Executive Assistant to the President, I am pleased to serve as co-advisor of SCJ.

A full schedule of events and activities will be made available later.

The Bethany Broadcasting Network (BBN) was at Bison Stadium Saturday, July 26, covering the Pep Rally for the Rudy Mumley OVAC All-Star Football Charity Classic. Teams and bands practiced at Bethany College last week. Pictured: M.E. Gamble (Chair of the Department of Business, Communications and Media Arts), Christion Summerlin, Terrel Carter, Joseph Dumas, Nick Lawley and George Cothran. Part of the crew and taking the picture: Dr. Mort Gamble, Executive Assistant to the President.

Hanging out with our granddaughter Addison Sanders (nearly six months old) at the birthday party for our daughter (her aunt) Ashlee Miller.

Enjoyable visit with Bill and Karen Skinner of Steubenville OH, parents of Montana Skinner '18 at the Parents' Social at Christman Manor. Joining us for the picture is Jason McClain, Director of Financial Aid.

Jerry Stebbins, Dean of Students, introducing New Student Orientation Student Leaders, at today’s third NSL summer program in Commencement Hall.

With senior staff of the College before the start of the opening session of New Student Orientation. From left: Eileen Greaf (Vice President for Finance), Dave Ewing (Vice President for Academic Affairs), Sven de Jong (Senior Vice President), Mort Gamble (Executive Assistant to the President), Jerry Stebbins (Dean of Students), and Brian Rose (Director of Athletics and Recreation).

I joined our freshman at New Student Orientation for caricatures in the Old Main Corridor at lunch.

With Heather Taylor (Coordinator of the Writing Center), Malorie Porter (Director of Student Engagement and Responsibility) and new students Samantha Binkley of Arthur, ON, Canada, and Kelly Leihy of Bowie, MD, at last night's New Student Orientation social at Harder Hall.

With student life staff and orientation leaders at a New Student Orientation social at Harder Hall. Pictured: Malorie Porter (Director of Student Engagement and Responsibility), Andrew Lewis (Director of Residence Life), Josie Doss, Kyle Rocky and Madison lfft -- Student Orientation Leaders.

WVICU Supports Bethany Student Scholarships

It is a pleasure to serve on the Board of Directors of West Virginia Independent Colleges and Universities (WVICU), the umbrella organization for the eight non-profit private colleges and universities in our state. Attached is the WVICU Annual Report, "Igniting the Flames of Success: One student at a time," which includes a feature on Bethanian Shannon Marks (page 18). Since WVICU was created in 1951, it has provided over $37 million in scholarship grants to students enrolled in West Virginia's independent institutions.

Many of these students, as noted in the report, are first-generation students who have benefited from the Circle of Vision and Legacy Endowment Scholarship funds.

Last year, WVICU also began observing the activities of the Legislature to be certain that our private colleges and their students have support comparable to those given other students. Our goal is to ensure that our representatives in the Legislature recognize the value of a private college experience and our distinctive role in higher education in West Virginia.

I hope you enjoy the WVICU Annual Report and appreciate the good work of this organization in supporting many of our Bethany students.

http://www.bethanywv.edu/president/WVICUReport2013.pdf

Visiting with the faculty and staff of The Neighborhood Academy at the closing ceremony of the program. This marks the seventh year of the Bethany-TNA summer program. 53 students attended this year. Front row (left) is Saralyn Dague, Director of Business Affairs, and (right) Heather Taylor, Program Director. Our new Bethany Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Dave Ewing, is next to me. To learn more about TNA: http://www.theneighborhoodacademy.org/

The Neighborhood Academy has been visiting Bethany campus for a college experience for the seven summers. Brent Jernigan, Director of Academics for TNA, has brought his son, Brent, along for the last four summers. Little Brent, as he's called, participates in all of the classes while he's here. Joining us for the picture is Heather Taylor, Director of the Writing Center and Assistant Professor of English.

Paige Prato Selected as PAC Representative for NCAA Woman of the Year

I am pleased to share that Bethany College Track & Field standout Paige Prato (Gibsonia, Pa./Deer Lakes) has recently been selected by the Presidents’ Athletic Conference to represent the PAC for this year’s National Collegiate Athletic Association Woman of the Year Award. The Woman of the Year Award honors graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academics, athletics, service and leadership.

The NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced at the annual ceremony in Indianapolis on Sunday, Oct. 19.

Upon receiving nominations from its member institutions, each conference was responsible for assessing the nominees’ eligibility and subsequently selecting a conference nominee based on collective achievements. Read more about Paige’s many accomplishments here: http://www.bethanywv.edu/athletics/athletic-department-news/bethanys-prato-selected-pacs-ncaa-woman-year-nominee/

Just one day after graduation, Paige started in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Ohio University.

Congratulations to Paige on another stellar accomplishment.

Bethany Broadcasting Network Webstreaming Events

I am pleased to report that BBN, the Bethany Broadcasting Network, will resume live webstreaming coverage of selected campus athletics and events this fall. This year, six varsity sports will be covered.

The fall schedule will include broadcast of eight men’s and seven women’s games, with the “Game Day” program featured during football and field hockey. which allows access to live webcasts as well as archived games and events from 2009 to 2014. I encourage you to book mark this link. The Bethany website contains an ONLINE icon (http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/bethanywvadmin.portal# ).

BBN is managed by an all-student crew from the Department of Business, Communications, and Media Arts, chaired by M.E. Yancosek Gamble. Joseph Dumas is the production engineer. Many of the department’s graduates have gone on to careers in broadcasting at the local and network levels, having benefited from the hands-on experience of covering campus events.

BBN supports our liberal arts mission even in today’s modern, technology-driven workplace. We know that in order for an employee in media and communications to be successful, he or she must be able to think critically, act immediately and communicate effectively in a team environment with other skilled individuals. As the Christian Science Monitor (Elsa Núñez, July 25, 2011) points out, “Today’s employers want workers who are thinkers. To meet the demands of the 21st century student and economy, a new model of liberal arts is emerging – one tied to hands-on experience.”

Enjoyable visit Teri and Michael Anderson, parents of new Bethanians Abby and Rebecca Arkwright, at the parent's social at Christman Manor. That's Mollie Cecere, Director of Enrollment Management, joining us for the picture.

Delightful visit with Bethanian John Bisi '85 of Dallas, Texas, at the parent's social at Christman Manor yesterday. John's daughter, Paige, will be attending Bethany this fall. Joining us for the picture is Sven de Jong,'95, Senior Vice President of the College.

New Bethanians and their families were treated to caricatures at today’s New Student Orientation. Even Bethany upperclassmen Amanda Weber and Chris White, in town to work the event, took a few moments to pose for a masterpiece.

Summer Issue of Bethany Today

Please enjoy the most recent issue of Bethany Today magazine:
http://www.bethanywv.edu/files/3614/0016/4576/Bethany_S14.pdf

The focus of this issue is “Mentoring: Shaping Young Lives.” Kudos to Mort Gamble, Executive Assistant to the President, and Becky Rose, Director of Communications, on another outstanding magazine.

2014 Kalon Leadership Scholars

I am pleased to announce a new talented group of Kalon Leadership Scholars for 2014. The Kalon Leadership Scholarship, which is awarded to incoming students with a record of strong leadership, is determined by College faculty and staff through a competitive application process each spring. An on-campus interview and an essay discussing the student’s leadership achievements are key factors in awarding the scholarship. Bethany College honors up to 40 scholars in any given year through The Kalon Leadership Scholarship program.


The 2014 Kalon Leadership Scholars include:

Emily Anderson of Wheeling, West Virginia

Alexis Archer of Kalkska, Michigan

Don Bierhals of Cabot, Pennsylvania

Alexandra Grumski of Sewickley, Pennsylvania

Abigail Kojsza of Wayne, West Virginia

Zachary Lowe of Jacksonville, Florida

Logan Montague of Avon Lake, Ohio

Maclaine Murad of Bridgeport, Ohio

Taylor Sasak of Berea, Ohio

Read more about our newest Bethanians here:
http://www.bethanywv.edu/about-bethany/news/2013-14-news-archive/bethany-awards-nine-incoming-students-kalon-leadership-schol/

Matriculation Ceremony Opens 175th Year of Bethany College

The traditional Bethany College Matriculation Ceremony, welcoming the Class of 2018, will take place on Friday, August 22, at 12 noon in the Tilock Amphitheatre of the Pennington Quadrangle. The ceremony is for all incoming and transfer students, and is a rite of passage by which one officially becomes a Bethanian. Of special significance, the event begins the 175th year of Bethany College.

The ceremony will be webcast live by the Bethany Broadcasting Network (BBN):

http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/bethanywvadmin.portal#.

A pizza social at Harder Hall last night as we greet early arrivals for the second of our four New Student Orientations. Pictured: Gabrielle Berrios of Hamilton NJ; Tyree Ceasar of Huntington WV; and Marcus Thomas of Cleveland, Ohio. Joining us for the picture is Dr. David Ewing, our new Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty.

M.E. Yancosek Gamble, Chair of the Bethany College Department of Business, Communications and Media Arts; Johnathan Foster, Bethany Class of 2013, and Dr. Mort Gamble, Executive Assistant to the President of Bethany, visit during the July 4th baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies at PNC Park. Johnathan is now in his second year of law school at the University of Pittsburgh. He and Mort both hail from Cumberland, Maryland.

Enjoyable dinner with friends and colleagues from Wesley College July 5 in Milton, Delaware: Chet Long, Eric Nelson, Sue Fox, and Tom Sturgis

Enjoyable evening July 4 with the Bethany gang at the PNC Suite at PNC Park.

Nice visiting with Frank Coonelly, President of the Pittsburgh Pirates and a good friend to Bethany College, in the PNC Suite at the July 4 Pirates v Phillies game.

Standout from the 1971 World Series Champion Pirates first baseman Bob Robertson with the Bethany crew in the PNC Suite. Bob lives in Cumberland, MD. Also from Cumberland (and pictured) Bethanian Johnathan Foster.

Thanks to our good friend and BC trustee Sy Holzer (President - PNC Pittsburgh) for hosting our Bethany group in the PNC Suite for the July 4 Pirates v. Phillies game.

So good to have Johnathan Foster ('13) join us in the PNC Suite for the Pirates v. Phillies game July 4. Johnathan is now in his second year of law school at the University of Pittsburgh.

Enjoyable visit with Kelli Jo McNemar, the new director of the West Virginia Campus Compact. Joining us for the meeting was Kathy Shelek-Furbee, Chair of the Department of Social Work and Coordinator of Bethany’s Service Learning Center. I currently serve as the Chair of the West Virginia Campus Compact Board. WVCC, an initiative of the Higher Education Policy Commission, is one of 34 Campus Compact organizations throughout the nation. Each state compact supports programs and partnerships that harness the power of higher education in service to the community.

Special Thanks and Best Wishes to Judy Pyle

I want to take a moment and acknowledge Judy Pyle, executive assistant in the Center for Institutional Advancement, as she retires today after more than 30 years of service to Bethany College. As many of you know, Judy has provided loyal and conscientious service to Bethany College throughout her tenure here. She has worked in a variety of capacities, and will continue to volunteer as a guide and resource for Campbell Mansion and its many visitors.

Judy has earned our appreciation and admiration for her years of service to the College and its people, and we thank her for her many contributions not only to the institution but to the entire community of Bethany, the Bethany Memorial Church, and Bethanians everywhere. Please join me in wishing her and her husband Lawrence all the best in their retirement.