Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Literary Contest Open to Students

Students are encouraged to enter their poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction in the 2015 ECHO Student Literary Competition for a chance to win cash prizes up to $175. Students may also win $100 or $50 depending on their ranking for each category. Students will also have a chance to receive publication in the ECHO anthology. 

This is the fourth annual ECHO contest. There are only six colleges selected to participate in the Echo Student Literary Competition. This contest is open to undergraduate students currently enrolled at Bethany, Heidelberg University, Hiram College, Marietta College, University of Mount Union, and Muskingum University. The program is supported by an endowment created by the charter members of the former East Central Colleges Consortium.

For more information, please visit contest's website:

http://echocompetition.wordpress.com/ and "like" the contest's Facebook site for reminders and updates: https://www.facebook.com/EchoStudentLiteraryCompetition.

For any additional questions, please contact Dr. Janeshek (jjaneshek@bethanywv.edu).



Monday, November 24, 2014

Special thanks to Stevenson University athletic director Brett Adams for being a wonderful host for the entire Bethany College travel party at today's ECAC Southeast Bowl in Baltimore.

Grant Delaney and Dan Seaman calling the plays for WVBC (Bethany Broadcasting Network) at the ECAC Southeast Bowl in Baltimore. Catch the game live now.

Thanks to long time friend and colleague Kevin Manning, President of Stevenson University, for outstanding hospitality at today's ECAC Southeast Bowl in Baltimore. Joining us for the picture in the President's Box: Brian Rose, Director of Athletics and Recreation, and George Davis '78, Trustee Emeritus.

At the Peter Jensen '81 Bethany tailgate party before the ECAC Southeast Bowl in Baltimore.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Reminder: Bethany Football Post-Season Play to be Broadcast on BBN

Don’t forget you can watch or listen to tomorrow’s ECAC Southeast Bowl via the Bethany Broadcasting Network.

BCTV, our TV network, is scheduled to carry the network feed from Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD, for Saturday's ECAC Bowl Game with our Bethany Bison football team. Coverage is slated to begin at 2 p.m. on Stretch Internet.

For a link off the Bethany website, go to portal.stretchinternet.com/bethanywv/.

Simultaneously, this Saturday’s 3 p.m. men’s basketball game against Heidelberg here on campus is also set to be broadcast at the same time with the GameDay Show beginning at 2:30 p.m. and tip-off at 3 p.m. These two live events at once on our website will give our fans the choice of which they want to watch, and the option of switching back and forth.

Bison football fans can also tune-in to WVBC Internet radio for the ECAC Southeast Bowl game starting at 2 p.m. WVBC student announcers Grant Delaney and Dan Seaman will being doing the live sportscast.

Listening to WVBC Radio is easy. Use the free Bethany College app, or from the main Bethany College website, click on the BBN logo, then the WVBC radio button. Or, from any telephone, simply dial 213-493-0198 and hear your Bethany College announcers.

Thanks to the Bethany Department of Business, Communications and Media Arts, BCTV, WVBC, and BBN for making these exciting arrangements.
The Scott Electric Foundation of Greensburg, PA, made a $25,000 donation to Bethany College today to be directed to the facilities maintenance of the College. Mike Brklycica, sales rep, and Dick Smith, director of sales, presented the donation to Ted Williams, director of the Physical Plant, and Dr. Scott D. Miller, President of the College. Scott Electric is a wholesale electrical distribution company, and Bethany has had a long history with the company.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Deadline Nov. 30: Nominations for President’s Award for Excellence in Performance

For the seventh year, Bethany College will honor an outstanding faculty and staff member with the President’s Award for Excellence in Performance.

To nominate a colleague, simply write a letter of nomination to me that describes in detail why the nominee is deserving of this award. Please submit nominations by Sunday, November 30, 2014.

The awards in each category will be presented at the Spring Honors Convocation. Each person selected will receive a cash stipend and will have his or her name displayed on a permanent plaque in the Office of the President.

Thank you for your assistance in recognizing outstanding contributions to Bethany College in this way.
Great visiting with Jack Morrison '52 and Bill Watson '51 at Bethany College alumni and friends event in San Francisco.
Thanks to Diane Dranikoski Bode '96 and her husband Marcus for hosting Bethany College alumni and friends event at Delancey Street Restaurant in San Francisco.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Clayton Burch, Associate Superintendent of West Virginia Department of Education, addressing members of the Bethany College community as part of American Education Week.




Enjoyable dinner with loyal Bethanians Wayne '50 and Marie Reynolds Balling '48 in San Jose, California.
Enjoyable lunch with Bethanian Ann Cochran Preston '56 at The Sequoias in San Francisco. Ann is Trustee-Emerita. Her family has been actively involved with the College for generations.


Tuesday, November 18, 2014

The Fourth Annual Light-Up Night and Charity Christmas Tree Auction

Bethany College will hold its Fourth Annual Light-Up Night and Charity Christmas Tree Auction on Thursday, December 4th, 2014, at 6:30 p.m. in Commencement Hall.

The official lighting of the tree as well as the charity tree and wreath auction will be highlights of the evening.

The wreaths and trees that are being auctioned off are to be decorated in various holiday themes. All of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to Bernie’s Kids.

This charity is named in honor of the late Brooke County Sheriff and Commissioner Bernie Kazienko. The charity provides presents for needy children in Brooke County.

Santa will also be in attendance! All children who come to the auction are able to visit and get their picture taken with Santa. The children also are able to write and decorate a special letter to Santa.

The Fourth Annual Light-Up Night and Charity Christmas Tree Auction is open to the public. Gerald Stebbins, Dean of Students, can be contacted for more information at gstebbins@bethanywv.edu or at (304) 829-7631.

Good Luck to Bison Football Team in ECAC Southeast Bowl

For just the second time in program history, the Bethany football Bison will advance to post-season play when they compete in the ECAC Southeast Bowl Saturday, November 22, at 2 p.m. at Owings Mills, Maryland. The Mustangs of Stevenson University (7-3) from the Mid-Atlantic Conference will serve as our opponent and host.

We congratulate Coach Bill Garvey, his staff, and players for this outstanding accomplishment. This will be the first post-season trip for the football team since the 1980 Bison won the PAC Championship.

Ticket information and other details will be available on our website later this week. Please join me in wishing our football team the very best as they compete in this exciting match-up.

Fight the Flu!

The Centers for Disease Control remind us that college students are at a unique risk of contracting the flu due to their lifestyle factors. Close contact such as that found in residence halls, classrooms, public transportation, parties, and sports events makes flu especially easy to spread at a college. Further, lack of sleep, not eating healthfully, and not exercising regularly can weaken the immune system, making young adults more vulnerable to the flu.

Along with practicing healthy habits, the best way to protect against the flu is to get a vaccination every single year. Our Byrd Health Center is providing flu shots on campus. There is a charge for the flu vaccine, $15, and with a student’s authorization, the charge may be billed to his or her student account. The vaccination can be given to anyone coming into the Byrd Center during the hours in which the Center is open. Through the dedication of Carol Tyler, Director of Health Services, and her team, the College consistently has achieved high levels of participation in recent years. We encourage you to continue this positive trend.


The Bethany alumni and friends event at Jhamal Robinson's house overlooking Hollywood tonight enabled Cathy Pyles, mother of current Bethany standout swimmer Alexi Pyles, to visit with Bethanian Jimmy Veres ('70), a former national championship swimmer at Bethany. Also pictured is Alexi's sister, Madulan.
With Dean Lesiak ('74), Jhamal Robinson ('98) and Suzi Abbott Lesiak ('75) at the Los Angeles alumni and friends event at Jhamal's home overlooking Hollywood.
As Chair of the Board of Directors of Washington, DC-based Academic Search, Inc., served on a panel discussing "Personnel Solutions for the Academy -- Talent and More Talent" at The Registry for College and University Presidents at Hotel del Coronado in San Diego. Pictured with George Matthews, Chancellor of The Registry for College and University Presidents, Bryan Carlson, President of TRCUP, and Jessica Kozloff, President of Academic Search.
Wonderful birthday dinner with Bill Warren ('53) at Big Canyon Country Club. Pictured with Bill and Margaret Ogilvy Warren ('53) and Sven de Jong ('95), Senior Vice President.



Enjoyable lunch with proud Bethanian Doug Pettit ('89) at the historic Grant Hotel in San Diego. After Bethany, Doug attended Washington and Lee University law school.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Bethany to Celebrate American Education Week

Dr. Scott D. Miller, President of the College, signed a resolution Thursday in recognition of Bethany's Education Department's observation of American Education Week. As part of the National Education Association's 93rd annual American Education Week celebration, Nov. 17 - 21 Bethany College will hold a number of activities to raise awareness about the critical need to provide every child with a quality education. Pictured with Dr. Miller is Dr. Sherri Theaker, Associate Professor of Education, Chair of the Education Department and CAEP Coordinator. W. Clayton Burch, West Virginia’s Interim Associate Superintendent of Schools, will provide the keynote address on Nov. 18 at 11 a.m. in Hurl Auditorium.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Boomer’s Book Club

This Saturday, November 15, children from pre-K to sixth grade are invited to spend time with Boomer and other Bethanians at Boomer’s Book Club.

This free event, hosted by staff of the T.W. Phillips Library, the Department of Education, Kappa Delta Pi, and other organizations, is centered on the 50th Anniversary of the classic children’s book “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein. Not only will participants make crafts based on the book, but they will also have the opportunity to travel to fun game stations.

Boomer’s Book Club will be held at the Hurl Education Center from 10 a.m. to noon. Any questions should be directed to Professor Angela Icard at 304-829-7762.

Join Us in Saying “Thank You” on National Philanthropy Day


Every year, the non-profit community and those who are served by charitable and educational organizations join on November 15, National Philanthropy Day, to say “thank you.”

First recognized officially by President Ronald Reagan in the 1980’s, National Philanthropy Day “is a celebration of philanthropy—giving, volunteering and charitable engagement—that highlights the accomplishments, large and small, that philanthropy—and all those involved in the philanthropic process—makes to our society and our world,” according to the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Bethany College, therefore, expresses appreciation to all those who make a difference in our institution, programs, and capacity to serve. We gratefully do so on this special day, and throughout the year.

We recognize that giving takes many forms—through contributions of time, talent, and treasure, through the creation and implementation of good ideas that work for people, and through the countless acts of individual, often unseen, kindness and generosity that enrich our campus community and traditions.

Examples at Bethany abound. Gifts by alumni and friends have brought the first phase of our capital campaign, “Transformation Now!” to the $48 million mark in support to strengthen our facilities, endowment, and current programs. Our many students, faculty, staff, and organizations engaged in service from our campus contribute thousands of hours to various causes and purposes. Bethany has again been admitted to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for engaging its students, faculty, and staff in meaningful service that achieves measurable results in the community. It is noteworthy that over 85 percent of our students commit to community service during their time with us.

To all who give to Bethany and, through our institution, to those we serve, we offer heartfelt thanks for making philanthropy, defined as the “love of humankind,” a richly rewarding priority every day of the year.
Enjoyable Faculty Emeritus dinner with Jay Buckelew, Randy Cooey, Robert Payson, Robyn Cole and James Keegan tonight at Christman Manor. Heather Ricciuti, The Mary Cutlip Director of the Libraries and Learning Resources, and Beth Carpenter, Liberal Arts Librarian, presented the program.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

My first exposure to Bethany was running cross country for West Virginia Wesleyan against the Bison in the late 1970s. Tonight, we continued an annual tradition of hosting the Bethany cross country team for dinner and discussion at Christman Manor before the NCAA Regional Championships. A wonderful group of athletes, students and leaders.


Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Enjoyable dinner and visit at Christman Manor with leaders of each of the Greek organizations: (standing, from left) Sam Goodge (Director of Student Activities), Erika Clayton (Greek Coordinator), Dakota Maravelis, Robert Bush, Brandon Martell, Jerry Stebbins (Dean of Students), and Sam Duvall. Front, Chloe McClung, Carson Kocay, Julia Anderson, and Jenna Clancy.

With Tess Parry, Chair of the Kalon Leadership Academy, and Kathy Furbee, Advisor of the Kalon Leadership Scholars program.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Bethany Enrollment Video Captures Students’ Possibilities

Following another successful Green & White Day this past weekend, I wanted to share with you Bethany’s new enrollment video. This video is being shared with prospective students via email and is also available for them to view while they are on campus. Once again, special thanks to Bethanian Jeff Flick ('82) and his colleagues at the Pittsburgh firm of BD&E for this outstanding production that captures what it means to be a Bethanian.

Please click the link:

http://youtu.be/jWzu9CLb9Ow?list=UUj15qmjovJuBazKmAq7ly9g
Jim Greene '63 hosted Youngstown Area Alumni and Friends gathering at Tippecanoe Country Club in Canfield, Ohio. Jim is a retired corporate executive and member of the Board of Trustees at Youngstown State University. Joining us for the picture are Dr. Mort Gamble, Executive Assistant to the President, and Ashley Kanotz, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations.


Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Nominations sought for President’s Award for Excellence in Performance

For the seventh year, Bethany College will honor an outstanding faculty and staff member with the President’s Award for Excellence in Performance.

To nominate a colleague, simply write a letter of nomination to me that describes in detail why the nominee is deserving of this award.

The awards in each category will be presented at the Spring Honors Convocation. Each person selected will receive a cash stipend and will have his or her name displayed on a permanent plaque in the Office of the President.

Thank you for your assistance in recognizing outstanding contributions to Bethany College in this way.

Bethany Paintings by Edward Troye Showcased in Middleburg, VA, Museum Exhibit

Two treasured paintings from the Bethany College art collection are featured in a special exhibition devoted to the works of Edward Troye at the National Sporting Library & Museum in Middleburg, Virginia, through March 29.

“Faithfulness to Nature: Paintings by Edward Troye” features two of Troye’s signature works: A Bazaar at Damascus (1856) and Syrian Ploughman (1856), on loan by Bethany to the Museum (www.nsl.org). The works were highlights of a preview of the exhibition on October 25 in Middleburg. Dr. Mort Gamble, Executive Assistant to the President, represented Bethany College at the preview, which included a presentation on Troye’s works by Jeffrey Allison, Paul Mellon Collection Educator at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.

The mural-sized paintings required months of planning for professional removal from their permanent home in Bethany’s Academic Parlour in Old Main and transport to Virginia for the exhibition.

“As Bethany College prepares to celebrate our 175th anniversary in 2015 as West Virginia’s oldest college, we are honored to have these works represented in the exhibition,” President Scott D. Miller said. “It is a fitting way for us to share the paintings with a wider audience through the National Sporting Library & Museum, as we highlight our own mission and heritage in liberal arts education.”


The Museum and Library are located at 102 The Plains Road in Middleburg (540-687-6542). Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sundays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed on federal holidays. Admission is free Wednesdays and the last Sunday of each month.

Monday, November 3, 2014



The host of “American Ninja Warrior,” Matt Iseman, is visiting Bethany today and will speak tonight at 8:00 p.m. in Wailes Theater. Please join us as we learn about his journey to the television industry by way of the medical field and get a peek behind the scenes of this hit NBC show. Special thanks to Trustee Jhamal Robinson, VP for Production at TLC, who made this event possible. Jhamal, a loyal Bethanian, will be serving as the host of the event, and there will be an opportunity for questions and answers.

The “Strides for Health” walking program

The Strides for Health walking program, sponsored by the Bethany College Office of Human Resources, officially begins today (November 3) and will run for eight consecutive weeks. I am writing to encourage your participation.

Each registered participant will receive a t-shirt, pedometer, participant guide and a tracking log. Your activity can be measured by the pedometer in steps or minutes.

According to Doug McConahy, Director of Human Resources, the equivalent of one mile is 2000 steps. The goal for all participants is to walk 24 miles or 16 hours over the eight-week period. Employees who achieve this goal will have their names included in a drawing for a prize.

We encourage everyone to get involved in the program. When the weather is nice, walk on campus. As the weather gets cold, feel free to walk in the Sandwen Arena of the Thomas P. Johnson Recreation Center or use the treadmill in Cummins Community Center. If you would like to be a part of a walking group, please contact Doug. He already has a group that will walk on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the lunch hour at the indoor or outdoor track (depending on the weather).

Thank you, Doug, for initiating this program.
For the second time in three years, Bethany hosted the PAC Cross Country Championships. Pictured: Brian Rose, Bethany Director of Athletics, Joe Onderko, PAC Commissioner, and Mike Guinn, Bison Head Cross Country Coach.