Thursday, April 30, 2015

Enjoyable dinner at Christman Manor with Bethany's Kalon Leadership Scholars. Thanks to the Scholars for the commemorative signed plaque. You all have been a very special part of our time here.

Congratulations to last year's Bethany College Valedictorian Cameron Cooper (third row, left).

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Senior Week

Good morning,

Each year, graduating seniors enjoy "Senior Week,” a five-day celebration of their accomplishments. Senior Week is managed by the class president. This year it is led by Senior Class President Alanna Bebech, who has been class president all four years of her time at Bethany. The first day of Senior Week begins Sunday, May 10th. The week is concluded with Tower Tours led by Dr. Gary Kappel, along with tours of the historic Campbell Mansion, and the Senior Picnic.

Listed below are the scheduled events for this year’s Senior Week:

Sunday: Kennywood trip

Monday Option 1: Go Ape! High Wire, Forest Adventure

Monday Option 2: Paint and Sip

Tuesday: Pittsburgh Pedal Tour

Wednesday: Dave & Buster's

Thursday: Tower Tours, Mansion Tours, and Senior Picnic
Marketability and Diversity Speaker Steve Radick with Black Student Coalition Advisor Adam Llanos at last night's program.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

The Memorable Tradition of Comps

Good morning,

The culmination of the Bethany College education is Senior Comprehensive Examinations—“comps.” Comprehensive exams are designed for students to demonstrate mastery of their major field. It is commonly said, understandably, that there are few greater feelings than that of passing the exams.

Bethany is one of only a few undergraduate institutions in the United States that still conduct comprehensive exams. The exams are divided into two days of written examinations and a one-hour oral exam in front of a panel of faculty. The exams are offered twice a year, in January and May.

This year, the written examinations will run from May 4, 2015, to May 5, 2015. Beginning at 8:00 a.m. on May 6, 2015, the oral exams will run until May 9, 2015, at 6:00 p.m.

Eligibility to take comps has its own process. A student must have attained senior standing, have completed all the requirements for his or her major, and have a grade-point average of at least 2.0 in the major. A student must apply in the Office of the Registrar at least two months prior to the first day of the written section of the examination. Students who wish to take the Comprehensive Exams must resolve all financial obligations to the College at least one week prior to the exams.

Students who go above and beyond all expectations on their Senior Comprehensive Examinations earn the desired “pass with distinction” title.

If students do not pass, they may take it again at any time that it is regularly given within the following 12 months. If a student is to fail a second time, he or she may petition the faculty for a re-examination during the following year. No student may take the examination more than three times.

Here’s wishing all seniors taking comps this year the very best of luck in applying some four years of preparation toward a few days of intense evaluation.
Bethany College women's soccer put on a clinic for the kids at Ridgewood Place Apartments.

Congratulations to Alpha Xi Delta as the winner of the Service Learning Center Outstanding Service Award for Greek Organizations at the banquet in the Ogden Dining Hall.

Psi Chi induction in Kirkpatrick Hall. #bethanywalkabouts

Monday, April 27, 2015

Celebrate Service Learning at Bethany

Good morning,

The annual Service Learning Center Recognition banquet will be held tonight in the Dining Hall. The event begins at 5:00 with the awards ceremony at 5:30.

The banquet and program honor the Bethany Service Fellows and our Service Learning Center for their outstanding spirit of volunteerism and philanthropy. Each year, the Service Learning Center and Prof. Kathy Shelek-Furbee’s Department of Social Work, which she chairs, compile the number of hours of campus service contributions. The goal for this year was to reach 30,000 hours of reported service campus wide. To date, all reported service from individuals, groups, clubs, organizations and academics shattered that goal, totaling 41,679 hours.

We congratulate Prof. Furbee, her fellow faculty, our service-learning student leaders, and all within the Bethany community who have performed service this year for their excellent contributions to another important milestone in service outreach by Bethany College.
History Club's annual Tea Party in Phillips Hall Parlour.#bethanywalkabouts

Sam Duvall presenting his research "A Statistical Study of Hops in Homebrewed Beers" at the WV NASA Space Grant Consortium Fellows presentation in the Academic Parlour.
Annie and I enjoyed hosting senior Kalon Leadership Scholars at Christman Manor. Anne Taylor, Alanna Bebech, Allison Snyder, and Lynsie Mandt. Prof. Kathy Shelek-Furbee (Advisor for the Kalon Leadership Program) also attended.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

T.A. Abbott Award for Exemplary Teaching

Good Morning,

Bethany Professor Katherine Shelek-Furbee is the 2015 recipient of the T. A. Abbott Award for Exemplary Teaching, presented by the Board of Directors of Higher Education and Leadership Ministries (HELM) of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

The 32nd recipient of the T. A. Abbott Award, Katherine Shelek-Furbee was selected by the HELM Board of Directors for her keen ability to inspire students toward excellence through teaching and personal example, her demonstration of an educational philosophy that focuses on wholeness of personal development, and her continued commitment to grow and learn within her academic discipline.

An engraved plaque will be presented during our 2015 Commencement Weekend festivities. The award also includes a $1,000 cash gift for the purpose of Professor Furbee’s continued growth as a teacher and scholar.

The T. A. Abbott Award was established through a gift to the Higher Education and Leadership Ministries from the descendants of the Reverend T. A. Abbott, who served as an administrator and faculty member at Culver-Stockton College. Nominees must be full-time teaching faculty at Disciples-related institutions of higher education. Professor Furbee is the fourth member of the Bethany College faculty to be honored with the award.

Congratulations, Professor Furbee!

Monday, April 20, 2015

Congratulations to Equine Studies major Ashley Worst, who has received the Sportsmanship Award from the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association and the Official United States Hunter Jumper Association Group!
The first year Kalon Scholars hosted a picnic at the town park Sunday. Over 90 students, faculty, and community members attended. In addition to a dinner the Scholars provided games.

KUDOS: To Coach Becky Upton and the Bethany women's basketball team. They devoted volunteer time to St. John's Home with a wide variety of projects from cleaning and painting to organizing storage areas.



Annie and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening at the Renner Art Gallery as Bethany College seniors Kelsey Bish and Harrison Rightmyer held their Senior Show. Joining us for the picture: Kenn Morgan, The Jennie Steindorf Renner Chair of Fine Arts, and Aaron Anslow, Assistant Professor of Art.

Happy 70th birthday to Communications and Media Arts colleague Joe Dumas. Academic Dean Katrina D'Aquin assists with the cake. #bethanywalkabouts

For the fourth year in a row, Delta Tau Delta wins Greek Week!

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Beta Theta Pi won the Woolery Cup for academic achievement at Honors Convocation.
Alpha Xi Delta won the Anne Ruth Bourne Cup for academic achievement at today’s Honors Convocation.

The Enrollment Center student workers describe themselves as "Best student workers ever enjoying National Student Worker Appreciation Week with el presidente" Starring: Biz (Beyoncé) Timas, Laini Roberts, Danielle Maddox, and Zach Lowe.
Thoroughly enjoyed hosting Center McMechen 4th and 5th grade students at Christman Manor during "History Invasion Day." Talked Bethany history and the role of Christman Manor in the "Underground Railroad."

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Congrats to Bethany's Kayla Kelly (softball) and Zac Edmiston (baseball), March PAC SAAC Scholar-Athletes of the Month. #bethanywalkabouts

Working in the Academic Parlour, USArt crew members reinstall two massive Edward Troye paintings that were on loan to the National Sporting Library & Museum, Middleburg, VA (www.nsl.org<http://www.nsl.org/>), through the winter for a special exhibition. “Faithfulness to Nature: Paintings by Edward Troye” featured two of Troye’s signature works: A Bazaar at Damascus (1856) and Syrian Ploughman (1856).

Presenting…Our Alumni Awards for 2015

Good morning,
Bethany College will present a series of awards on May 2 recognizing outstanding alumni at the Alumni Awards Dinner in Commencement Hall. Sven de Jong will be recognized as Alumnus of the Year, and Dr. Elizabeth Flannagan, Doug Miller, and the Rev. Dr. Robert Perry will be presented with special honors as part of Alumni Weekend activities on campus.

Sven de Jong, a 1995 Bethany graduate and our very own Senior Vice President, oversees fundraising, enrollment, parent relations, and numerous other important roles of the College. His major accomplishments include work on a five-year capital campaign that has surpassed $46.5 million gifts and pledges, as well as his assistance in initiating Bethany 2020, the College’s master plan, which has a goal of $68 million by the 2019-2020 academic year.

Dr. Elizabeth Flannagan, a 1974 Bethany graduate, will receive the Alumni Achievement Award for serving as Vice President for Development and University Relations at Virginia Tech and Executive VP of the Virginia Tech Foundation, Inc. She also led the most ambitious campaign in VT history, surpassing its $1 billion goal.

Doug Miller, a 1977 Bethany graduate, will receive the Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award for his efforts during the re-colonization of fraternity Beta Theta Pi’s Psi chapter at Bethany. Throughout the last ten years, Miller has organized Homecoming events, solicited charitable funds to support the College and scholarships for fraternity members, and mentored many Betas. He now has a real estate career that began in 2012.

The Rev. Dr. Robert Perry, a 1969 Bethany graduate, will receive the Community Service Award for demonstrating significant leadership and service to his community. He is currently the Interim Regional Minister of the Christian Church Capital Area, and previously served as the Senior Minister of the Inter-Faith Chapel at Leisure World in Silver Spring for 14 years.

To view the full schedule of Alumni Weekend events, visit www.bethanywv.edu/alumniweekend. To register, call Ashley Kanotz, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations, at 304-829-7299.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Wonderful visit with good friends Larry Grimes (Dean of the Buffalo Seminary) and Peter Morgan (President-Emeritus of the DOC Historical Society) at the Oreon Scott Lectures social at Christman Manor.

Visit the Senior Art Exhibit

Good morning,

Bethany College’s Senior Art Exhibit is now open until April 18 in Renner Art Gallery. The show presents the work of two seniors: Kelsey Bish, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Harrison Rightmyer, of Reading, Pennsylvania.

Kelsey Bish is the daughter of Francis and Carmen Bish. She is a double major in visual arts and Spanish, hoping to successfully complete her second bachelor’s degree in January 2016. Kelsey is also a member of two academic honorary fraternities, Kappa Pi and Sigma Delta Pi. Within her senior exhibit, Kelsey hopes to show her strengths in three-dimensional and ceramic art.

Harrison Rightmyer is the son of Keith and Becky Rightmyer. He is a visual arts major and a brother of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. He considers paints to be his strongest and favorite medium to work with.

Kelsey and Harrison’s unique pieces in this year’s Senior Art Exhibit are influenced by their love of sports, according to Kenn Morgan, Professor of Fine Arts and Director of the Renner Art Gallery. Kelsey is the pitcher for Bethany’s softball team, and Harrison is the pitcher for Bethany’s baseball team.

Assistant Professor of Fine Arts Aaron Anslow had encouraging words for the two seniors. “Both Kelsey and Harrison are dedicated athletes who have made a positive impact on our campus and community. I look forward to seeing these two go out into the world to establish themselves as young artists.”

The Senior Art Show, which must be completed before graduation, has served as art majors’ senior project requirement for several years. There will be a public reception held to honor Kelsey and Harrison on April 18 from 8 to 9:90 p.m. in the Renner Art Gallery.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Enjoyable visit with Bruce Fahey '77, President of the Alumni Council Board of Directors, at the campus social in the T.W. Phillips Library Friday night.

Pictures from the Alumni Council social in the T.W. Phillips Library. Top, Dr. Mort Gamble, Executive Assistant to the President, and Dr. Jay Buckelew, Professor-emeritus. Below, with Beth Carpenter, Liberal Arts Librarian, and Dr. Gamble.
It was great to host at Christman Manor the induction ceremony for the Society for Collegiate Journalists. The inductees (from left): Heather Grinkley, Josie Doss, Cameron Smith, McKenna Junkin, and Anne Taylor. Dr. Mort Gamble (right), Executive Assistant to the President, and I serve as advisors to the Bethany chapter. Our chapter is the SCJ National Chapter of the Year.

Friday, April 10, 2015

Department Fellows were recognized at a reception hosted by the Student Government Association in the Renner Art Gallery.

Enjoyable lunch with members of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee in the Bethany Club.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Bethany Theatre Production, “Arcana”

Bethany College Theatre will present “Arcana,” by playwright John Longenbaugh, in Wailes Theatre of Steinman Hall April 16-18 at 8 p.m., and April 19 at 2 p.m. Those who watch the show will have a special opportunity to be involved. Members of the audience will pick a tarot card that inspires a short play, and that will determine the order of the performances. There are seven tarot cards to be selected by the audience.

The performances are charming, funny, and mysterious – much like tarot cards themselves, said Luke Hardt, Associate Professor of Theatre, Director of the Bethany College Theatre, and Chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts.

The plays feature Taylor Ferko (Pittsburgh), Aidan Garvey (Wellsburg, WV), Max Hardt (Bethany, WV), Jordan Jones (Baltimore, MD), Mike Lyons (Beaver Falls, PA), Maclaine Murad (Bridgeport, OH), and Elias Stebbins (Washington, PA). Technical direction is by Nathan Dunn, and John Vucich is stage manager.

Due to adult content in “Arcana,” parents are advised not to bring young children. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. Reservations are strongly suggested. To reserve a seat, call 304-829-7124.
Attending the Presidents' Athletic Conference Presidents' Council meeting at the Duquesne Club in Pittsburgh. Pictured with Bethanian Kevin Fenstermacher (Assistant Commissioner) and Joe Onderko (Commissioner).

McKenna Junkin, Bethany senior communications major, was a featured speaker yesterday afternoon at the annual meeting of West Virginia Independent Colleges and Universities at Oglebay Resort. Joining us for the picture is Ben Exley, Executive Director of WVICU. McKenna spoke about the value of her Bethany experience and expressed appreciation to Ogden Publishing for her Circle of Excellence Scholarship.

Bethany junior English Literature major and pre-law student Catherine Breault was the featured dinner speaker at last night's banquet of the West Virginia Independent Colleges and Universities annual meeting at Oglebay Resort. A native of Moundsville, WV, Breault spoke of her experience as a President's Associate and unique learning experiences afforded her through that program. Joining us for the picture is Ben Exley, Executive Director of WVICU.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Student Government Association at Bethany College

Good morning,

With a second debate wrapped up this week, the Student Government Association elections begin April 7th and end April 10th for the upcoming 2015-2016 academic year.

This year we have two slates of candidates: Kim Judy for President and Jesse Penatzer for Vice President, and Andrew Parsons for President and Bethany Pohjala, Vice President. These four students are widely respected and have vast leadership experience throughout the entire campus, and all would serve well leading the Student Government Association.

Student Government serves a crucial role in helping maintain students’ involvement in the life of the College. The organization oversees the functioning and maintenance of all the clubs on campus. They monitor budgets, events, and philanthropic activities that benefit the community as a whole rather than just the club itself. Student Government also creates and sponsors events throughout campus, helping to foster a positive experience for all students.

I encourage all of our students to vote next week. Your voice can be heard and will make a positive difference in the vitality of our campus.