NCAA Division III Week at Bethany College

Bethany College will join approximately 450 colleges and universities in celebration of NCAA Division III week, April 7-13, 2014.

Division III Week is an opportunity for all individuals associated with Division III to observe and celebrate the impact of athletics and of student-athletes on the campus and surrounding community. During the week, every Division III school and conference office is encouraged to conduct an outreach activity that falls into one of three categories: academic accomplishment, athletic experience, or leadership/community service/campus involvement.

Bethany has a proud and storied history in NCAA Division III athletics. The College is one of the oldest members of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC).

We currently have the largest athletic department by number of teams of any college or university (Division I, II, or III) in West Virginia. Our program has produced many of our top student leaders, including last year’s Valedictorian, Carfer Prize winner, and Kennedy Award winner.

Brian Rose, Director of Athletics and Recreation, and Rhianna Petrone, Chair of the Bethany Student-Athlete Advisory Council, joined me on Friday for a ceremony for the issuing of a proclamation declaring April 7-13 as “NCAA Division III Week at Bethany College.”

In celebration of our history of athletes who excel in the classroom, Jennifer Urbaniak, a freshman from Bellbrook, Ohio, has designed shirts that will be presented to each student-athlete on the PAC Academic Honor Roll for the fall semester.

I know you will join me in thanking our student-athletes and coaches for the outstanding role they play in campus life, as well as their positive representation of Bethany College.

Fresh from the Bethany College bakery, Bethany cookies with the College crest were presented to each member of the Alumni Council attending the President's Roundtable Breakfast at Christman Manor. Margy Lang and Kristie Barnett are pictured with boxes of the new cookies.

Enjoyable visit Saturday morning with the Bethany College Alumni Council at the President's Roundtable Breakfast at Christman Manor. Providing outstanding leadership to the Council are Bruce Fahey (President), center, and Pat Hosey (Vice President).

Nice visiting with former Bethany standout first baseman Chuck Ziants, now working for the Pittsburgh Pirates, at PNC Park Friday.

With Pirates owner and Bethany trustee Bob Nutting (r) and BC Executive Assistant to the President Mort Gamble at the PNC Suite at PNC Park Friday.

With Pirates President Frank Coonelly and BC Athletic Director Brian Rose at the owner's suite at PNC Park Friday.

A fun night of Pirates baseball with the Bethany "gang" at the PNC Suite at PNC Park Friday.

I signed a resolution today proclaiming April 7-13 as “NCAA Division III Week at Bethany College.” A member of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, Bethany sponsors 22 intercollegiate sports and an Equestrian Club team. Accepting the resolution is Rhianna Petrone, Chair of Bethany’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAC) and Brian Rose, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation. Our resolution is a part of a nationwide campaign to recognize the overall accomplishments of scholar-athletes and the value of Division III sports.

Bethany Alumni Council Spring Meeting

The Bethany College Alumni Association Board of Directors (Alumni Council) will hold its spring meeting on campus this Friday and Saturday, April 4-5. The 22 Alumni Council members meet formally on campus twice per year and periodically throughout the year via teleconferencing. During the 2007-08 academic year, the Alumni Council played an instrumental role in the formulation of the 10-year campus master plan.

I am extremely pleased that during the past six years, the Alumni Council has become larger, stronger and more focused on important issues impacting Bethany College. The Alumni Council is now diverse in its geographic and class distribution. I thank Bruce Fahey ’77 (Akron, Ohio) for his leadership as president and Pat Hosey ’80 (Wilmington, Delaware) as vice president.

This weekend’s meeting includes a reception and dinner in The Bethany Club on Friday night, the traditional President’s Breakfast/Roundtable on Saturday morning at Christman Manor, followed by a full agenda for the remainder of the day focusing on the work of the Advancement Committee, chaired by Craig Williams ’96 (Odenton, Maryland.) and the Engagement Committee , chaired by Amy Callahan ’95 (Wilmington, North Carolina).

The Advancement Committee recently established The Larry E. Grimes Lecture Series, an endowed fund honoring Dr. Grimes, Professor of English Emeritus and currently Director of Church Relations. The committee will discuss growing the fund and developing programming.

The Engagement Committee assists the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations in a wide variety of ways including the recent establishment of an Undergraduate Student Alumni Association. This committee has supported a number of ongoing events including the Allison Run, Homecoming Weekend, and Alumni Weekend.

In the recent past, the Alumni Council has heard presentations by Heather Ricciuti, the Mary Cutlip Director of Libraries & Learning Resources; Kathleen Shelek-Furbee, Chair of the Department of Social Work, and Jerry Stebbins, Dean of Students. They have also toured the science facilities and greenhouse with Dr. Bill Hicks, Chair of the Biology Department, contributing funds for a variety of projects there. At this weekend’s meeting, they will hear from Brian Rose ‘98, Director of Athletics and Recreation, on improvement in facilities and the success of Bison sports.

I know you join me in thanking each Alumni Council member for their service to Bethany College. If you see them on campus this weekend, please give them a warm Bethany welcome.

Bethany College to host WACC Youth Leadership Program Thursday

Bethany College is pleased to host 55 juniors from eight area high schools today (April 3) as part of the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership Program. The annual program is for highly motivated students who aspire to positions of leadership in their respective communities. I am pleased to serve on the Chamber Board of Directors and know the excitement my colleagues and I share in supporting this event.

Guidance counselors from the area schools select the participants. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet faculty and staff, student services staff members, student organizations, athletic coaches, and current and future Bethanians. Campus and residence hall tours will be offered as well as lunch in Benedum Commons.

Please join me in giving our visitors a warm Bethany welcome.