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.