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.

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.

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.

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.