LINDSBORG - On May 8,Bethany College conferred degrees upon 140 students who earned Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Music Education degrees in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 academic year.
This was the first time in history Bethany College celebrated the achievements of two academic classes at the same time. The year 2020 proved to be challenging transitioning abruptly to remote learning following an extended spring break and celebrating 2020 graduates virtually because of health precautions required by the pandemic. Thankfully in 2021, the health precautions relaxed somewhat and subject to following required health precautions the graduates of 2019-2020 were invited to return to campus to cross the stage with the graduates of 2020-2021.
Preparing the baccalaureate and commencement ceremony was complicated by contingent planning based on COVID metrics and health precautions, and the weather. To adhere to local health guidelines, graduates were limited to four guests tracked through an online ticket system, two baccalaureate ceremonies were offered to reduce numbers in attendance, and commencement was moved outdoors and live streamed.
Susan Candea, Bishop of the Central States Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, preached at both baccalaureate ceremonies. She asked graduates to use their individual gifts in the world. Candea shared her gifts in the Midwest, and through involvement in many aspects of ministry woven throughout different calls, serving as a co-pastor at a two-point parish in western Kansas, until accepting a call to serve in Topeka, where she served for 17 years, followed by service in Colorado until 2013. In 2013, she returned to Kansas to serve on the synod staff as a bishop's associate and later as a director for evangelical mission. She began her term as the bishop in September of 2019.
At commencement, President Elizabeth Mauch, addressed the graduates, acknowledging foremost their resilience resulting from the impact COVID had on their college career.
Two class of 2021 graduates also shared some friendly advice for their classmates. Joaquin Diaz, Class of 2021 graduate, of Hereford, Ariz., known for his positivity as a student athlete, starting his football journey at the age of five, shared how football led him to Bethany. With a major in religion and a minor in psychology, he will begin his career in Human Resources where he will continue to spread the word, "the power of positive thinking" in the workplace just as he did in the halls of academia. It was also the kindness of others that he remembered fondly, sharing, "around the same time when it gets cold and the first blizzard of the year, Dr. Fox sends out an email to all of her students saying that she has a warm blanket, warm food and a nice place to be if you get cold or need a home cooked meal. It's something that sticks with me when thinking about my time here at Bethany."
Also addressing the crowd was Denise Chestnut, Class of 2021, of Lindsborg. At 70, Denise Chestnut is the oldest member of this class, retiring from being a special education paraeducator after 25 years, before attending Bethany.
"Being a full-time college student at this stage of my life has certainly been challenging, and one of the highlights of my life," Chestnut said.
Denise reminded her classmates, even if college is put on hold because "life gets in the way, "your dreams are always there."
Local and area students who earned degrees from Bethany College include the following.
Abilene
Logan A. McDowell, Elementary Education Teaching K-6, Class of 2020
Caysen Smith, Management and Business Economics, Class of 2020
Assaria
Daniel Frost, Biology, Class of 2021
Brookville
Chase N. Finch, Criminal Justice, Class of 2021
Canton
Cassidy Enns, Business Administration, Finance and Business Economics, Class of 2020
Grace Klinkerman, Management, Marketing and Finance, Class of 2021
Kaylee Littrell, Biology, Class of 2021
Alexandra Luedke, Biology, Class of 2021
Galva
Ashley Nightingale, Accounting and Finance, Class of 2021
Kelli J. Nightingale, Accounting and Finance, Class of 2020
Anthony Otte, Business Administration, Class of 2021
Gypsum
Kerri M. Henne, English, Class of 2020
Lindsborg
Aubrey B. Dickson (Hitchcock), Elementary Education K-6, Class of 2021
Kathryn Ferguson-Bellah, Health & Physical Education Teaching PreK-12, Class of 2021
Macae Fisher, Accounting and Finance, Class of 2021
Jordan Gregg, History-Political Science, Class of 2021
Tanya Huse, Mathematics, Class of 2021
Halle N. McClure, Social Science Teaching, Class of 2021
Jarod Meier, Health and Physical Education Teaching PreK-12, Class of 2020
Madison Mitchell-Smith, Biology, Class of 2021
Samuel Reed, English Teaching 6-12, Class of 2020
Elijah J. Waugh, Criminal Justice, Class of 2021
Veronika Waugh, Mathematics, Class of 2021
Marquette
Katie A. Klaassen, Finance, Business Economics and Business Administration, Class of 2020
McPherson
Yanet Cecenas Salazar, Criminal Justice, Class of 2021
Elizabeth K Schrag, Exercise Science and Biology, Class of 2021
Delbie Schriner, Psychology, Class of 2021
Amanda J. Starkel, Biology, Class of 2021
Moundridge
Dylan Juhnke, Business Administration and Marketing, Class of 2021
Salina
Karli E. Alvarez, Accounting and Finance, Class of 2021
Alexis G. Baeza, Criminal Justice, Class of 2021
Nicholas Bartholomew, History-Political Science, Class of 2020
Ajay M. Dandu, Accounting and Finance, Class of 2021
Danielle Drummer, Elementary Education Teaching K-6, Class of 2020
Oscar Flores, Biology, Class of 2021
Keisha M Hamilton, Biology, Class of 2021
Tempest Henry, Biology, Class of 2021
Hailey Mayfield, Biology, Class of 2020
Marion E. Miller, Sports Management and Management, Class of 2021
Michael Nece, Management, Management with International Management Concentration, Finance and Business Economics, Class of 2021
Morgan Russell, Religion - History and Doctrine and Psychology, Class of 2021
Alexis Solis, Management, Class of 2021
Camisha M. Stevenson, Elementary Education Teaching K-6, Class of 2021
Alexandra B. Tyson, Criminal Justice, Class of 2020
Katelynn S. Zuercher, Biology and Chemistry, Class of 2021
Smolan
Katelynn Adam, Elementary Education Teaching K-6, Class of 2020
Miranda S. Work, English Teaching 6-12, Class of 2021
-Bethany College-