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Just BCuz

Students often comment on the feeling of community at Bethel. It is evident not only among students but also between students and staff at the college. In an effort to acknowledge the contributions of staff, members of the campus community have submitted names and descriptions of staff actions that have gone above and beyond their job descriptions in order to make Bethel a better place. Below are a few of the submissions.

I gave the shirt off my back

At Fall Fest Marla Krell, director of career services, literally gave the shirt off her back to a high school student that wanted a T-Zone shirt. This student reported to Marla she is planning to attend Bethel next year. It made her very happy to have the shirt.

Late night emergency room visit

Denise Krase, assistant to VP for academic affairs; Chad Childs, VP for student life; and Jessica Hunter, head athletic trainer, all went to the emergency room after a football game to sit with a football player who was receiving two units of an IV for dehydration. Jessica left the emergency room sometime between 1 and 2 a.m. for her drive home to Abilene, about 75 minutes away. They all took time out of their evening and off the clock to offer comfort and support to a student-athlete who was in the emergency room for treatment. Sacrifices like this serve as excellent models of Bethel’s ethics of discipleship, service, and integrity. Students who have these connections with faculty and staff are more likely to persist toward graduation, and can help carry on lessons from the Bethel experience…making the world that much better for those whose lives they will touch.

Missing suit coat

Mary Enz, bookstore manager, received a phone call from a 2009 Bethel graduate. He was planning to attend a wedding and could not find his suit coat. He finally remembered that he might have left it in the basement of Memorial Hall on commencement day. So he called Bethel and talked to Mary. Mary found his suit coat hanging up in Memorial Hall and volunteered to drive half-way to Hutchinson on a Saturday morning, meet him at the convenience store in Burrton, and give him his suit coat.

Embodiment of a helper

This could have been written ages ago and every day of the year because Tricia Lopez, administrative assistant for teacher education and social work, constantly goes out of her way to help people. Tricia has joined me in my advising meetings with struggling students and has been proactive in letting me know what I need to do to ensure a student’s success. She does all this even though she has no formal responsibility to me or my department. She treats everyone like family, offering loving support and at times a kick in the butt, but always out of a desire to help. It is no accident that Tricia is so good at her job—supporting two helping professions like Teacher Education and Social Work. She is the embodiment of a helper.