William Eash, D.M.A., drew his inspiration from topics familiar to those who know him – birds, stars, shoulders – when he spoke at the 129th commencement May 15 in Memorial Hall.

Before the speaker and awarding of degrees to 81 seniors, Robert Milliman, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty, presented the Ralph P. Schrag Distinguished Teaching Award to Peter Goerzen, assistant professor of Bible and religion.

Eash, retiring professor of music spoke on “Of Birds, Stars and Shoulders.”

Bethel’s longtime director of choral activities will be the speaker for this year’s commencement ceremony, which takes place Sunday, May 15, at 4 p.m.

Eighty-one seniors are scheduled to take part in the 129th commencement in Thresher Stadium, with Memorial Hall as a bad-weather contingent.

The Baccalaureate worship service, May 15 at 10 a.m., will take place in Memorial Hall.

Both events will be available to view via livestream.

The Baccalaureate service (10 a.m.) and commencement ceremony (4 p.m.) have been moved indoors to Mem Hall due to the forecast of rain and storms on Sunday, May 16.

Both events will still look different from tradition, but more like “normal” than did 2020’s, which were all-virtual.

Seventy-five seniors are scheduled to take part in the 128th commencement on Sunday, May 16, at 4 p.m. in Thresher Stadium, with Memorial Hall as a bad-weather contingent.