Alayna Wallace (psychology) and Adam Sigwing (biology) received 2021 Thresher Awards, Bethel's highest academic award, presented to them by faculty earlier this spring. 

Thresher Awards are given to graduating seniors who have made a “truly outstanding and sustained contribution” in a performance area (e.g., music, visual arts, drama) or a “truly outstanding creative achievement” in the applied sciences, or have completed “a truly outstanding and substantial project” in any academic discipline.

Given the unprecedented experience of the Class of 2021, it’s not surprising that “life’s challenges and choices” occupied much of the commencement speaker’s address.

Because of rainy weather, the May 16 ceremony took place inside Memorial Hall rather than in Thresher Stadium.

President Jon C. Gering set the stage in his welcome when he reflected on some of the luminaries – from Martin Luther King Jr. to lyric soprano Adele Addison to Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball – who had spoken or performed in Memorial Hall over the decades.