Thursday, March 31, 2011

Alumni News

Former Bethany Soccer Coach Taal ’98 Named Head Coach for N.C. Wesleyan
N.C. Wesleyan has named Bethany graduate and former Bethany coach Frankie Taal ’98 the new head men’s soccer coach. Taal previously served as assistant coach for the Bishops for seven season after working almost 10 years as a player and coach at Bethany. He was a member of the College’s 1994 Division III National Championship team.

Berry College Promotes McDowell ‘87 To Full Professor
Berry College has granted full professor status to previously tenured Dr. Eric McDowell ‘87, a professor in the institution’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. McDowell has worked at Berry College since 1998 and holds a master’s degree from Miami University and a Ph.D. from West Virginia University.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics Names Bethany’s Komorowski College Teacher of the Year

Dr. Mary Ellen Komorowski, Matthew Quay Ammon Professor of Mathematics and Chair of the Mathematics and Computer Science Department at Bethany College, has been presented with the West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ (WVCTM) 2011 College Teacher of the Year award.

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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Football Team’s Boomer and Books Program Serves Community During Offseason

Bethany’s football team has stayed very busy this offseason — and not only with work in the weight room and classroom. Community service in the offseason is a major focus for the Bison, and the “Boomer and Books” read-aloud program continues to be a favorite of local elementary schools and Bethany players alike.

Boomer and Books puts Bison players into Ohio Valley elementary schools to read to students from preschool through third grade. Players read books to the students, give a message about the importance of education, and answer questions from the kids.  After the books are finished, students are allowed to try on a real Bison helmet and meet the team’s mascot, Boomer.

The first stop for the program this spring was Franklin Primary School in Wellsburg on March 4. The Bison traveled to Corpus Christi school in Warwood on March 11. Several other visits are planned for the remainder of spring.

“We’re very proud of Boomer and Books. The young kids have a great time when our players come in, and our guys love doing it. It’s one of our events that when we ask for volunteers, we have to tell some guys no because the response is so great,” said Bethany Football Head Coach Tim Weaver. “Giving back to the community is very important to us. Many people have sacrificed to support our program’s efforts, and our staff and players appreciate it and try to do what we can to help the local area in whatever ways we can.”

Monday, March 28, 2011

Bethany Trivia

How much money did Alexander Campbell purchase Campbell Mansion for? Why did Campbell’s father-in-law offer him the property?

Click here to see the answer and other Bethany Trivia questions.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Faculty Spotlight

History and Political Science
The University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Russian and East European Studies invited Erich Lippman, Assistant Professor of History, to give a lecture on Russian writer Maxim Gorky. Lippman presented his work — “Maxim Gorky as a Religious Type” — at Pitt on March 23 to an audience of Russian history and religious studies scholars.

Marc B. Sable, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Director of International Studies, spoke before an audience of 110 at Congregation Beth Yam in Hilton Head, S.C., on March 6. His talk, “Mubarak's Egypt — And After,” expanded on his earlier comments in Bethany on the current political unrest in Egypt. He elaborated on its roots in Egyptian government policies over the past 30 years, the prospects for democratization, the role of the military and the Muslim Brotherhood in the transition, and implications for Israel and the United States.

Visual and Performing Arts
Herbert G. Weaver Jr., Jennie Steindorf Renner Chair of Fine Arts and Professor of Fine Arts, as well as his daughters Anda and Raven and wife Anita, completed a community service project for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) by painting a new sign for the organization located in Wellsburg, W.Va. The CASA chapter in Wellsburg (childsplacecasa.com) is managed by Rhonda Stubbs, Executive Director, who is a 1988 graduate of Bethany College.

Aaron Anslow, Adjunct Professor of Art, presented and defended his M.F.A. Senior Thesis Exhibition (March 11 - April 2, 2011) at the Mesaros Gallery, located in the Creative Arts Center, West Virginia University. Anslow's exhibition, titled "Immediacy and Gesture," features 30 salt-fired and wood-fired clay artworks completed in the last six months. "The attention to surface detail and clay body formulation on Aaron's work is simply captivating," said Herb Weaver, who attended the reception on March 18. Anslow is a 2006 graduate of Bethany College.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Seven Graduating Artists to Present Bethany Senior Show

The Bethany College Visual and Performing Arts Department will present its annual Senior Art Show March 28 – April 14. The exhibit will be located in the Renner Union Art Gallery at the College and will feature fine art from Bethany’s seven visual art students graduating in 2011.

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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Faculty Spotlight

Visual and Performing Arts
Aaron Carey, Distinguished Lecturer in Music, will present a recital of music for solo guitar as part of the Stained Glass Series at St. Joseph Cathedral in Wheeling. The recital is scheduled for March 27 at 3 p.m. Carey has selected a program of works by Milan, J.S. Bach, Scarlatti, Sor, Carey and other composers. David Rudari, Assistant Professor of Music at Bethany and St. Joseph Cathedral's Director of Music, commented, “I am pleased that my colleague, Prof. Carey has agreed to be a part of our first Stained Glass Series. He will give a wonderful performance in one of the most beautiful venues in the region.  It will be a great afternoon of music.  We at the Cathedral were most encouraged by the positive response from the community and their generosity at the inaugural Choral Concert that featured the WVU Choral Groups, and we hope it continues. I am indebted to Msgr. Quirk for his willingness to host the concerts and to the members of the Cathedral staff for their invaluable assistance.”

In lieu of an admission charge, there is a freewill donation requested to benefit a local charitable organization. Any questions regarding the concert may be directed to Rudari via e-mail at drudari@dwc.org.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Buffalo Seminary Presents Comparative Theology Seminar with Dr. James Farwell

Buffalo Seminary of Bethany College will present The Way, The Truth. . .and Other Religions: Comparative Theology Today on March 26 at the Mountainside Conference Center. The event will examine issues such as: “What is the meaning of my neighbor’s faith for myfaith?” and “How can deep engagement with another faith tradition enhance my own faith tradition?” Christians in America share a religious landscape with Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and those of many other traditions. Beyond the mere cultivation of tolerance, could it be that Christian faith can actually be better expressed after an encounter with other traditions’ religious texts, rituals and beliefs?
 
This conference will explore the new wave of “comparative” theology in which theology in one tradition is done by “passing over” into a sympathetic appreciation of another tradition and bringing that experience back to the original. The morning will include time with The Rev. Dr. James Farwell, Thomas W. Phillips Professor of Religious Studies at Bethany College and a Fellow of the Luce Foundation’s Summer Seminars on Comparative Theology and Religious Pluralism. In the afternoon, participants will engage in discussion around a portion of Dr. Paul Knitter’s most recent book, “Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian.” The conference will last from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and offers ½ CEU. The Bethany community is invited to attend the lectures at no cost. If individuals wish to join the group for lunch, a formal registration is needed. Participants can register online at www.bethanywv.edu/about-bethany/church-relations/. Call Dr. Larry Grimes at 304.559.8213 or e-mail lgrimes@bethanywv.edu for further information.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Bethany Trivia

In what year was the current Bethany Bridge built?

Click here to see the answer and other Bethany Trivia questions.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Alumni News

Field ’78 Consecrated as Bishop on March 6
Bethany College religious studies graduate Martin Scott Field ’78 was consecrated as the eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri on March 6. Field served as assistant to the bishop for congregational life and dean of the Flint River Valley Convocation in the diocese of Eastern Michigan and has also served congregations in Tennessee, Ohio, Maryland and Hawaii. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1991 and to the priesthood in 1992. He earned a master of divinity degree from Lexington Theological Seminary.

New York Play Features Actress Frances McDormand ’79
Bethany College graduate Frances McDormand ’79 has been cast as Margie in “Good People,” a Broadway play by David Lindsay-Abaire that recently opened at the Samuel J. Friedman Theater. To read more about the play and McDormand’s performance, visit http://theater.nytimes.com/2011/03/04/theater/reviews/04good.html.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Bethany Trivia

How many students attended Bethany College on opening day?

Click here to see the answer and other Bethany Trivia questions.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Faculty Spotlight

McCann Learning Center
Heather Taylor, McCann Writing Center Coordinator and Learning Specialist, attended the East Central Writing Center Association Conference held at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich., March 4-5. While there Taylor attended several sessions devoted to assessment and bridging the gap between high school and college.

This fall Taylor also coordinated a book drive for the Schools for Schools division of Invisible Children (www.invisiblechildren.com) and the results of the drive were released late last week. Bethany College ranked 44th on a list of 102 schools nationwide and is the only West Virginia institution of higher learning in the top 50.

Visual and Performing Arts
Sun Jung Lee, Distinguished Lecturer in Music and Accompanist for the Bethany College Choir, presented a recital in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Piano on March 4 at the Creative Arts Center, Bloch Recital Hall, on the WVU Campus.

Miss Lee, a student of Dr. Peter Amstutz (Artist-in-Residence and Professor of Music), performed the Sonata for Piano, Opus 101 by Ludwig van Beethoven, Debussy’s Claire de Lune, and the solo piano version of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Having completed her Comprehensive Examinations and Performance Block requirements, she now advances to the last stage of her candidacy, the research document and final recital.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Alumni News

Wegener ’04 Wins Fulbright Research Grant
Bethany College graduate Tessa Wegener ’04 was recently awarded a Fulbright Research Grant, which will allow her to conduct nine months of research in Vienna, Austria, toward the completion of her dissertation. She is a Ph.D. candidate in German Studies at Georgetown University and received her master’s degree from the University of Kentucky. In 2007-2008, she taught German at Bethany College.

Just ’02 Named Laurel Highlands Football Coach
The Laurel Highlands School Board (Pa.) has unanimously approved the hiring of football coach Zach Just, a 2002 Bethany graduate who now holds a five-year contract to coach the Mustangs. Just was raised in western Pennsylvania and reports that he looks forward to returning to his native region. Following his 2002 graduation from Bethany, he coached eight football seasons in Virginia and South Carolina.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Buckelew Named Finalist for Professor of the Year Award

Professor of Biology Albert R. Buckelew and President Scott D. Miller attended a banquet in Charleston on Tuesday evening honoring the finalists for the Faculty Merit Foundation of West Virginia’s 2010 Professor of the Year Award. This is the second time in three years that a Bethany professor has been chosen for the honor. Buckelew was presented his award by James Casto, President of the Board of Directors for the Faculty Merit Foundation.

Edward Snyder, a geology professor at Shepherd University, received the first-place award, while Robert Rupp, a history and political science professor at West Virginia Wesleyan College, was the runner-up. Other finalists were Maria Carmen Riddel, a modern languages professor at Marshall University, and John Taylor, an education professor at Glenville State College.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Bethany College to Formally Install Komorowski as Matthew Quay Ammon Endowed Professor in Mathematics

Darin Fields, Bethany Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, announces the College’s March 8 Formal Investiture Ceremony officially installing Mary Ellen Komorowski, Professor of Mathematics and Chair of the Department of Mathematics, as this year’s Matthew Quay Ammon Professor of Mathematics.

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Monday, March 7, 2011

Bethany Trivia

Who was the first female graduate of Bethany College?

Click here to see the answer and other Bethany Trivia questions.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Faculty Spotlight

International Studies
Marc Sable, Director of International Studies, attended a February 28 workshop at Pikeville College on designing and managing faculty-led international travel courses. Topics included course design, location selection, recruitment, group management and health and safety issues.  The workshop was sponsored by the Appalachian College Association and was funded by the Mellon Foundation.

Phillips Library
Heather Ricciuti, The Mary Cutlip Director of Libraries & Learning Resources, was selected to serve on the planning committee for the 2011 Appalachian College Association Summit.  The committee met at the University of Charleston in West Virginia on February 21 to begin preparations for the 14th Annual Summit, which is scheduled for October 13-15, 2011, at the Crowne Plaza in Asheville, N.C.

Physical Education and Sports Studies
Kosmas Mouratidis, Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Physical Education and Sports Studies, attended a meeting of the executive committee of  WVAHPERD in Bridgeport, W.Va. The committee was gathered to discuss and finalize preparations for the 2011 WVAHPERD Convention and to prepare for the AAHPERD Convention in San Diego in April.  Mouratidis serves as the Vice-President Elect for Higher Education for this organization.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Motivational Speaker and Social Entrepreneur Alexis Jones to Speak During Bethany College Women's Month

Bethany College announces that internationally recognized motivational speaker Alexis Jones, founder of the female empowerment company i am that girl, will address the campus community on March 24 as part of the College’s Women’s Month activities. The event is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and will be held in Weimer Lecture Hall.

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Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Students Work to Preserve Bethany’s History

Two students have embarked upon a project to properly store academic records from the Registrar’s Office dating back to at least 1897. First-year students Niki Rea and Jonathan Mortimer became involved in preservation projects during January Term, when they worked with Archivist Sharon Monigold in saving a large cache of photographs from the 1980s. At the request of Dr. Gary Kappel, associate vice president for academic affairs, they have begun a new project this semester to transfer academic records housed in the basement of Phillips Hall from their original folders to acid-free archival folders and to store them in new cabinets to keep them safe from dirt and moisture.
The folders contain a treasure trove of information about the academic careers of thousands of Bethanians and include such things as handwritten notes from Bethany legends such as Miss Mahaffey, as well as information on future leaders of Bethany such as Wilber H. Cramblet and Kirk Woolery. Funding for the project is being provided by the Physical Plant and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. Once all the academic records are safely stored, financial and business office records will also be organized and properly housed.