Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Courts approve Pearson Challenge gift

Last spring, Bethany College announced it had raised $1 million in gifts and pledges for the Bud Pearson Swedish Chapel, successfully meeting the challenge bequest from the late Gerald “Bud” Pearson, two months before the deadline of June 23.

On November 8, the executor of the Pearson estate, having reviewed the project fundraising efforts and results, presented his findings to the Iowa Probate Court of Dickinson County. Agreeing that Bethany College had, indeed, met the challenge requirements, the court issued its approval and authorized release of the matching gift.

This brings the total amount raised to $2,228,480! Efforts are now underway to raise the remaining funds needed to complete the $3.5 million project, which, in addition to the Bud Pearson Swedish Chapel, will also include a welcome center with hospitality areas and workspace for the admissions program and the campus pastor.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Public Invited to Planning Charrette

Bethany College will host a planning charrette September 30-October 2 for the planned Pearson Chapel and Welcome Center.

Bethany’s charrette will include three major components: a design workshop, fact-finding events and a public presentation. Members of the Smoky Valley and Bethany community are invited to the public presentation on October 2 from 9-11 a.m. in Lindquist Hall.

“The goal is to plan and build the Pearson Chapel and Welcome Center efficiently, effectively and faithfully,” said Bethany College Vice President for Finance and Operations Bob Schmoll.

A planning charrette is a collaborative process in which designers, planners, end-users and all people associated with the building are present. This multiple-day process, with a variety of sessions, will provide for maximum information sharing and education. Bethany College received a grant from the Kresge Foundation in order to host this event and other planning activities to ensure a LEED certified building.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Chapel begins again!

Yesterday, August 30, chapel services began for the 2010-2011 academic year and it was packed! So many were in attendance that people were seated in the aisles and sharing hymnals! Campus Pastor Noni Strand gave the sermon welcoming everyone.

On Wednesday, September 1, this fall’s Pearson Professor of Swedish Studies Per Harling will give his first chapel talk at 10:30 a.m. Harling is an ordained Lutheran pastor in the Church of Sweden. He also composes liturgical music and has written several books on worship life, hymns and biographies.

Harling has composed a morning prayer service that will be premiered during a special convocation on October 1 at 10 a.m. in Presser Hall. More information about Per Harling can be found online at www.bethanylb.edu/harling.


Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Bethany Receives $200,000 Grant for New Chapel

Bethany College has received a $200,000 grant from the Earl Bane Foundation for the Pearson Chapel and Welcome Center.

"Over the last 15 years, the Earl Bane Foundation has supported scholarships, general operations and enhancements to campus information technology at Bethany College. Students have been the primary beneficiaries of the foundation's generosity and we are deeply grateful for their previous support as well as their continued support of a new chapel and welcome center," said Bethany College President Edward F. Leonard III.

The Pearson Chapel and Welcome Center will utilize principles of sustainable design. To be located in the heart of campus, the welcome center will signify Bethany's core values as a place of open hospitality to all who come to live, study, work or visit the campus. The chapel will be a place to exemplify and affirm a life of faith and learning.

"We hope this gift encourages other foundations, congregations, family groups, alumni and friends to support the project," said Vice President of the Earl Bane Foundation Mindy Tillberg.

Bethany has raised $1,260,000 towards the Pearson Chapel and Welcome Center.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Bethany College Meets Challenge for New Chapel

Nearly two months before the set deadline of June 23, Bethany has raised more than $1 million toward the Pearson Challenge for a new chapel and welcome center. The Pearson Challenge was a $1 million challenge from the late Gerald "Bud" Pearson.

"For the past two plus years, we have been excited by this challenge - truly a significant demonstration of faith in Bethany's future - and the eventual Swedish chapel and welcome center that it will bring. The welcome center will most assuredly represent the exclamation point on the campus green project and the Swedish chapel will represent a re-centering of Bethany College on our Lutheran and Swedish heritages," said Bethany College President Edward F. Leonard III during a celebration gathering on May 1 to announce the meeting of the Pearson Challenge goal.

To date, $1,039,009 has been raised for the new chapel and welcome center with a projected total cost of $3.5 million. Fundraising will continue and donations can be made by calling (785) 227-3380, ext. 8270.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Special Announcement on May 1

Bethany College will make a special announcement and presentation on Saturday, May 1 at noon in the amphitheatre in the center of campus. A lunch will also be served at this time. Please make plans to attend. Kindly RSVP by contacting Jane Asche at (785) 227-3380, ext. 8270 or aschej@bethanylb.edu.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Listen to the Messiah Festival on air and online

In addition to numerous stations' on-air broadcasts, the Bethany Oratorio Society's Friday, April 2 performance of Bach's "St. Matthew Passion" will be available as a webcast on two area stations at 7:15 p.m.:

• Topeka's WIBW 580 AM at www.580wibw.com
• Salina's KSAL 1150 AM at www.ksal.com

On Easter Sunday, April 4 at 7 p.m., Radio Kansas will air a tape-delay broadcast of the Bethany Oratorio Society's "Messiah" performance on FM stations 90.1 (Hutchinson-Wichita), 89.5 (Salina-Manhattan) and 90.9 (Great Bend-Hays). Visit www.radiokansas.org for the webcast.