Greetings class of 1999:

Thanks to all 107 of you who came back for our 10-year class reunion. It was a great evening, and we were reminded that our class is something special. If you weren’t there, you were missed.

Here’s a recap of the evening: dinner in the swanky new Monson Dining Center (way nicer than our “fancy” dining center. Kids these days…) followed by a program of side-splitting hilarity in the Olson Boardroom. What could be more fun than watching Presidents Brushaber and Barnes compete in Presidential Jeopardy against our own class president, Aaron Berstler? Unfortunately, Berstler didn’t get anything right, although we did learn which Bethel student employee cut down President Brushaber’s beautiful heirloom ivy as part of their on-campus job and the truth behind why it took Nate Larson eight years to graduate. We were reminded of the curiosities of freshman dorm life, marveled at the wonder of the internet (which hadn’t caught on yet when we started college), had a moment of silence for turkey melts on Texas toast with a side of carrots and pickles, and realized that our parents actually were right when they told us our oversized flannels hanging out the bottom of our oversized sweatshirts weren’t that flattering.

Thanks to President and Darleen Brushaber for venturing back to campus to join us, and for President and Barb Barnes for acting like they were having fun, too. Jada Mrozinski Sanders provided old videotapes (yes, videotapes) of college life, Welcome Week shows, the Mr. Edgren contest, and priceless footage of Jeff Holmberg doing stand-up comedy. There were memories, prizes, and the reassuring comfort of Sodexo catering.

We were reminded that Bethel was and still is a special place for all of us, and is a part of all of our stories. We hope you find time to come back to campus sometime and see the great things God is doing there, and encourage you to consider giving a financial gift to Bethel as part of our Class of 1999 gift toward the Annual Fund. As students, we were blessed to have many people contribute to our education through the Annual Fund and now have the opportunity to bless the next generation.

Let’s be Facebook friends, and perhaps these next five years won’t seem far off. Hope to see you in 2014!

Grace and peace,

Kara (Miller) Stromberg, Debby (Lissner) Whaley, Jada (Mrozinski) Sanders, Nate Larson, Jay Chmieleski, and Chad Anderson