Bethel Seminary's Scholarship Recognition Dinner

Two recent scholarship recognition dinners brought together donors, students, and parents. On Thursday, October 23., nearly 70 seminary students and donors gathered for dinner and fellowship. And during Family Weekend on Saturday, November 2, close to 300 College of Arts & Sciences students, their parents, and donors gathered. At both dinners, President Jay Barnes thanked donors for their part in making a Bethel education affordable for students. He assured them that their commitment to and partnerships with Bethel were making an impact on the kingdom by creating world-changers like those students sitting among them.

Over dinner, donors and students got to know each other and share stories of Bethel, past and present.

“It is incredibly rewarding for donors to meet the recipients of the scholarships they endowed and to see the how their gift to Bethel has come to life,” says Chris Nelson, manager of strategic development initiatives for Bethel. “Students get a chance to personally say 'thank you' for a scholarship that is making a difference in his or her life. We also hope that students see the ‘shoulders’ on which they are standing—of the donors, parents, and people long since passed away, who make their education possible.”

Bethel University's College of Arts & Sciences Scholarship Recognition Dinner

Seminary students Eric Omdal and Marta Shaw and CAS students Nathan Willar and Elisabeth Abbas spoke at their respective dinners and thanked guests—both donors and parents—for their support and encouragement.

Says Nelson, “The scholarship recognition dinners brought together people of very diverse backgrounds to share a meal and build relationships. People were able to share about what God is doing in their lives through Bethel.”