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Dale and Sharon Stephens
Scholarship to Boost Scientific Research at Bethel
By Kay Wible
Well-equipped labs of large public universities are often reserved for advanced graduate students. By contrast, high school graduates who excel in science are frequently drawn to Bethel University because of its unique undergraduate research opportunities with highly credentialed faculty. Many Bethel science majors are nationally recognized for research achievements, and exceptional faculty/student research projects at Bethel help students vie for competitive graduate schools and fellowships.
To maintain this high standard, the "Taking the Next Step" campaign includes a Presidential Sciences Initiative, which aims to raise $1 million for undergraduate research endowments and another $1 million for equipment, with even distribution among the biology, chemistry, math/computer science, and physics departments. Bethel chemistry professor Dale Stephens and his wife, Sharon, recently gave $100,000 to fund summer research for chemistry and biochemistry students, challenging alumni and friends to match their donation. The gift was announced in May during a dinner honoring Stephens' retirement after nearly 40 years of teaching at Bethel. "We're very grateful for the generosity of Dale and Sharon," says Department of Chemistry Chair Ken Rohly. "We hope their example speaks to alumni and will encourage others to reach out in support of this effort."
According to Sandy Clark, director of corporate and foundation relations, a portion of the evenly split $1 million ($250,000 for each of the departments) would be earmarked for student/faculty research as an endowment, with the amount available for research support (student stipend, research supplies, and faculty/mentor stipend) based on a specified percentage of interest earned. "It is essential for Bethel to remain at the forefront of our peer group in the sciences," Clark notes. "Currently we have pledges for $155,000 to the chemistry fund, meaning that $55,000 has been raised to meet the Stephens' challenge."
A summer faculty/student research project costs a minimum of $15,000, according to Rohly. With numerous students expressing interest in in-depth research year-round, he would like to see the program underway by 2009.
Recent accreditation by the American Chemical Society (ACS) further attests to the caliber of Bethel's science departments. "We've been working to achieve this since the 1980s," Rohly says. "It's a particularly rewarding achievement considering it has been many years since a Minnesota school has been awarded accreditation." The recognition gives added stature to the program on a national level. At present, 19 schools in Minnesota are ACS approved, 11 of which are MIAC institutions. The others are public universities.
For more information on the Presidential Sciences Initiative, or to make a donation, please contact Sandy Clark at 651.635.8068 or s-clark@bethel.edu.