Bethel Names 2017 Alumni of the Year

Every year, Bethel honors a handful of outstanding alumni for the contributions they make to their fields and the impact they have on their communities. Nominated by their peers and chosen by the National Alumni Board and the Seminary Alumni Council, the 2017 Alumni of the Year are humble servants, gracious leaders, and passionate Christ-followers who know what it means to follow their dreams and live for something more. Bethel will honor the recipients at a dinner during Homecoming in October.

Mitch Duininck ’81 is a family medicine doctor at St. John Clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the director of family medicine at In His Image, a fully accredited Christian residency program that trains doctors to practice global medicine. Duininck also leads medical mission trips to provide aid for people in developing countries. Often arriving in the aftermath of natural disasters or political upheaval, Duininck and his colleagues aim to share the love of God by attending to the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of some of the world’s most vulnerable populations.

Sammy Wanyonyi S’08, S’14 is the founder and president of Shine in the World Ministries, a global evangelistic organization that has brought thousands of people to Christ. In 2016, he launched MERGE Twin Cities, an initiative that equips churches to minister to immigrants in their own communities. A self-proclaimed world evangelist, Wanyonyi travels the globe to inspire diverse audiences with fresh and practical biblical messages.

Andy Schweizer CAPS’11 is the president of Wheelhouse Capital, a holding company that owns and operates commercial real estate properties in the Twin Cities. A missional leader and entrepreneur, Schweizer has served at the helm of various businesses—including 22 years at ACE Solid Waste, a garbage and recycling provider—spearheading strategic growth and innovation. Schweizer also volunteers regularly with the Salvation Army and sits on the Twin Cities Salvation Army Advisory Board.

Do you know someone who should be nominated for Bethel’s Alumni of the Year awards? Submit a nomination.