Announcing the 2022 Campus Compact award recipients

This spring, Campus Compact announced the recipients of several leadership awards which recognize and celebrate the work of student Lizzy Carson ’22, Professor of Social Work Sande Traudt, and the St. Paul Recovery Act Community Reparations Commission. Campus Compact also announced recipients of its Newman Civic Fellowship, one of which was awarded to student Kailani Vang ’23. 

These awards and fellowship recipients were nominated by President Ross Allen for their participation in Bethel’s vision for diversity, which includes embracing the diversity of God’s creation, lamenting human brokenness, reconciling with one another, and embodying Shalom. 

Lizzy Carson | Presidents’ Student Leadership Award 

Lizzy Carson ’22 graduated from Bethel this spring with degrees in nursing and reconciliation studies. She was nominated for the President’s Student Leadership Award because of her deep commitment to civic responsibility and leadership. Carson has worked with a variety of community partners over the past three years, and her projects have focused on addressing environmental inequities, racism, youth development, and the prison industrial complex. Community leaders have commended Carson for her commitment, passion, and ability to partner in honoring ways.  

Sande Traudt | Presidents' Civic Engagement Steward Award

The President’s Civic Engagement Steward Award was given to Sande Traudt, associate professor of social work. This award was designed to recognize a faculty or staff person in the university that has advanced its civic mission. Over the last 25 years, Traudt has demonstrated a deep commitment to educating students about issues of social justice by collaborating with a variety of community partners in the Frogtown and Summit-University neighborhoods. During her tenure, hundreds of students have grown in their ability to work toward justice. 

St. Paul Recovery Act | Presidents’ Community Partner Award

The Presidents' Community Partner Award was designed to recognize a community-based partner or organization that has enhanced the quality of life in the community and engaged in the development of sustained, reciprocal partnerships with the university. This year’s recipient is the St. Paul Recovery Act Community Reparations Commission, which Bethel students and faculty have partnered with on a variety of projects. Through the oversight and direction of Trahern Crews, commission co-chair, these projects have collaborated on the historical work of addressing reparations for the Black community in St. Paul. 

Kailani Vang | Newman Civic Fellow

Social work major Kailani Vang ’23 was awarded the Newman Civic Fellowship which recognizes and supports community-committed students who are changemakers and public problem-solvers. Vang was selected for her outstanding leadership qualities and commitment to address social justice issues both on campus and in the broader community. During her time at Bethel, Vang has participated in an internship where she worked with leaders at the City of St. Paul to advance racial equity. In his nomination letter, Allen described Vang as someone who leads from a place of humility, confidence, and collaboration when contributing to her academic cohort, building community, inclusiveness, active learning, and citizenship. The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program, during which Vang and other fellows will be equipped with training and resources that nurture their strengths and passions and help them develop strategies for social change. 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion at Bethel

Guided by the biblical narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and new creation, Bethel University strives to pursue God’s reconciling work in the world through developing the character and composition of “Beth-El” the “House of God,” honoring our Pietistic and irenic heritage by embracing the diversity of God’s creation, lamenting human brokenness, reconciling with one another, and embodying shalom.

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