“Don’t give up on your dreams.” Families celebrate 10 years of BUILD.
By Jason Schoonover ’09, senior web content specialist
October 16, 2025 | 10:30 a.m.
BUILD Director Dawn Allen poses with a student from the program during the BUILDing the Future: 10 Years of Impact in Bethel's Brushaber Commons.
As more than 250 people gathered in Bethel’s Brushaber Commons Atrium last week to celebrate the Bethel BUILD program, one student shared a simple piece of advice for future students considering the program as he enjoyed appetizers with his family. “Don’t give up on your dreams,” said Zach Finlayson BUILD’26.
The BUILDing the Future: 10 Years of Impact event marked a decade of BUILD—Bethel’s Christ-centered, residential college experience for students with intellectual disabilities. The first Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Program (CTP) of its kind in Minnesota, BUILD has helped 161 students like Zach pursue their dreams of college, greater independence, and jobs they love.
Thanks to BUILD, Zach is getting to attend college just like his brothers. “It really is a college experience for him,” his mom, Janet, said.
It all started with a simple question
The 10-year celebration brought together students from BUILD’s 11 cohorts and BUILD faculty, staff, mentors, and supporters. They enjoyed appetizers—selected by current students enrolled in the BUILD program—and a make-your-own ice cream sundae bar, and displays highlighted the faces and history of BUILD. A short program included reflections, research, and a video that drew cheers as students saw themselves and their friends on screen.
During the short program, one mom shared how it all began. Julie White, a former Bethel trustee, said the vision for BUILD was inspired by her daughter, Emily.
After high school, Emily was determined to go to college like her friends, but Emily was born with intellectual disabilities. The family found few options for Emily, but she eventually enrolled in an out-of-state program. It wasn’t easy, White recalled, but it gave Emily the college experience she wanted—and helped her live independently. “It was all hard,” Emily told her mom, “but I had to do it so I could live my own life.”
BUILD Director Dawn Allen speaks during the BUILDing the Future: 10 Years of Impact event as Julie White, who helped conceive of the idea for BUILD, looks on.
President Emeritus Jay Barnes and his wife, Barb, attended the BUILDing the Future: 10 Years of Impact event. Barnes was president when Julie White brought the idea for BUILD to him and his cabinet.
When White asked Emily what she missed most during the program, the answer was surprising: her church community and Bible study. White was then serving on Bethel’s Board of Trustees, and the experience led the Whites to wonder why Bethel didn’t have a program for someone like Emily? White brought the idea to then-President Jay Barnes, who attended the anniversary event with his wife, Barb. She came prepared with a self-made one-pager to pitch the idea to Bethel’s leadership. Partway through her presentation, Barnes interrupted. “You can stop selling,” he told her. “We’ve bought.”
From there, BUILD took shape. Numerous people came together to dream about the program, form a curriculum, and more. In 2015, BUILD welcomed its first cohort of students. At the center has been Dawn Allen, the program’s founding director. Alicia Graf, whose daughter Kirsta graduated in 2019, credited Allen with helping BUILD grow and thrive: “That continuity is why they’re this far,” Graf said, pointing at Dawn as she mingled with attendees. “Big shoutout to her.”
Daniel Cline BUILD'19 looked on as his mom, Joy, talked with someone at a booth where she sold copies of her book, Special: the story of the Unsinkable Daniel Cline. The Clines are also co-founders of BUILD Alumni Buddies, an alumni group for graduates of the BUILD Program, which has grown into one of at Bethel's most active alumni clubs.
Families living the dream
While the Whites never got to see Emily attend BUILD, several families who have benefited from the program she helped inspire attended and chatted during the open house portion of the event.
Joy Cline, who co-founded BUILD Alumni Buddies—a monthly alumni group for program graduates—with Alicia Graf and others, greeted attendees and offered discounted copies of her book, Special: The Story of the Unsinkable Daniel Cline. Her son, Daniel, graduated from BUILD in 2019 and now works with Sodexo, Bethel’s food service provider, on campus.
Nearby, families like the Andersons and the Finlaysons reflected on what BUILD has meant for their sons and their families.
Twenty years ago, Julie Anderson never would have dreamed that she’d drop their son, Jack BUILD’26, off at college. Now, one of her favorite BUILD memories is of Welcome Week, when they brought Jack to Bethel to begin his BUILD journey. She and her husband, Chad, were able to leave feeling confident that Jack is in a safe environment and being well-cared for. “You drop them off, you don’t have a worry in the world,” Chad said.
Similarly, the Finlaysons love that Zach is growing in a vibrant community. “We know that he’s well cared for by other students on campus,” Janet said. “They really look out for him and other students in BUILD.” Zach’s dad, David, called Bethel and BUILD “a really safe environment,” noting that Bethel’s Twin Cities campus is tucked away in a quiet wooded, lakeside area.
Both the Andersons and Finlaysons referenced Bethel’s community, where they see their sons welcomed by name by other students from BUILD and Bethel’s undergraduate programs. Part of that support comes from BUILD’s mentorship model. Since the program launched, more than 1,000 Bethel undergraduates have served as mentors, supporting students like Jack and Zach in housing, academics, jobs, and daily life. “The support system is fantastic,” Julie said. Support extends beyond formal roles. BUILD leaders have seen many Bethel students with no official ties to BUILD step up to support students in BUILD.
Two students smile and hug during the BUILDing the Future: 10 Years of Impact event at Bethel.
While Julie loves seeing Jack make new friends, she also sees him gaining skills to prepare him for the future. “It’s been amazing,” Julie said. “What we wanted for him was more independence away from home, and that’s what he’s getting. He’s just learning how to do everything without us.” BUILD is designed to help students gain the skills and tools in core classes as they earn a Certificate in Applied Studies. They’re also able to choose from 30-plus elective courses.
Jack and Zach are also applying their skills in internships. Jack is working at Dunn Brothers, where he does food prep in the mornings to prepare items that will be used throughout the day. Zach, who loves all Bethel sports, works for Bethel Athletics doing game management for Bethel events after previously working as an usher for Bethel music and theatre events.
Janet and David encouraged families considering BUILD to give it a chance, even if they’re nervous at first. Janet called BUILD a well-run and welcoming program, where you can be confident that your son or daughter will be well cared for. "They’re just going to grow tremendously,” Janet said. “So if you’re a little nervous, take the chance, and you’ll be really proud of what your kid can do in the right environment.”
After BUILD, Jack and Zach both hope to live independently. To BUILD Internship Supervisor Jaran Roste '21, GS'25, employment is a key part of reaching that goal. It’s why the program works with more than a dozen on-campus partners and 20-plus off-campus partners to give students opportunities to gain experience. “We're just trying to equip students with the skills and the ability to be successful,” Roste said.
And the program is seeing alumni find success. According to Allen, over half of recent graduates live independently, and BUILD alumni have an average 84% employment rate, which far exceeds the national average of around 20% for adults with intellectual disabilities.
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Looking ahead
As they celebrated the past, BUILD leaders are also looking ahead to new ways to serve future families. With continued support, program leaders are hoping to expand course and internship opportunities, allowing the program to serve more students. Plans are also underway to pursue official accreditation in the coming years, a move that would mark another step forward in BUILD’s long-term sustainability and academic recognition.
During the program, Allen announced that BUILD is launching its first-ever merit-based scholarship, made possible through a challenge grant from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation and additional donor support. The BUILD Community Merit Scholarship will be awarded to all students who meet the criteria for enrollment in the BUILD program for 2025-26, with an additional award for those who have taken on leadership responsibilities.
As BUILD begins its second decade, its mission remains unchanged: to provide a Christ-centered, inclusive college experience for students with intellectual disabilities. “God will do even more in the next 10 years than we could have imagined,” said Vice President for University Advancement Jeanne Osgood said during her talk.
Study in the BUILD program at Bethel.
Bethel's BUILD program provides a supportive and comprehensive educational experience for individuals with intellectual disabilities. You'll experience dynamic and encouraging instruction, career-oriented curriculum, specialized mentorship, and on-campus living—all within a supportive Christian environment.
Timeline: A decade of BUILD
- 2011: The White family asks why Bethel doesn’t have a program for Emily White and other people born with intellectual disabilities, sparking the idea for BUILD.
- 2012-2014: Julie White proposes the program to then-President Jay Barnes, and a task force forms to secure initial funding, create a curriculum, and more.
- 2015: Dawn Allen becomes founding director, and BUILD launches with 12 students, becoming Minnesota’s first residential college program for students with intellectual disabilities.
- 2017: BUILD earns Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Program (CTP) status, making students eligible for federal and state financial aid. The first cohort graduates with 84% employed within three months.
- 2018-2019: The Unified Sports Club is recognized by Bethel Student Government, and students gain deeper integration into campus life.
- 2020-2021: BUILD adapts to the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining full support virtually as faculty publish research highlighting positive student outcomes.
- 2022: Students and program leaders help change NCAA DIII rules to allow CTP student participation in athletics, and BUILD expands to offer 36 elective courses.
- 2024-2025: BUILD welcomes its largest cohort yet—18 students. BUILD alumni maintain an 84% employment rate—far higher than the 20% national average for adults with disabilities— and over half of recent graduates live independently.
- 2025: BUILD celebrates 10 years as the only residential CTP program at a four-year university in Minnesota, with new research highlighting its impact on the broader campus community. A new merit-based scholarship is launched.