News

This summer, Bethel University will offer its annual academic and sports summer camps for kids. Academic camps in science, theatre and art will be held on July 11-15 and July 18-22. Sports camps run from May through July, offering a variety of overnight and day camps for campers ages 8-18. Learn more.

Bethel Women's Track & Field finished the final day of the NCCAA National Championship at the top of the standings for the program's eighth national title and third outdoor banner in three completed seasons—2020 championships were cancelled due to COVID-19. This brings the Pilots' total team national championships to 45 for all sports. All three individual national championship performances on the day—Madison Kauffman in Hammer Throw, Jada Parzygnot in Pole Vault, and MarKalah Barnes in Shot Put—hit NAIA standards, as did the podium finish for the 4x100m Relay.

Amanda Slaughter has been named vice president for enrollment management at Bethel University, beginning her new role May 23. Slaughter is an enrollment management professional with more than 18 years of experience in higher education, working with undergraduate traditional, nontraditional and graduate students through enrollment, financial aid, career services and student retention at CCCU (Council for Christian Colleges and Universities) institutions in California, Pennsylvania and Mississippi.

This year, nearly 320 students will graduate from Bethel University. The 2022 commencement ceremony will be held Saturday, May 7, in the Wiekamp Athletic Center on Bethel’s campus. This single ceremony at 2 p.m., includes traditional undergraduate, adult and graduate programs. Shirley Hoogstra, president of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, will be the speaker. The event will also be livestreamed on our homepage and masks will be optional for attendees and participants.

Tickets are now on sale for the Starting Small Summit, to be held at Bethel University April 13, 2022, from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the Everest-Rohrer Auditorium on Bethel’s campus. Tickets are $10 per person and may be purchased at online.

Bethel University will host its fifth annual Bethel Gala on April 30 at 5:30 p.m., in the Wiekamp Athletic Center on Bethel’s campus, with singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman as the special guest. Chapman is the most awarded artist in Christian music history and best-selling author of his memoir, “Between Heaven and the Real World: My Story.”

Sponsorship opportunities are available for individuals and businesses, with varying levels and benefits. For more information visit our Gala page. Individual tickets for the event are $100 and are on sale now!

Bethel University will present Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” March 25, 31 & April 1*, 2 at 7:30 p.m., March 26 & April 2 at 1 p.m., in the Everest-Rohrer Chapel/Fine Arts Center Auditorium on campus.

On behalf of the Bethel University Board of Trustees, Chair Eric Kinsman announces Barbara Bellefeuille, Ed.D., has been officially named the eighth president of Bethel University. Bellefeuille has served as interim president of the university since June 1, 2021, and is the first female to serve in the university’s highest leadership role.

Bethel University recently received a $1 million gift from the Mely and Rick Rey Foundation Inc. Rick, a 1977 graduate of Bethel University, owns Specialty Products and Polymers Inc., Niles, Mich. The gift from the Reys supports four areas they are passionate about – long-term funding through an endowment, support of international students, scholarships and the chemistry department. Rey, who attended Bethel as an international student from the Philippines said Bethel was like a life preserver for him. Rey says he wants to provide for current and future students.

Bethel University announces the 2021 Fall Semester Dean's List. See the full list now!

Bethel University is set to host the first-ever Starting Small Summit on April 13, 2022. This event provides the South Bend/Mishawaka community an opportunity to learn from high-profile entrepreneurs from around the world. Moderated by Bethel University senior Cameron Nagle, founder and host of Starting Small, the summit will feature entrepreneurial stories from Joe Foster, founder of Reebok; Stacy Madison, founder of Stacy’s Pita Chips and BeBOLD Bars, and Dr. Jonathan B. Levine, founder of JBL New York City & GLO Science.

On Mon., Jan. 17, Bethel University’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council will hold an event to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The day will begin with chapel from 10-11 a.m., in the Everest-Rohrer Chapel/Auditorium, followed by guided prayer led by local pastors from 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m., in the Everest-Rohrer Rotunda. Also, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a pop-in style activity will focus on prayers for unity, reconciliation and peace, and will be held in the Rotunda.

Bethel University is offering free boot camps in cloud computing basics and services. These camps, funded through the LIFT Workforce Accelerator Grant, will help equip Michiana’s information technology (IT) community to understand cloud technology, ultimately preparing them to analyze the different advanced cloud options for companies and move forward toward a career in cloud computing. A Mini Boot Camp Intensive will be held Jan. 3-7, every day from 12:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Spring Mini Boot Camps will be offered every Tuesday night, Jan. 18 – April 26, from 6-7:30 p.m. For more information or to register, visit our Cloud Computing page.

The Bethel University Center for Academic Success wants to help students relieve stress this finals week. They will provide a variety of activities, including “kitten therapy” courtesy of All 4 Animals Rescue (A4A). Mon., Dec. 6, from 12:30-2:30 p.m., kittens will be available to pet, hold, and play with on the first floor of the Miller-Moore Academic Center.

The Bethel University Music Department will present its 73rd Annual Christmas Concert, Repeat the Sounding Joy!, this December. Performances are Dec. 3-4 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Dec. 4.