Ready for RD's

By Lisa Braun

Residence Directors are very important to Bethany campus life and the Student Development Team.

Just counted down - only 27 days until they come to campus!

Both Dwight Bennett and Adriana Schmidt enter into their new roles as interns, enrolled in Bethany's B.A. internship program. We look forward to their arrival and their contributions during the month of August and the year to come.

Here's a quick feature on Dwight. (One from Adriana to follow soon).

Name: Dwight Bennett

Bethany Involvements: Bethany Player 2008-2009, Chapel Band 2009-2010, Drama Committee Chair 2010-2011

Hometown: West St. Paul, Manitoba

Home Church: Eastview Community Church

Favorite Food: Pizza, of course

Favorite Bible Character: Samson

Favorite Bible Verse: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4.6.

Favorite Music Genre: 80's Hair Metal

Favorite Carbonated Beverage: Sprite

Favorite Movie: Legends of the Fall

First Job: Office Cleaner in a Woodworking Shop

Hidden Talent: Incredibly gifted singer

Hobbies: Movies (watching and making), Music (listening and making), Acting, Cleaning his room (you heard right!)

Ministry Passion: Children and youth

What would your epitaph read? "Dwight Bennett...You had to know him...."

Three most influential people: My Dad, my Mom, my brothers.

Influential books: The Bible of course, Heartbreak and Triumph by Shawn Michaels, Under the Still Standing Sun by Dora Dueck

Best Gift: I've received a lot of great gifts in my life that could be classified as "best gift" but the one that stands out the most is a birthday card that played "The Final Countdown" by Europe.

Where in the world would you go? Ireland to see the Celtic Woman, or Christchurch, New Zealand to see Hayley Westenra.

Beginning on August 8, his office will be in B115 and his email will be rdmen@bethany.sk.ca.

We are happy to welcome Dwight to the Student Development Team!

What is Simunye?

By Lisa Braun

Find out here.

Simunye is the name for the MCC team in South Africa. You can find out what Spencer Nikkel, Matt Bergen, Rebecca Davies, Luke Heidebrecht (Associate Mission Director, Bethany Simunye Leader), and Myriam Ullah (MCC Simuye Leader) are doing from July 3-25.


This is an exciting partnership between Bethany College and MCC Sask (and Alberta) to offer this learning experience for young adults from various locations. Check it out and post comments for your friends!

http://mccsimunye.wordpress.com/

Drop me a line about your summer adventures and we'll blog about it! lbraun@bethany.sk.ca

Blessings on your summer,
LB

Important Dates for 2011-2012

First Semester:

Returning Student Arrival – Friday, September 2, 2011 by evening

Returning Student Orientation and Registration – Saturday, September 3

New Student Arrival – Sunday, September 4, beginning at 2pm

First Year Orientation – Monday, September 5

First Year Registration – Monday, September 5

Photo Day - Monday, September 5

First Day of Classes – Tuesday, September 6

Residence Orientation - Tuesday, September 6, 8.45pm

Drop/Add Deadline - Monday, September 12

Service Learning Trips Orientation - Spetember 20-21

Service Learning Trips - September 22-29

3rd Year Modular Week – September 24-29

Thanksgiving Break – October 7 (noon) – 10 (evening)

Day of Prayer – October 19

Fall Theatre Production - November 4-5

Term Break – November 10 (noon) – 13 (evening)

Christmas Concert - December 3-4

Last Selah (Chapel) – December 14

Last Day of Classes - December 15

Christmas Banquet - December 16

Winter Registration Session - December 16

Exams December 19-21 (noon) **

Christmas Break – December 21 (noon) – January 8 (evening)

**Please keep this in mind while making travel arrangements for Christmas break. The exam rescheduling fee is $50/exam.

Second Semester:

All Student Arrival - January 8, 2012 by evening

Modular Week - January 9-13

Regular Classes Begin – January 16

Drop/Add Deadline-Friday, January 27

Youth Advance—February 3-5

Youth Advance Rest Day – Monday, February 6 – see campus postings for lessons; evening classes meet as regularly scheduled

Winter Break – February 17 (noon) – 21 (evening)

Day of Prayer – March 14

Continuance of Study Session - March 27 at 11.15 am (Chapel)

Student Government Elections – March 26

Easter Break - April 5 (noon) - 9 (evening classes meet as regularly scheduled)

Last Selah (Chapel) – April 13

Last Day for Assignments - April 14

Last Day of Classes - April 16

Exams - April 17-19**

All Student Brunch, Survey, Grad Rehearsal, and Campus Clean-up Day - April 19

Year-End Party - April 20

Spring Concert - April 21

Grad Banquet - April 21

Commencement - April 22

Spring Tours – April 24 - May 8

Summer Break – April 23 (evening) – August 30

From the office of Lisa Braun

Dear Students,

We miss you all, and are shocked by how fast May slipped by us. For me, I mark the start of the new year after June board meetings. Those meetings start tonight. So now we look ahead to the 2011-2012 year. Wild!

What are you all up to? Hope it's good, exciting, challenging, growing, learning, serving, loving kinds of things.

Some important news here, so read on....

It is with pleasure that I announce several new hires at Bethany College for the coming year! Drum roll please!

As of June 1, Cliff Brandes begins as Alumni and Donor Relations Field Representative. Cliff is well acquainted with Bethany, after sending his three children here, and then last year, attending a first year student (often found at a favourite table in the cafeteria). Cliff is well suited for this role having spent his previous career in client services within the financial industry. His love for people and his love for the College fit well as he serves the supporting community of the College in this role.

As of July 1, Randi Rempel will be the new Associate Dean of Women. Randi is very familiar with this place, and understands the unique role that Student Development has at Bethany. Randi comes to this role with a great love for you after her great year as Student Development Assistant, and contributing to big picture strategic developments in our department (Personal Discernment Process, on-line survey, retention work, young alumni data work, mentoring placements, and more). Her passion for working with RAs, mentoring students, and teamwork will be a welcome addition to the team.

As of August 1, Wes Enns will be the new Athletics Director. Wes comes to us during a sabbatical year from Rosslyn Academy in Nairobi, Kenya. (This is where Adriana went to high school!) Wes graduated from Bethany in 1992 with a Diploma of Biblical Studies. From there, he went on to get a B.Ed from U of M with a double major in Physical Education and English Literature, and, most recently, a Masters in Leadership from the Pan Africa Christian University in Nairobi. Wes will focus attention on the changing dynamics of our Athletics Department and help us bring it into even greater alignment with our Mission Statement and Strategic Plan. He will also lead Youth Advance Committee, and serve in other areas of teaching and coaching. His wife Jeannie is alumn material as well, and they will move into the campus house behind the gym, with their three children Ezra (12), Isaiah (10), and Julia (5).

Please welcome and pray for them as they make transitions, large and small, to enter into their new roles and places of influence!

Have good summer adventures! Here's Rob and I on the SkyTrain in Vancouver in May, the kids were right at the front peering out the window, so they are not pictured here! And I am off for another big trip in 10 sleeps!

Blessings,

LB

Introducing...Danelle Kasdorf

Lisa Braun here - Let me introduce you to Danelle. I met Danelle van Nes in my first year at Bethany (1998-1999). She was the STUCO Recreation Chair, and so we worked together at Leadership Week to plan opening week events. I also had the privilege of working with her as the senior Youth Advance Committee member in 1999-2000. What a planner and organizer! I have fond memories of visiting her dorm room in North Court, and giving her and her friends permission to wear old Bethany Eagle jerseys during men’s basketball games.


Name: Danelle (van Nes) Kasdorf
Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Program: Bachelor in Christian Ministries 2000
Employment Role: Mother, Household Manager
Employer: Kasdorf Family
Email: danellekasdorf@hotmail.com


I am an organized person. In fact, I thought I had my whole life planned out. The plan was to go to Bible School, meet an awesome guy, settle down and have two kids. Well, I was one of the first to register for Bethany for the 1997-1998 year. And I did indeed meet a wonderful man, Danny Kasdorf (1997-1999) and married him in 2000. We decided to settle down in Winnipeg. Danny had just graduated from a tech college and was starting work as a web designer/developer. I found work at a Christian supply distributor and later at MBCI. And we waited to start our family, we waited and waited.

Finally in the summer of 2007 we were overjoyed to find out that we were expecting. We welcomed Janaya Helene into our family in March of 2008. Now life seemed to be going according to my plan again. In the fall of 2009 we discovered we were expecting again. There, two kids, just right according to MY plan. In February 2010 at the routine 20 week ultrasound we got a HUGE surprise. We were expecting TWINS!!!!!! My mind started going through the check list. What about the cute little house we had strategically bought to hold our future family of four? What about the car we had spent 7 years saving up for only to have to trade it in for a van? How are we going to manage twins? What if there are born really early? What if they are sick? Can we stretch one income that far?

It was a huge reminder that I am not in charge of my life. I can plan and plan as much as I want, but God is in control. And boy, have we ever learned to rely on him this year. I was reminded of a favourite verse: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Well, after a few more months of anxiousness, Joshua Evan and Jenna Catherine were born full term and healthy weighing 6 lbs 1 oz and 7 lbs 7 oz. We’re nearing the twins’ first birthday and celebrating that we’ve made it. There have been some crazy moments and a lot of adjusting needed but we’ve made it. Thank you Lord for seeing us through it all. And we’ll wait to see what is next according to YOUR plan.