BETHANY TO HONOR ALUMNI

Two Bethany College alumni will be honored as 2007 Award of Merit recipients. They are LeVoy Nelson, class of 1941, and Rev. J. Rolland Christenson, class of 1950.

            They will be recognized at a banquet on Saturday, May 19, at 5 p.m. in the President’s Dining Room of the Pihlblad Memorial Union. The banquet is part of Alumni Recognition Weekend, May 19-20, held in conjunction with Bethany’s 2007 commencement exercises.

            The Award of Merit was established to recognize outstanding achievement and service to society by a graduate of more than 20 years.

 LeVoy Nelson was dedicated to the education of children for 38 years.  He began his teaching career in 1938 in a country school near Assaria, Kan. Following his classes at Bethany and serving in the military for four years, Nelson taught art before assuming the duties as principal in Brookville and Smolan. He then taught in Salina from 1956 until 1960, and served as principal of Stewart Elementary School from 1960 until 1980.

Nelson was instrumental in launching the first school lunch program in Saline County and organized the PTA when Stewart Elementary School in Salina first opened its doors.   Nelson received the Principal of the Year Award in 1957 from District Five of the Kansas State Association.

He is an active member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Salina, where he has served as Sunday School superintendent, teacher and board member.  He has volunteered for the Food Bank in Salina, and he continues to be an active member of Kiwanis, the Association for Childhood Education, the Salina Area Retired Teachers and the American-Scandinavian Association of the Great Plains.

            Following his graduation from Augustana Seminary in Rock Island, Ill., Rolland Christenson was ordained in 1954 and began his ministry at Bethel and St. Paul Lutheran churches in Vilas and Chanute, Kan. He also served as pastor in Marshalltown, Iowa, Urbandale, Iowa, and Davenport, Iowa. From 1962 until 1980, Rolland was the Protestant Chaplain for the 132nd Tactical Fighter Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard. He retired from full-time ministry in 1990.

While in Davenport, Christenson organized the 12 Lutheran churches of Scott County, Iowa, and formed a corporation for the construction of low-cost housing for the elderly — Luther Manor.  He was president of that corporation from 1976 through 1988, during which 110 units of housing were constructed.  He also headed an adjunct corporation that constructed 22 condominium units. 

Following retirement and a move to Lindsborg, he has been active with both the community and college.  He enjoys writing and has published two devotional books and additional writings for his family.

“Bethany has wonderful alumni, and Rev. Christenson and LeVoy Nelson are two great examples of alumni who have left Bethany and accomplished a lot and served many people,” said Jennifer Greenup, alumni director. “We are proud to recognize them for their contributions, not only to Bethany, but to the world.”

For more information about the banquet, contact the Alumni Office at 785 227-3311, ext. 8270.