BETHANY TO HONOR ALUMNI 

LINDSBORG, Kan.— The Bethany College Alumni Association will recognize four outstanding alumni Oct. 14 during a Homecoming brunch. The brunch begins at 10:30 a.m. and will be held in Lindquist Hall of Wallerstedt Library.
            Monica Bland, Sarajevo, Bosnia, will receive the Gold Award for service to society. Larry Harless, Kansas City, Mo., Tana Kettner, Salem, Mo., and Chuck Peters, Lindsborg, Kan., will be inducted into the Bethany College Athletic Hall of Honor.
            Tickets for the brunch are $12 for adults, $6 for children ages 4-12. Children four and under are free. Call the Bethany College alumni office at (785) 227-3311, ext. 8270, for reservations.
            Monica Bland, Sarajevo, Bosnia
            After receiving her degree in history/political science from Bethany in 2000, Bland attended Georgetown University, where she earned a Master of Science in Foreign Service. She taught at the Leningrad Oblast State University in Pushkin, Russian Federation from 2000-2002. She also has worked for the U.S. Department of State in Copenhagen, Denmark, and as an intern in the office of Senator Chuck Hagel in Washington, D.C. From May 2004 until August 2005, Bland served as a program officer with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. Fluent in Russian and Bosnian, Bland recently began her new job as vice-consul at the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Bland has been involved in selecting high school exchange students from the former Soviet Union, and has volunteered at a local soup kitchen. She enjoys knitting, photography, and traveling and learning about other places and cultures.
            Larry Harless, Kansas City, Mo.
            Harless, Bethany class of 1967, was a two-sport athlete at Bethany College, earning recognition in football and baseball. A four-year starter in football, he was team co-captain and named first team all-conference as a running back in 1967. Harless also was named Outstanding Athlete at Bethany in 1967. A starting catcher in baseball, Harless served as co-captain and was named first team all-conference in 1967. Following graduation he was a starting catcher for the Kansas City Giants semi-pro team (1967-1976). This past spring Harless completed his last year of teaching at Shawnee Mission North High School.
            Tana (Green) Kettner, Salem, Mo.
            Kettner, Bethany class of 1987, lettered in four sports at Bethany-cross country, basketball, volleyball, and track and field. She received all-conference academic honors in both basketball and track and field. She also received all-conference honors two years in track and field. Kettner was named most valuable member of the women’s cross country team in 1983 and most inspirational player in volleyball in 1986. She was a member of the mile relay team that still holds the school record, and competed in the national track meet in 1986. Kettner lives in Salem with her husband, David Kettner, and children Rachel, Hannah and Jacob. She teaches art at Salem Junior and Senior High School.
           Chuck Peters, Lindsborg, Kan.
            A participant in three sports at Bethany, Peters, Bethany class of 1990, holds athletic honors in football, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. He was football captain and named second team all-American, first team all-conference and most valuable defensive back. Peters also was an academic all-American. A national competitor in both indoor and outdoor track and field, he holds the school records for the 300-yard dash (indoor), and both the 100m and 200m dash (outdoor). Peters was named academic all-American for outdoor track and field and was a four-event KCAC champion and two-event District 10 champion. Peters is the technology coordinator for Smoky Valley Schools. He and wife, Robyn, have three children, Andrew, Isabelle and Noelle.
          The Bethany College Gold Award recognizes outstanding achievement and service to society by a graduate of the last two decades with a continuing interest in Bethany College and a record of noteworthy achievement and service to humanity in public or church life, a contribution of creativity in the arts or sciences, or outstanding leadership and participation in a recognized organization.
           The Bethany College Athletic Hall of Honor gives recognition to individuals whose performance on the athletic field, as a player, coach or supporter, was noteworthy and exemplary of the high standards for which Bethany College is known. Selection for membership is determined by the quality and caliber of performance and by the individual’s team contribution through leadership as cited by coaches and teammates involved.
             Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to nurture and challenge individuals in their search for truth and meaning as they lead lives of faith, learning and service.

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