Bethany College Athletic Complex Locker Room to be Named in Honor of Dr. Joyce Pigge After Renovation

May 2, 2022

Lindsborg, KAN., April 25, 2022 – Bethany College has received a $100,000 anonymous gift to kick off the women’s locker room renovation. 

On April 4, 2022, Dr. Joyce Pigge and select members of the women’s athletic staff at Bethany College met to announce the honorific naming of the to-be-renovated women’s locker room in the Athletic Complex. The administration and board of directors would like to join the athletics staff in recognizing the significant contributions of Dr. Joyce Pigge to women’s athletics at Bethany College and the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference by naming the locker room -- The Dr. Joyce Pigge Women’s Locker Room.   


Everyone who has participated in a sport knows the sanctuary offered by the locker room. It is a place to prepare mentally for a competition, strategize with your coach, and relax with your teammates. The Women’s Locker Room was part of the original Hahn Gymnasium constructed in 1960. It serves an average of 1500 athletes annually including visiting teams.  The $200,000 renovation includes new flooring, lighting, lockers and more strategic use of the space. 


Dr. Pigge’s 50 years of service to Bethany College, the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC), and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) have been remarkable. She was the History/Political Science Department Chair, coordinated the social studies teaching major, and was the pre-law advisor. Dr. Pigge was the Bethany College Faculty Athletics Representative and the former Eligibility Chair for Midlands Collegiate Athletics Conference. She currently serves as the Eligibility Chair of the KCAC.  She also served as the treasurer of the KCAC and was a member of the NAIA District 10 executive committee and the National Executive Committee. 


Dr. Pigge founded and coached Bethany’s first women’s basketball program in the spring of 1970, started the volleyball program two years later, and coached softball for one season. From 1970 through 1973-1974, she led women’s intramurals with the assistance of the Women’s Intramural Council, created by her for this purpose. 


Dr. Pigge announced for Swedes volleyball, basketball, and football, and maintained the scorebook for volleyball and basketball. She received the Bethany College Teaching Award in 1991, the Bethany Distinguished Service Award in 2003, the Meredith Humphreys Teaching and Service to Students Award in 2006, and the NAIA Wally Schwartz Award as Faculty Athletics Representative of the Year in 2009. 


“The impact Dr. Joyce Pigge has had on women’s athletics, and athletics overall, at Bethany College is immeasurable. Her role in starting the volleyball and women’s basketball programs and coaching, to eligibility determinations, and both game day and administrative support, has paved the way for quality opportunities and support for female student-athletes. We are forever grateful for Dr. Pigge and her countless contributions over the past fifty-plus years, and we cannot think of a more appropriate way to honor her legacy than with the naming of this locker room.” Laura Moreno, Dean of Athletics and 2009 alumna. 


In 2015, Dr. Pigge was inducted in the NAIA Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service. She was awarded the KCAC Faculty Athletics Representative of the Year in both 2014-15, and 2016-17. She was also the recipient of the Meredith Humphreys Faculty Award at Bethany College in 2006 and 2020. 

“The Office of Advancement is overjoyed to announce a lead gift of $100,000 to kick-off this project. We are excited to offer the opportunity to ‘sponsor a locker’ in honor or memory of a special athlete or alumni at Bethany College.” Karissa Hoffman, Executive Director of Advancement and Alumni. If you want to be a part of this exciting renovation, make your donation at bethanylb.edu/locker-room. 

 

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 educate, develop, and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning, and service. At Bethany, students join a community of dedicated educators and caring mentors who walk alongside them as they discover, explore, and navigate the path to their purpose. Bethany College is online at bethanylb.edu and located in Lindsborg, Kansas, the fine arts and crafts capital of the state. 


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A Degree 55 Years in the Making

May 6, 2025
LINDSBORG, KS. MAY 6, 2025 — As Bethany College celebrates the accomplishments of the Class of 2025, one graduate's walk across the stage represents an unfinished dream now fulfilled more than five decades later. In 1970, Marilyn Allen Peterson was just one class away from earning her degree in elementary education from Bethany College. But when her husband, Dr. Thomas Peterson (Bethany Class of 1968), was called into military service during the Vietnam War, the couple relocated to Arizona with little notice. In the midst of the move, Marilyn was unable to complete her final requirement: a single science elective. Earlier this year, Dr. Peterson contacted Bethany College to share his wife’s story and asked a simple question: Could she still finish what she started? Thanks to the efforts of faculty and staff who dug into old catalogs, found the transcripts stored on microfilm, and brainstormed creative solutions for completing that final requirement, we are proud to say: yes, she could—and she did. With her final credit completed, Marilyn became eligible to receive her degree. At age 76, Marilyn Allen Peterson officially joins the Bethany College Class of 2025. During Commencement, she was recognized with heartfelt applause from the entire Bethany community. "Marilyn, on behalf of Bethany College, we celebrate your dedication, your patience, and your enduring Swede spirit," said Dr. Laura Crawley, President of Bethany College. "Let this moment remind us all that it’s never too late to finish what we start, and that some of the most meaningful victories are the ones that take a little longer to reach." Marilyn’s story is not only a tribute to personal perseverance, but also a testament to the lifelong bonds formed at Bethany College and the value of returning to one’s roots to complete the journey. The full Commencement Ceremony is available to view online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0Dee6oUH3k Photos from the event can be found at: https://jimturner.zenfolio.com/bethanygraduation2025 Learn more about our Baccalaureate and Commencement speakers here: https://www.bethanylb.edu/bethany-college-baccalaureate-and-commencement-speakers The full graduation press release can also be found on our website at: https://www.bethanylb.edu/congratulations-2025-graduates Bethany College is a liberal arts institution located in Lindsborg, Kansas, and was established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881. For over 140 years, Bethany has been dedicated to educating, developing, and challenging individuals to pursue truth and excellence while leading lives of faith, learning, and service. At Bethany, students join a community of dedicated educators and caring mentors who support them as they discover, explore, and navigate their purpose. Bethany College is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Congratulations 2025 Graduates

May 6, 2025
LINDSBORG, KS. MAY 6, 2025 — Bethany College conferred degrees upon 104 students in Presser Hall Auditorium on May 3, 2025. The ceremony recognized students who earned Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Music Education degrees during the 2024–2025 academic year. Summer, fall, and spring graduates were honored during a Baccalaureate service at 10:30am, followed by the Commencement ceremony at 2:00pm in Presser Hall. Campus Pastor Melissa Woeppel led the Baccalaureate service, with Ellie Dieringer, an advocate for gender justice and intergenerational equity, serving as the featured speaker. Dr. Kelli Krase, a 2004 Bethany alum, delivered the Commencement address. She currently serves as an Associate Professor, Residency Program Director for Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. The Commencement Ceremony was marked by several special moments, including a welcome address from Dr. Laura Crawley, Bethany College’s 16th President, who officially began her tenure just three days prior. Senior remarks were delivered by Carson Finke and Kort Sjogren, this year’s recipients of the Spencer Bartlett Senior Respect Award. Their speeches reflected on personal growth, the challenges they overcame, and the journey that led them to graduation. Both shared heartfelt stories that moved many in the audience to tears, while offering thoughtful advice and congratulations to their fellow graduates. Adding a powerful artistic moment to the ceremony, graduate Aubrey Larson performed “Defying Gravity” from Wicked by Stephen Schwartz. The event also featured a moving degree conferral for Marilyn Allen Peterson, whose Bethany journey began in 1970 and culminated with her official graduation this year at age 76. Her story of perseverance and dedication has resonated deeply within the Bethany community and beyond. Learn more about Marilyn Peterson's story here: https://www.bethanylb.edu/a-degree-55-years-in-the-making The full Commencement Ceremony is available to view online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0Dee6oUH3k Photos from the event can be found at: https://jimturner.zenfolio.com/bethanygraduation2025 Learn more about our Baccalaureate and Commencement speakers here: https://www.bethanylb.edu/bethany-college-baccalaureate-and-commencement-speakers

Bethany College Baccalaureate and Commencement Speakers

April 2, 2025
LINDSBORG, KS. APRIL 2, 2025 — Bethany College is pleased to announce its Baccalaureate and Commencement speakers for the 2025 graduation ceremonies. Commencement Speaker: Kelli Krase, MD Dr. Kelli Krase, a 2004 graduate of Bethany College, will deliver the Commencement address at this year’s graduation. A native of Hesston, Kansas, Dr. Krase earned her degree in Biology from Bethany College before attending medical school at the University of Kansas. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Dr. Krase has since returned to the University of Kansas, where she currently serves as an Associate Professor, Residency Program Director for Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at the School of Medicine. In her professional role, Dr. Krase has been a dedicated educator and clinician, shaping the next generation of doctors. Outside of her academic career, she enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors with her spouse and their two children. Baccalaureate Speaker: Ellie Dieringer Ellie Dieringer will serve as the Baccalaureate speaker, bringing with her a passion for social justice, faith-based advocacy, and international service. An advocate for gender justice and intergenerational equity, Dieringer is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, where she earned degrees in Hispanic Studies and Global Studies, specializing in Development & Social Justice and International Affairs. Her journey has led her to travel extensively and engage in meaningful work with vulnerable communities around the world, including in Uruguay, Mexico, and Washington State.  Dieringer also served as a volunteer with the ELCA's Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program in Montevideo, Uruguay, where she collaborated with ecumenical organizations to promote fair treatment and social justice. Her work has also led her to serve as a delegate at the United Nations' Commission on the Status of Women and to participate in the Lutheran World Federation’s Women’s Human Rights Advocacy Training in Geneva, Switzerland. Dieringer’s commitment to lifelong-learning and service will inspire graduates to continue making a positive impact in the world. About Bethany College Bethany College is a liberal arts institution located in Lindsborg, Kansas, and was established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881. For over 140 years, Bethany has been dedicated to educating, developing, and challenging individuals to pursue truth and excellence while leading lives of faith, learning, and service. At Bethany, students join a community of dedicated educators and caring mentors who support them as they discover, explore, and navigate their purpose. Bethany College is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
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